The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1880-12-25
The Navy-Secretary ThompsOn's Re.
mort.
WASHINGTON, December g.
= annual report Of Secretary Thompson 10

| IWfts
| WASHINGTON, December 9.
THEannuNl report of Secretary Thompson IL
made public.
The total gross amount available for the year
was *ii.sMj;!, subject to deduction by Il SUR
plus iund warrant OF sl,99S, which leaves the
net anlU::nt NJ Sii.0l.6i4. The expenditures
were $l2,9lt,G'9, leaving Il balance uncXrcndel
at the end Of the yrGr ut $l,1SS,O)5. TO this,
however, saomtt lad Ice! tAenet amount un'
exp aided in ,he hand Of pa; officer. rs shown
n the nils" Of the Tsurth Auditor, S35S.6.,,
which Slows tn" net expenditures for the tisca
year were -, i+l,5': less t.lau the amount Az
| niicabI, there for.
] lac number of navy pensions on the rolls
June &C. ln>0, was $3.50. and tao amount paid
dH'tng tn yer 70 ucctu It of pensions :sjs-
IL. Vha;ntu! amaunt Hvai,a, he for the opera
tons Of tie prs n ttH,i year ending June
3, 1881, is :b.D ISL, and tho total estimates
tor tn fiscal ycir Ell ling June ID, lsS:, are
SiJ.3J3.. 6i.
The secretary recommends the repeal Of the
prOviso to the act of June II, 1873, so rs to re.
store to the President authority to appoint ten
cadet nlidshipmcn-at-large annually.
Calling attention to the growing commercial
Importance Of the Central and South Amcri.
can States, whose trade is likely to pass en-
trcly 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 ba,
been done. have deemed II an imperative
public duty to send our ehips-of-war into as
many Of their ports rs possible, Win u view
OF enabling the authorities and people Of
those countries to understand that 1t 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 or the Isthmns Of Pam
ANA. Consequently, have also felt it my duty
to inauguratc 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 tn" location Of sta.
lions ut points where our vessels ouch or may
be induced to touch, in order TO promote com.
mercial intercourse where it is already cStab-
lished, or to invite it where it il not. have,
therefore, caused steps to be taken for the cs-
Enlistment OF coaling stations upon ,ch side
OF the isthmus, ut points cminentiy 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: aud that OH the west ut the Bay of
Goliito. part of the Gulf of Dulcc on the
Pacific. The distance between them Is less
than 100 mics. The only two safe and sulsi-
cicntly cOnmOdOus harbors on the isthmls
are at these points, and, although the Depart
ment Gid 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
b. made to II preliminary examination and
survey of those waters with SO useful an Oh
ject TO those ports as well as 10 this Govern.
mcnt III 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 it might be made the subject Of diplomat
ic negotiation. lnasmuch, however, rs no oh.
stacfe Of this kind was encountered. either at
the Chiriquf Lagoon or Go!tlto, coal in suiii.
cicnt quantities was deposited ut each harbor,
and now remains there for future use by Our
vessels whenever it may be needed. The
question OF acquiring title 10 sufficient guam.
THY Of land upon these harbors is necessarily
left for subsequent action Of the Government.
The initIatory steps have also been taken to
establish like station ut Punta Arenas in
Costa Rica, and it is believed the Department
will he enabled to accomplish this before the
expiration of many months.
-" II would he greatly to the advantage Of
the United States, and contribute much
toward the economical management of the
Navy Department, il acquisitions similar to
those have mentioned were made in other
parts of the world within the courses OF our
existing and contemplated commerce. Tho
strong mtritime Powers of Europe employ
great vigilance in this particular, and we
should not be behind them in doing what we
leeitimateiy AMI properly can to extend our
maritime influence over the world"
Concluding his report, Secretary Thompson
calls attention to the special relations be-
tween tho navy and the commerce of the
1.-The subject" he says, has gained
fresh importance BY the constantly.increasinR
surplus Of our agricultural and manufacture
Ing products now being sent by sea to all parts
Of the world. To this immense commerce the
navy ia the necessary ally. and must at all
times be prepared to furnish It protection. It
Is impossible to do this efPectually unless .
sufficient number Of tho right kind of vessels
IRE constructed, not for cruisers merely, but
Tor oil purposes of war when an emergency
shall require It. The cruisers we now have
IRE constantly employed in various seas, and
Il 10 gratifying to know that our tiay Is tauch |
in oil parts Of the world.
avery few instances have occurred where !
our merchant vessels have been interfcred !
With. But undoubtedly 1t Is true that, whcth. |
Or the navy be regarded q q protector of our
commerce or 40 au essential means of defense. |
he number Of vessels should be increased,
md It u equally true that good policy requires
he National Government to employ oil Ito 10. |
Ultimate powers to increase the strength of
our mercantile marine, % that II may become
with ali the wants aud neces-
sites Of our commerce. The increase of one
should be proportionate to that Of tho other
Dur material wealth IL In large degree the
product OF our commerce upon the ocean. Az
Ehfs is extended, 20 Will our wealth be in.
creased. and q at no time In the past has this
wealth increased 20 rapidly % at present, now
d . most Op2ortunc time for Us to extend to Il
he necessary degree Of protection. This 10
on oil hands, but about the best
method Of doing Il there are differences ol
opinion.
ut 10 not the province Of Congress to build
'essels for the merchant SERVICE nor Is It ex.
'edieut ar possible to allow commercial arti.
les to be transported upon vessels of war, but
undoubtedly II within its constitutional
'owers to give the necessary protection to our
Interests % ~ 10 Justify OF, In.
rease Of our mercantile marine to such OK.
cnt ~ the necessities Of our commerce shall