The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1880-12-09

Report Of the Secretary Of the Navy.
WASHINGTON, December 3
The annual report Of Secretary Thompson 10
made public. S
The total gross amount available for the year
was $M.T8.6ss subject to deduction by a sur.
plus fund warrant of 3l,996, which leaves the
net amount at $A,7Oaela. The expenditures
were I'll, Sl6, $50, leaving balance unexpended
ut the end OF the year of $l,7SS,Oo5. To this,
however, should be added the net amount un-
expended In the hands Of pay officer, as shown
NJ the Ofticc of the Fourth Auditor, $353,877.
which shows the net expenditures for the fiscal
year were ~, l4l,6 $50 less than the amount ap-
plicable therefor.
The number OF navy pensions ON the rolls
June ~. 1850, was $3.50, and the amount paid
during the year on account Of pensions $751;
I'll. The total amount available for the opera
tfons of the present fiscal year ending June
D.. 1881, is $l5,06O6l. and the total estimates
tor the fiscal year ending juno 30, 1882, are
el5.953, 76l.
The Secretary recommends the repeal of the
proviso to the act of June II. 1873, so as to re-
store to the President authority to appoint ten
cadet midshipmen-at-larxe annually.
Calling attention to the growing commercial
importance of the Central and South Ameri-
can States, whose trade is likely to pass e;:
tirely out of our hands If prompt and vigor-
GUS measures are not taken to secure it, the
Secretary continues: 'All that the Navy De-
partment can properly do to this end has
been done. have deemed it an imperative
public duty to send our ships-of-war into as
many of their ports az possible, with view
OF enabling the authorities and pc ople of
those countries to understand that it is our
desire to cultivate with them the most am-
fcable 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 or the Isthmus of PAN
anna Consequently, have also felt it my duty
to tnaugurate such steps as were 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 Is already estab-
lished, or to invite it where it IL not. l have,
tablishment of coaling stations upon each side
Of the isthmus, at points eminently suit
able, both as regards naval uses and
the commerce of that region. The one
on the east side is located at Chiriqui
Lagoon, in the Caribbean Sea, and in thu i'm
mediate vicinity of veins of coal already
opened; and that on the west at the Bay of
Golfto, q part of the Gulf of Dulce ON the
Pacific. The distance between them is less
than 100 miles. The only two safe and suff-
GENTLY commodious harbors ON the isthmus
are ut 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 difficulty would be likely
to arise on that score. Although it was not
anticipated that any political objection would
be made to a preliminary examination and
survey Of those waters with so useful an OBJ
ject to those ports as well as to this Govern
ment in view, yet careful instructions were
given to the commanders of vessels assigned
to the performance of the duty to the effect
that II either Government intcrpOsed
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
ic negotiation. lnasmuch, however, as no OBJ
stacle OF this kind was encountered, either at
the Chiriqui Lagoon or Golfto, coal in suifi.
cicnt quantities was deposited at each harbor,
and now remains there for future use by our
vessels whenever it may be needed. The
question Of acquiring title to sufficient guam.
tity of land upon these harbors is necessarily
left for subsequent action of the Government.
Tic initiatory steps have also been taken to
establish like station ut Punta Arenas in
Costa RIGA, and it is believed the Department
will l,c lntl fO mich this hpfnr, the
expiration OF many months.
It would be greatly to the advantage of
the United States, and contribute much
toward the economical management of the
Navy Department, if 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
great vigilance in this particular, and we
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 acknowledgements
surplus of our agricultural and manufacture
ing products now being sent by sea to all parts
of the world. To this immen sc commerce the
navy is the necessary ally, and must at all
times be prepared to furnish it protection. 1t
is impossible to do this effectually unless q
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 to know that Our flag is much
respected in all parts of the world.
Every few instances have occurred where
our merchant vessels have been interfered
with. But undoubtedly 1t is true that, wheth-
er the navy he regarded as a protector of our
commerce or as an essential means of defense,
the number of vessels should be increased,
and it is equally true that good policy requires
the National Government to employ all its le-
gitimate powers to increase the strength Of
our mercantile marine, so that it may become
commensurate with all the wants and neces-
stiles of our commerce. The increase of one
should be prOpOrtionate to that Of the other
Our material wealth is in large degree the
product of our commerce upon the ocean. As
this is extended, SO will our. wealth be in
creased. and as at no time in the past has this
wealth increased so rapidly as at present, now
is q most oppOrtune time for US to extend to it
the necesstrj degree Of protection. This is
conceded ON all hands, but about the best
method Of doing it there are differences of
opinion.
1T is not the province Of Congress to build
vessels for the merchant service, nor is it ex-
pedient or possible to allow commercial arti-
Giles to be transported upon vessels of war, but
1t undoubtedly is within its constitutional
powers to give the necessary protection to our
shfpbuilding interests 90 as to justify an in
crease of our mercantile marine to such ex-
tent as the necessities of our commerce shall
require. 1t is entirely competent to arrange
with private shipbuiliers with reference to the
extension of our postal service upon the
ocean, and to require that vessels used for
that purpose shall be SO constructed that
in the event of war they may be en-
ployed Immediately for war purposes.
Such vessels, built both for strength and