Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-12-03
Report Of the Secretary Of
the Navy.

In his annual report, Secretary Thomson
estimates for an appropriation Of So 6Oi. 30 for
dredging the channel of the Eastern Branch.
leading 10 the navy yard.
THE WASHINGTON NAVY YARD.
He says:-1n my last annual report stated
the necessity for the purchase OF additional
ground for the extension OF the yard The en-
largemenc Of its boundaries is very desirable /
also called attention to the necessity OF dreig-
Ing the channel Of the east branch OF the PotO-
mac river. The loose earth washed IN from the
adjoining hills is fast filling up the channel
and If not removed navigation VIII In a sh5rs
time be SO impeded that even light-draught
ships will be unable to reach the yard. Within
a few days Of the present time the Portsmouth
ana only succeeded In reaching the yard by the
aid of towing vessel. At ordinary tide 1t Is
almost Impossible for any Of our vessels to get
up as high as the yard without such aid. II this
work Is done without further delay 1t Is conf
IDENTIFY believed that it will require no more
than the present estimate, but IL delayed much
to secure access to the yard, which is far too
valuable to be abandoned. Much important
work is done here which cannot be done at any
Of the other yards, and as 1t is so near the
capital it Is desirable that it should be main
tained what 1t now is, frstclaSS yard. The
dredging machine now owned by the depart
ment is sufficient 10 execute all the work. aud
it can all be done at but little other expense
than the price OF the labor.
SUGGESTIONS OF NATIONAL IMPORTANCE.
The Secretary commends the training system
for boys, and says 1t is designed to give some.
what more efficiency and vigor to the system by
constituting training fleet, composed of the
training ships, under the separate command OF
some superior officer, who shall have supervl-
sorry care. This Will secure the necessary uni
fornity OF action by making the method OF edu-
cation and training the same On all the Ships
Ihe discipline or the navy academy, its fnStrllc-
i've branches and condition are gratifying. IC
Is recommended-the anomalous condition OF
ana1rS In Alaska being pointed out-that Con-
gress enact at the ensuing session some law for
the institution OF the necessary civil authority
In Alaska.
Reference is made to the Importance of our
commerciSl relations with South and Central
America, and to the establishment OF coaling
the Isthmus. While the title to the land where
these stations were located had not been &C.
quiTed, such preliminary steps We're taken
tnat would prevent any trouble growing out
OF their establishment. In order to e1fectua!Iy
furnish protection to and foster our merchant
marine sufficient number OF vessels should be
added TO the navy. They should not be only
cruisers, but fitted for all the purposes OF war
when occasion requires. 1t Is not the province
OF congress TO build vessels for the merchant
service. nor is 1t expedient OF possible to allow
commercial articles TO be transported upon ves-
sells OF war; but 1t undoubtedly is within its con-
stltut1onal powers to give the necessary protec-
tton to our Ship building interests, so as to
justify an increase OF Our mercantile marine to
merce shall require. 1t is entirely competent
TO. arrange with private sh1p-builders with
reference to the extension Of our postal ser
vice upon the ocean, and to require that
the tn vessels used for that purpose shall
be so constructed that In the event
OF war, they may be employed Immediately for
war purposes. such vessels, built for strength
and speed, would add most materially, in 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 powers In
the world. England owes her present naval
superiority to this policy, and 1t serves no valu-
able purpose to contrast our condition with hers
unless we shall profit by her example. SO long
as her merchant vessels built under her pro-
lection and patronage, are allowed to draw
annually from our wealth about sl0G 00O, 600 as
compensation for freight1Dg our commerce. lust
so long Will our inferiority exist. Whenever
our own commerce shall be carried on In vessels
owned and built by our own people, capab o.
being turned into ships OF war when necessary.
then we shall reach the point OF equality with
her, and be prepared, when the necessity shan
arise TO test with her the question OF Sup9rI.
orlty upon the sea. Before the war we mad
nearly succeeded in running British vessels
from the ocean, and since then have contentei
ourselves with uttering complaints aga,ns-
England for her agency in destroying ours
While the war was In progress. The time Ior
active and energetic measures have now ar
rived, and every future year or neglect viii ada
70 Our infertOrity.