or thought proper to be purchased in advance, our means From the great advantages already realized in the ease for the supply of live oak-it being the most important and rapidity of repairs in vessels at the yards where these species-have been fully investigated and discussed in a dry docks are situated, I am satisfied that others would be special report to Congress from this Department during found very beneficial. Surveys were formerly had for two the last session. Referring to that for detailed information more, one at New York and one at Portsmouth; and a reon this point, I would only add, that subsequent examina- port in favor of those two was once made and approved tions in some of the then unfinished districts have fully in the House of Representatives. Much can be urged in confirmed the impressions entertained concerning the favor of the former place, on account of its central posi. great quantity of live-oak timber on portions of the public tion, and great resources for repairs, stores, seamen, and lands in those districts. In respect to the other kinds of werkmen; and of the latter place, on account of the low timber needed in ship-building, the Government has made price of labor, small cost of constructing a dock, and the little public provision, and doubts exist whether it will be easy access to it by vessels of all classes at all seasons of necessary to make any further public provision for its the year. But whether one, or both, or neither, shall be growth or preservation while the prices continue so mod-selected at this time, is submitted to the proper authority, erate, and the resources of the country in such timber are on a review of the whole subject. It must he obvious likely for many years to remain so very abundant. that the relative importance of different stations must undergo changes as the capacities of different quarters of the country become more fully developed; and that some places now employed as naval depots can be of very little use on the occurrence of war, while the positions of others, when that event may happen, will greatly increase their usefulness. Among the new places which, on such an occasion, if not earlier, the interests of the country may require the Government to occupy for naval purposes, will undoubtedly be Newport harbor on the North, and one or more positions on the long range of coast to the South, between Norfolk and Pensacola. Whether the last selection should be made near Charleston or Savannah, at Key West or the Dry Tortugas, each of which possesses advantages for such purposes, can be better decided when the time and circumstances occur rendering immediate action necessary. The continuance of Pensacola as a naval station seems to me judicious. This opinion arises not only from its convenient position as to the whole Gulf of Mexico, but its proximity to the mouths of the Mississippi and Mobile rivers, whose great and growing commerce is so amply entitled to the best protection. In the depth and size of its bay, in the excellent defences at its mouth, in its healthy situation, in its easy access to all our vessels except of the two highest classes, Pensacola has no prominent rival in that neighborhood. The correspondence and documents annexed (0 1 and 2) are submitted, to aid yourself and Congress to judge of the practicability and propriety of deepening the entrance to the bay, so as to admit vessels of the largest class. This, it is supposed, can be effected at a small expense compared with the importance of such a measure to the full opera tions of our navy on that coast, and to the greater security and strength of our Southern maritime defences.

The erection of two new magazines where none before existed, is proposed the next season, and an estimate for that purpose is submitted. (L.) Connected with this, a thorough inspection has been made, not only of our present ordnance stores, but, as previously mentioned, of all our arms on hand, with a view to the sale of such as is defective or unsuitable, and to the procurement of what may be found necessary to produce uniformity and the greatest power in our future armaments. The usual sum of about ten thousand dollars has been expended for the purchase of such ordnance and ordnance stores as the current wants of the service required. The buying and manufacture of iron tanks for all our vessels in commission are in rapid progress under the late appropriation for that purpose; and should Congress sanction the making of our own cordage, as heretofore asked, and as now again proposed in the general estimates, the equipment of our vessels would soon become, throughout, all which the friends of the service could desire, for health, safety, efficiency, and national reputation.

After much deliberation, the Department has become convinced that the building or purchase of two store-ships for the Pacific station, to be used in the transportation and the preservation there of supplies of all kinds, would promote sound economy, and increase the comforts of our seamen. An estimate for the procurement of one the ensuing year is submitted. (M.) We are obliged to pay freight for these supplies, heavy duties either on their being landed or re-shipped, and large rent for storehouses. The duties are a burden from which we are almost entirely exonerated under similar circumstances in other quarters of the world. The proposed measure would relieve us from them as well as the other charges; and the storeships, by going out and returning separately and alternately, would afford great facilities to exchange or bring home invalid officers and seamen, without incurring the expense of their passages in merchant vessels from so distant a station.

