Alexandria Advertiser And Commercial Intelligencer

REPORT
OF THE
NAVAL ESTABLISHMENT.

Navy Department, 12th January, 1801.

SIR,

The report of the Secretary of the Treasury, containing a statement of the appropriation necessary for the year 1801, includes the estimates of the expense of maintaining the Navy of the same year. It is unnecessary therefore, for me to repeat them here.

But it will be observed, that these estimates were formed on the idea of employing our whole force in cruising, as heretofore, for the protection of our commerce. Should the United States be so fortunate as to terminate by an honourable treaty, the difference with France, it would be good economy to sell all the public vessels, except the following frigates;

The United States
The Constellation
President
Congress
Constitution
Essex
Chesapeake
Boston
Philadelphia
John Adams
New-York
Adams--and
General Green.

The rest were either built of materials which do not promise long duration or are too small to form a part of the national defence. In future wars the U. S. will probably be influenced by the example of all other nations, to suffer the capture of vessels merely commercial from their enemy; and in this event, the enterprising spirit of our citizens will quietly furnish for private emolument, nearly all the small vessels necessary to be employed; and will thus add to the national expense.

In this view, it may be sufficient for the United States to attend principally to a provision for ships of the line and frigates. The expense of maintaining the thirteen frigates, herein enumerated, in constant service, and to the present establishment of numbers, pay and rations, would amount, annually, to the sum of 1,225,048 dollars, 73 cents, as will be seen in paper No. I. But on a peace establishment, the ration, which is too large, ought to be reduced: seamen's wages will undoubtedly fall on a general peace; and in such a state of things it would not be necessary to employ in each Ship, more, than two thirds of the present number of able and ordinary seamen.

