Ashtabula weekly telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1880-1886, 1880-12-10
The NaVy-secretary ThOmpsOn's Re.
port. .

wAsmNoroE, December q
The annual report OF Secretary Thompson 10
made public.
The total gross amount available for they year
was sll,7O8,6f2, subject 70 deduction by sur
plus fund warrant OF sl,eos, which leaves the
net amount at S14,7Oi.8A. The expenditures
| were ei2,9lG,639, leaving a balance unexpended
at the end OF the year OF sl,Is8,OO6. To this,
however, should be added the net amount un.
expended In the hands Of pay ofioer, az shown
at the ONCE Of the Fourth Auditor, S85S6TT,
which shows the net expenditures for tho fiscal
year we're e., ,li1,6S2 less than the amount ap-
plicabl0 therefor.
The number Of navy pensions on the rolls
June 20, 1850, was $3.50, and the amount paid
during the year on account of pensions S752-
| I'll The total amount available for the opera
tions Of the present fiscal year ending Juno
30, 1881, is Sl5,O9506l, and the total estimates
tor the fiscal year ending June 30, 1882, are
ei6,953,76l.
The Secretary recommends the repeal of the
proviso 70 the act Of June II, 1873 so as 70 re-
store 70 the President authority to appoint ten
cadet midshipmen-at-large annually.
Calling attention 10 the growing commercial
Importance Of the Central and South Ameri-
can States, whose trade Is likely to pass on
tirely out Of our hands II prompt aud viFor-
Gus measures are not taken TO secure II, the
Secretary continues; "All that the Navy De-
partment can properly do TO this end has
been done. 1 have deemed It an imperative
public duty 10 send our ships-of-war into as
many Of their ports as possible, with a view
Of enabling the authorities and people Of
those countries to understand that It is our
desire to cultivate with them the most am
icable commercial relations, and that
both their own interest and ours would
be thereby promoted. The products
Of South America which reach the
Pacific coast can only reach this country by
way OF San Francisco OF the Isthmus of Pan.
anna. Consequently, have also felt it my duty
20 inaugurate such steps as we're calculated to
establish more intimate relations with the
States and people upon each side OF that
isthmus The authority Of the Secretary Of
the Navy is limited upon this subject, and
does not extend beyond the location of sta
tions at points where our vessels touch or may
be induced to touch, in order TO promote COM
mercial intercourse where It Il already estab-
lished, or to invite It where II Is not. / have,
therefore, caused stops 70 be taken for the or
tabllshment Of ooalinR stations upon each side
OF the isthmus, at points eminently suit
able, both as regards naval uses and
the commerce Of that region. Tho one
on the east side is located at Chiriqui
Lagoon, in the Caribbean Sea, and in the i'm
mediate vicinity Of veins OF coal already
opened; and that on the west at the Bay OF
GolfitO, part of the Gulf of Dulce on the
Pacific. The distance between them is less
than 100 miles. The only two safe and sum
ciently commodious harbors on the isthmus
are at these points, and, although the Depart
ment did not before making the deposits of
coal acquire title to the lands occupied, yet it
assured itself that no dificultv would be likely
TO arise on that score Although 1t was not
anticipated that any political objection would
be made to a preliminary examination and
survey Of those waters with 80 useful an OBJ
iect to those ports as well as to this Govern
ment in view, yet careful instructions were
given to the commanders of vessels assigned
70 the performance Of the duty to the effect
that If either Government interposed
any objection to the movement they
should Immediately suspend operations and
report the matter TO the Department, In order
that 1t might be made the subject Of diplomat
io negotiation. Inasmuch however, as no OBJ
stacle of this kind was encountered, either at
the Chiriqui Lagoon or Golhto, coal In SUM-
cicnt quantities was deposited at each harbor,
and now remains there for future use by our
| vessels whenever II may be needed. The
question Of acquiring title to a sufficient quan.
tity OF land upon these harbors is necessarily
| left for subsequent action Of tho Government.
The lnitIatory steps have also been taken to
establish like station at Punta Arenas in
will be enabled to accomplish this before the
expiration of many months.
" 1t would be greatly 10 the advantage of
tho United States, and contribute much
toward the economical management OF the
Navy Department, II acquisitions similar to
those have mentioned were made In other
parts Of the world within the courses Of our
existing and Contemplated commerce. The
strong maritime Powers Of Europe employ
| rfari1o T.. IL
should not be behind them in doing what we
legitimately and properly can to extend our
maritime influence over the world"
Concluding his report, Secretary Thompson
calls attention to the special relations be-
tween the navy and the commerce of the
country. 1.-THE subject" he says, ''has gained
fresh Importance by the oonstantly-increasing
surplus Of our agricultural and manufacture
ing products now being sent by sea to all parts
of the world 10 this immense commerce the
navy is the necessary ally, and must at all
times be prepared to furnish It protection. It
is impossible 10 do this effeotually unless a
sufficient number OF the right kind of vessels
are constructed, not for cruisers merely, but
for all purposes of war when an emergency
shall require It. The cruisers we now have
are constantly employed in various seas, and
it is gratifying 70 know that our dag is much
respected in all parts of the world.
"Very few instances have occurred where
our merchant vessels have been interfered
with. But undoubtedly It is true that, wheth-
or the navy be regarded as a protector Of our
commerce or as an essential means Of defense,
the number OF vessels should be inoreas cd,
and It is equally true that good policy requires
the National Government TO employ all it's To-
gitimate powers to increase the strength of
our mercantile marine, 80 that It may become
commensurate with all the wants and neoes-
wNWNs. . nv
should be proportionato to that OF the other.
Our material wealth us In large degree the
product Of our commerce upon the ocean. As
this is extended, so will our wealth be i'm
creased. and as at no time In the past has this
wealth increased so rapidly as at present, now
"a q most opportune time for US to extend to Il
the necessary degree OF protection. This is
conceded on oil hands, but about the best
method Of doing 1t there are differences Of
opinion.
ut is not the province of Congress to build
vessels for the merchant service, nor is It ex-
pedlent or possible 70 allow commercial arti.
Giles TO be transported upon vessels OF war, but
II undoubtedly is within It's constitutional
powers to give the necessary protection TO our
shipbullding interests so as to Justify an In
crease Of our mercantile marine 10 such ex-
tent as the necessities OF our commerce shall
require. II Is entirely competent to arrange
with private shipbuiders with reference TO the
extension Of our postal service upon the
ocean, and to require that vessels used for
that purpose shall be 80 constructed that