Iron County register., 1880-12-16
The Nayy-Secretary Thompscn's Re.
port.

The Nayy-Secretary Thompscn's Re.
port.
WASHINGTON, December 9.
THE annual report OF Secretary Thompson is
made pubic. - ~ ttsA
ThetotaE gross amount available for the year
was e14 .1D6.6;2, subject to deduction by sur-
plus fund warrant Of $1,99s, which leaves the
net amount at $14, ,704. .6A. The expenditures
were $ls,9ls,6S9, leaving a balance unexpeHded
at the end OF the year. of $l,7sS, ,005.< Tofhis,
however, shoiild be added the net amount un-
expended in the hands of pay officer, as shown
at the Office of the Fourth Auditor, $35a677,
which shows the net expenditures for the fiscal
year were 81 1il,6S2 less than the amount ap-
plicable therefor. t @A - ~
The number of navy pensions on the rolls
jung 50, 1880, was $3.50, and the amount paid
dur1n9 the year on account of pensions, S1S2-
III. The total amount available for the opera
tfons or the present fiscal year ending June.
30, 1881. ie-S15,0J50 06l, and the total estimates
tor the fiscal year ending June 30, 1SSS are
SI5.953.161.
The Secretary recommends the repeal OF the
PrDvisO to the 2et of June IL, 1878, SO as to re-
store to the President authority to appoint ten
cadet midshipmen-at-large annually. -"
+ Callingiattention TO the growing commercial
| Importance of the Central and South Ameri-
can States, whose trade is likely to pass en-
tirely out of our hands If prompt and vigor-
GUS measures are not taken to secure 1t, the
Secretary continues; "Au 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 as possible, with view
of enabling the authorities and people of
those countries to understand that it is our
1deaire to cultivate with them the most am-
,dcable commercial relations, and A. 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 inaugurate such steps as were calculated to
establish more intimate relations with the
States and people upon each side of that
isthInus. 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
beinduced to touch, in order to promote COM,
mercial intercourse where it is already estab-
hshed, or to invite it where it is not. L have,
therefore, caused steps to be taken for the es-
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 4 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
Golffto, part of the Cuff of Dulce on the
Pacific. The distance between them is less
than 100 miles. The only two safe and sufii-
cientiy commodious harbors on the isthnus
areat these points, and, although theDepart-
ment did not before making the depos its of
coal acquire title to the lands occupied, yet 1t
assured itself that no difficulty would be likely
to arise on that score. = ~ l+t,niThe
question of acquiring title to a sufficient Quan.
tity of land upon these harbors is necessarily
left for subsequent action Of the Government.
Theinit1atory steps have also been, taken to
establish like station at, Punta Arenas in
Costa Rica, and it is believed the Department
will be enabled to accomplish this before the
expiration of raany months. 81 .i,j iGa,.
&, 1t 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 1 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 wa
should not be behind them in doing what we
legitimately and properly can to extend our
maritime influence over the wOrld.",ti.F
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 OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
surplus of our agricultural and mahufactur-
ing products now beng sent by sea to all parts
of the world. To this immense commerce the
navy is the necessary ally. and must at all
times be prepared to furnish it protection. 1t 1
is impossible to do this effectually 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 1T. 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. '= p.
Il "very few instances have occurred where
our merchant vessels have been interfered
with. But undoubtedly 1t Is true that, wheth-
er the navy be regarded as a protector of our
commerce or as an essential means of defense,
the number of vessels should be increased,
and 1t 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, 30 that it may become
commensurate with all the wants and neces-
sities 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 most opportune time for us to extend to 1t !
the necessary degree Of protection. This is
conceded on all hands, but about the best
method Of doing it there are differences Of
opinion. '"
ut is not the province Of Congress to build
vessels for the merchant service, nor is IL ex-
pedient or possible to allow commercial arti-
cles to be transported upon vessels Of war, but
1t undoubtedly is within its constitutional
powers to give the necessary protection to our
shipbuilding interests 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 shipbuiljers with reference to tho
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
speed, would add most materially I'm case of
necessity to our means of National defense,
and the increase of our naval force by this |
means would soon enable US to compete upon
the ocean with the strongest naval pow |
erS in the world. England owes her Dresent |