The paper No. 2, contains an estimate of the annual expense of these ships on a peace establishment, and on the principle of keeping the whole of them in constant service, amounting to 712,724 dolls. 35 cents. The paper No. 3, shows the expense of keeping only six of the frigates in constant service: the others, remaining in port, but allowing half pay to a sufficient number of commissioned officers and midshipmen for the ships so laid up, amounting to 387,257 dollars. In the paper No.
The reply directed to the estimate No. 3,
the expense of allowing half pay to all the
commissioned officers and midshipmen, at
present in service, making the whole
amount to the annual sum of 444,677 dols.
The act establishing and organizing the
marine corps considers that corps as part of
the military establishment; but subject to
perform duty on shipboard, as well as in
posts and garrisons on the sea coast, and
elsewhere on shore. It is questionable,
therefore whether the expense of this corps
ought to be provided in the estimates of
the War or Navy departments. It is cer-
tainly one of the most useful corps be-
longing to the United States, and is par-
ticularly advantageous in facilitating the
means and lessening the expense of manning
our ships; and affords to every vessel a
body of experienced and disciplined
men, always prepared for action. The
war expense of this corps is 270,957
dols. 98 cents per annum; in peace the
expense might be reduced to 207,310 dol.
lars, per estimate No 5, which being add-
ed to the estimate No. 4, would make the
whole amount to 551,987 dollars.
The acts of Congress have appropriated
2 million of dollars towards building six 74
gun ships, and for procuring, arming, &c.
six sloops of war, leaving about 700,000
dollars to be applied towards six 74 gun
ships; also 200,000 dollars for the pur-
chase of growing or other timber, or of
timbered lands for the navy, and for pre-
paring proper places for securing the tim-
ber procured; and 50,000 dollars for the
erection of two docks, for repairing the
public ships.
Under these acts, contracts have been
made for eight frames for 74 gun ships;
two of them under the appropriation of
200,000 dollars, and the execution of them
as far as six frames, will it is believed, be
completed this winter. A considerable part
of the other timber necessary for six ships
has been procured. Ground has been pur-
chased at Portsmouth, New Hampshire,
Charlestown (near Boston) Philadelphia, the
City of Washington and Norfolk, and
measures have been taken to procure ground
at New York, for capacious building and
dock yards; and progress is making in
preparing docks for receiving the timber
and wharves for building the ships. Con-
tracts have also been made for cannon and
for the copper bolts and spikes, and for
sheathing copper for the 74 gun ships; but
it is impossible to say how far those which
respect copper being very expensive and it
is to be feared beyond the reach of indi-
vidual capital and enterprise.
The sums already advanced and expend-
ed, on these different objects, cannot be
precisely ascertained, but they are not ma-
terially different from the following esti-
mate:
For ground and improve-
ments,
186,800
Timber,
210,070
Copper purchased and ad-
vances on contracts for
sheathing copper,
76,913
Cannon,
33,000
Purchase of Governor's island
and Black Beard,
22,516 75
529,299 75
The agents for disbursing this money
are also agents for all other purposes of the
avy, and it can only be seen what has
been expended under each head of appro-
priation, on settlement of their accounts.
To remit money to them under each head
of appropriation, allowing them to ex-
pend on that particular object only the
sum remitted, would be to create the ne-
cessity of keeping in each agent's hands,
four or five times as much public money as
necessary; hence the practice has arisen in
the Navy Department, of drawing on one
appropriation for all navy purposes, until
the settlement of the agent's account the
charges against each appropriation for
which the money has been expended.
The expense of building six 74 gun ships
and fitting them for sea with guns and mi-
litary stores and every other article ex-
cept men and provisions, has heretofore
been estimated at 2,403,100 dols. 64 cts.
--to complete the wharves and docks for
seasoning timber at the six places, where
ground has been purchased, and to erect
suitable houses for the reception of public
stores, will cost, including what has al-
ready been-expended, 600,000 dollars--
and to make at two of these places, pro-
per docks for repairing ships, may cost
100,000 dollars, amounting in the whole
to
3,103,800 dols.
From which is to be de-
ducted the sums alrea-
dy expended,
529,299.75
Leaving a balance still
to be appropriated of 2,574,500.25
If this balance should be divided into
four equal parts, and one part should be
appropriated in the present, and one in
each of the three succeeding years the mo-
ney will be furnished as fast as it will be
proper to build the ships, to give them
every chance of duration.
The timber alone of a 74 gun ship will
cost, delivered at the ship yard.
For the frame, consisting of 27,387 cu.
bic feet-
If of live oak, cut to the
moulds,
54,774 dols.
If partly of live oak, other
timber as valuable, and
partly of white oak,
41,080
If of white oak alone, 27,387
All the other timber, 40,000
-67,387 dols.
All the timber for a frigate to mount
44 guns, has been estimated to cost 50,000
dollars.
It will be impracticable to get more
live oak from Georgia, after the frames
already contracted for are completed; ex-
cept from the islands belonging to the U.
States, and these are too small to furnish
more than a few of the most material pieces
for many ships. It will also be seen to be im-
practicable to obtain in the U. States any
other kind of timber, superior to white
oak; but there is reason to believe, that
when our timber is as well seasoned, our
white oak ships will last as long as those
of most other countries. The experiment
has never yet been fairly made.
When the United States own twelve
ships of 74 guns, and double the number of
strong frigates, and it is known that they
possess the means of increasing with faci-
lity their naval strength; confidence may
be indulged, that we may then avoid
those wars in which we have no interest,
and without submitting to be plundered.
An annual sum of 117,387 dollars (over
and above the appropriation for the six 74
guns ships already authorized) for the pur-
chase of timber, to be laid up in docks for
74 gun ships and frigates; and the adop-
tion of efficient arrangements to secure the
manufacture of copper, the culture of hemp
and the manufacture of canvas, would, in
a few years raise us to this desirable state
of security.
Thus, then it appears, that for the small
sum of 551,987 dols. 34 cents, the United
States may keep in constant service, six
frigates; even others in port, but always
ready for service; the corps of marines,
consisting of more than 1100 officers and
men, and remunerate the past and secure
the future services of a meritorious class of
men, who in general either sacrificed more
profitable and less hazardous private em-
ployment to devote themselves to their
country in a season of peril; or who being
qualified by education for any pursuits,
have entered into the navy as a profession,
at that time of life when professions are
usually chosen.
All great maritime nations retain in
peace the commissioned navy officers necef-
sary to be employed in war, by allowing
them a portion of their monthly pay, on
the condition of holding themselves in
readiness at all times, to be called into ac-
tive service. The same provisions are not
so generally extended to midshipmen; but
the discrimination is no where just, and in
the United States, in the present instance,
it would be extremely impolitic; for the
midshipmen are among the most promising
young men of our country, possess all the
materials to make officers equal to any in
the world, and well-merit the fostering
care of their government. But it would
be injurious to themselves and to their coun-
try, to pay them for remaining at home.
No midshipmen ought to receive half pay
without exhibiting satisfactory proof that,
at least, four months of the year for which
he demanded it, had been employed by
him in acquiring a better knowledge of
his profession; if not in foreign service,
at least in the merchant ships of his own
country.
It also appears that for the further sum
of 643,625 6-100 dollars appropriated for
the present, and for each of the three suc-
ceeding years, six 74 gun ships may be
added to the navy, two frames for two
other 74 gun ships may be placed in dock
for seasoning; six capacious building yards
with docks for receiving large quantities
of timber may be prepared; and suitable
houses, which are indispensable for the se-
curity of the naval stores, may be erected
at each of the building yards.
And that for the further appropriation
of 117,387 dollars, for the timber of a 74
and a 44 gun ship to be repeated annually,
until an adequate quantity of timber shall
be obtained. the United States may ac-
quire the means of suddenly raising their
navy to any size, which the exigency of
their affairs may demand.
It will require years to cut the timber
from the woods and to build a ship of 74
guns, and after she is built of green timber
the will not last longer than the time con-
sumed in building her. A ship of the same
size, besides the immense advantage in
point of duration, may be built and sent to
sea in less than a year, if all the materials
are on the spot. Timber may be preserv-
ed for ages in docks, and at little expense;
and the knowledge that we possess it in
that state, will inspire nearly as much re-
spect for our flag, as if the ships were built,
and on the ocean.
In a pecuniary point of view, there can
be no comparison between the expense of
creating a sufficient navy, and the loss a
commerce, so great as ours will too cer-
tainly sustain for want of such protection.
But the loss of property is but a paltry con-
sideration, compared with all the humiliat-
ing and destructive consequences which must
flow from that debasement of mind, which
a system of eternal submission to injury and
injustice cannot fail to produce.
Before I conclude, I will take the liberty
of observing, that the business of the navy
department embraces too many objects for
the superintendence of one person, however
gifted. The public interest, I am very
sensible, has already suffered from this
cause; and I have no doubt, that the esta-
blishment of a board, to consist of three or
five experienced navy officers, to superin-
tend, in subordination to the head of the
department, such parts of the duties as nau-
tical men are best qualified to understand
and to direct, would produce a saving to
the public, far beyond the expense of
such establishment.
Their full pay as officers indeed and
full rations, might be deemed sufficient
compensation for such duty, as it would
be proper that the members of the board
shall retain their rank in the navy.
I have the honor to be,
With respect,
SIR,
Your most obedient servant,
BEN. STODDERT
[Harrison Gray Otis, Esq.]
Chairman of the Com-
mittee of Naval Af-
fairs.