Year: 1870

what Our Navy Is and What IL Ought
70 BE.


The Secretary of the Navy in his annual


report recommends, as nucleus for navy,


iorty iron-clads or monitors. for coast defence |;


ten hrst class armored vessels for foreign


service; ten first class wooden steamships,


each OF three thousand tons twenty second


class steam sloops, of two thousand tons each !;


twenty-five third class steam sloops, of one


thousand tons, and ffty-Ave fourth class steam
gunboats, averaging six hundred tons. This


would make our effective navy one hundred
and sixty vessels. One hundred and twenty
OF these would be employed in foreign squad


rons, one-half at . time, or an appropriation
could be made annually for sixty vessels of
fall steam and sail power, the vessels for har-
bor defence to be laid up and cared for until
they are wanted. This would not be largo
navy for this country; on the contrary, 1t
would be termed in England and France q
small one. Still, for want Of better, 1t
would suffice in these times Of heavy taxation,
and it would enable the naval authorities to
send respectable squadrons abroad, and with
the energetic cruising done by our officers we
conld manage to have our flag shown in places
where 1t has not been seen for many years.
The current Navy Register presents an array
Of names OF vessels, and to the uninitiated it
would appear that we had sufficient number
of ships of war to meet the demands Of our COM
merce. On close examination Of the list, how
ever, it will appear that many OF the ponderous
names borne on the register belong to vessels
that can render no assistance either In peace
or war. There are at the present time forty
one wooden vessels in commission and four
iron-clads, making an effective force aHoat Of
forty-five vessels Of all classes. In addition
to these there are eleven vessels on the stocks
that can be got ready in year, seventeen
steam vessels capable of being repaired, and
fourteen iron-clads that can be got ready for
harbor defence in two wecks-in all, eighty
seven vessels that can be made effective in
time of war, although even from this total
should be deducted five sailing vessels OF
the remaining vessels borne on the register
yard duty, vessels employed in the transporta-
tion of stores hulks, receiving ships, school
ships, practice ships and experimental vessels
which have been proved to be worthless. So
we have nearly one hundred vessels unfit for
war purposes. This is an exhibit not graft
defects in our naval organization that we wish
to see remedied.


1t will require something Of an outlay to
bring the number of vessels up to the standard
required by the Secretary of the Navys report );
but it must be remembered that this outlay
will extend through several years-f9W or
Eve at least; and even then we cannot hope
to have the whole number required, unless
Congress appropriate from year to year the
amount Of money asked for. We would
recommend that Congress begin the work
at once, as it will take some time to
collect the timber and shape the iron for our
future war ships, so that at least a year will
be lost in making preparations. We would
also recommend that all the iron ships and all
the engines be built by contract at some of the
private. machine shops in this country, and
that outside sbipbuilders be invited to offer
plans for modelling and building some of the
wooden steam vessels. This will inaugurate a
jealous competition between our naval con-
structors and private shipbuilders. 1t will
nfuse new life into our dockyards and machine
shops. and it will relieve the public mind,
which will feel easy when Congress is seen
taking some steps to place the navy in az ssAa- II
cient condition. Now, what member Of the
| Senate Or House of Representatives will COM


mcnce this work by Offering the proper resoli-


ton? Who will take the opportunity that is
offered to make himself name with the
American people?