The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-12-23
securities; making a total of over $40. 10000
a year, or $4,000 a day, $1,000 an hour or
SIG. Is q minute.
THE NAVY DEPARTMENT.

Summary OF secSetnry Whitney's
First Annual Report.
The first half OF the first annual report Of
William G. Whitney, secretary Of the navy,
comprises briefly the usual routine of the
department bureaus for the FISCAL year end
ing June 80, 1885. After describing the loca-
ton of the different squadrons, he draws a
doleful picture Of our navy yards. 1t appears
that this property, 'aggregating in value
some fifty million dollars" is falling rapidly
into a condition of extreme decay. The report
says: IF it is the policy of Congress to main
tain the navy-yards as shipyards, workshops,
or depots Of supply, it is manifest that the
work Of putting the buildings, wharves and
other appurtenances.. in proper repair should
be undertaken at once, and should be kept up
FROM year to year, as the only alternative
must be the abandonment Of all this property
to waste and ruin"
The net amount drawn by the department
on warrants during the last fiscal year was
SIS, 3337 SCI. u, leaving a balance OF $685.
O75.0 which with the amount unexpended
in the hands OF pay officers, leaves an aggre-
gate unexpended balance Of 81, 1853 645. Is. The
money spent this year is S997, 755.5 81 less than
the net amountdrawn in the fiscal year end
ing June 30, 1881.
The navy estimates to be presented to Con-
gress for the next fiscal yelr amount to
SS35, 1O4,6 95. Is, in which sum are embraced es-
Inmates for new OBJECTS, not those ordinarily
for the service, amounting to Sill, 059, $50. "a,
leaving for the customary purposes OF the
service $40, O34, 44.91. They embrace: For
increase Of the navy S10,503, TO; for the com.
pletion and armament Of the double .turreted
monitors, 81, 1902, 656, and for public works
and improvements at the yards and stations,
81, 26S, 1914.
Mr.. Whitney dovotes considerable space to
a history of his controversy with John Roach,
already familiar to the public. The secretary
favors changing the Whole system so long In
vogue and compelling the department here
after to mature all plans and specifications
thoroughly before advertising for contracts.
He has adopted this plan already in prepar-
ing for the construction Of the two additional
cruisers and two gunboats, at a cost of nearly
50, 600, O0O, authorized by the last session OF
| Congress.
Attention is drawn to the Importance
other countries attach to the torpedo-boat
as a branch of naval warfare by a tabular
statement Of those possessed and in process of
construction. The United States have none;
England has 129, and IS more ordered;
Russia has l31, and IA ordered; France has
81, and 81 ordered: Germany has II. and 81
ordered, and even China has ), and 10 more
ordered.
The last half of Mr.. Whitney's report is de.
voted to a reviow Of what he calls long.
standing abuses in the navy, and to suggest,
ing remedies. He reviews the history Of our
naval construction since the war. From
1868 to the present time over seventy-hve
millions have been spent on construction, re-
pair and ordnance Of vessels, for which WE
have practically nothing to show. We have
rot a single vessel ahoat that could en-
counter the ships Of any important power
This, the report says, has been chiefly because
we have "not availed ourselves Of the scien'
:idc improvements of the agein ship-builaine
and armoring. A naval vessel now is 8
,.roduct of science. Each part of her i
absorbing the exclusive study of scientific
men. We nave made no provision for keep
ing pace with this march Of science, ant
nence can show nothing of power in modern
naval warfare. Our educational ground
work is years behind the age"