The construction of two or three small steam batteries, for reasons heretofore recommended, is still deemed highly important to our future interests; and too long delay in making further experiments, and in acquiring further science on this subject, in our naval service, may, on the sudden occurrence of hostilities, place us in a position not a little mortifying to our pride, and hazardous to our welfare. The different navy yards are essential portions of our naval establishment, connected with its materials. The condition of most of them has been improved the past year, either by new buildings for officers' quarters, or new storehouses and timber-sheds, or new wharves and other conveniences.

The two dry docks at the yards near Norfolk and Boston having been successfully completed in all essential particulars; the details on that subject will be found in the report annexed. (N, 1, 2, and 3.) This report shows the whole expenditure the last year, not only on that subject, but on all others under the head of gradual improvement.

The exchange of lands at the yard near New York, authorized at the last session of Congress, has been carried into effect. The controverted claim of the heirs of Mr. Harris to a part of the navy yard near Boston, has once been laid before Congress, and a new action having been instituted by them against the commander of that station, as will be seen by the letter annexed, such course will be pursued in its defence as Congress may be pleased to direct. (P.)

Some new pretensions have been set up to different parcels of land included in our possession and purchases at Norfolk, but their justice cannot be recognised on the facts known to the Department; and those making them have been informed that no steps can be taken for their adjustmen', unless the parties previously obtain the sanction of Congress, or a judgment in their favor by the courts of law.

The expenditures on all the yards the last year, exIclusive of the dry docks, but including houses, sheds, stores, wharves, enclosures, workshops, marine barracks, and incidental labor, have been about $360,000. The expenditures on the dry docks are chargeable to a distinct appropriation for gradual improvement, and were about $180,000. The other expenditures under the last head were about $150,000. (N, 1.) The estimates for the usual

23d CoNG. 1st SESS.]

Documents accompanying the President's Message. •

objects at the yards, the ensuing year, are about the aver- underwood and common timber from about 200 acres of age amount for the last two years. Besides those objects, the plantation, had been accomplished before the charge they include an extra sum towards the erection of rope of this Department was placed in my hands. It seemed walks, in conformity with the plan adopted by Congress in to me judicious, in that state of things, to attempt to pre1827, and yet the whole amount requested towards these serve any benefits already attained or fairly anticipated, and all other improvements at all the yards is only $354,000. by continuing to destroy, a few years longer, the annual Immediately connected with the subject of our yards, growth of other wood injurious to the young live.oak is that of our naval hospitals and the naval asylum. Un- trees, to trim and train the thriftiest new ones appearing, der the appropriations lately made by Congress, new hos- and to employ merely the leisure of the hands so enga. pitals have been commenced near Pensacola, New York, ged, in extending this process to more of the land. From and Boston, on retired and healthy sites, combining great 200 acres of land, and 22,000 live-oak trees, to which, in convenience and beauty. The plans of these have been 1829, the above system had been applied, it has since formed on a scale suited only to the present wants of the 1831 been so continually extended, that the nursery has service, but capable of easy and appropriate enlargement become enlarged to 225 acres, and includes over 60,000 hereafter; whenever our necessities may require it. An trees. The expense attending this has been about 1,200 additional sum will be needed to finish them in the man- dollars a year: but should any considerable portion of the ner proposed, and to make further progress in the hospi-trees ever reach maturity, and attain a size suitable for tal before built at Norfolk. (Q.) Such expenditures shipbuilding, the Government will be amply repaid. As have been made the past year on the latter from the gen- the trees grow larger, the annual expense concerning the eral hospital fund, as could well be spared, and as the same number will rapidly diminish. Doubts exist whecomforts of its inmates seemed most urgently to demand. ther some of them, from the poverty of the soil, and their It is much larger than our present necessities require, apparently dwarfish character, will ever attain a valuable and therefore it is not proposed to finish the whole inte- size. But it is now too early for forming a decisive opinrior of it; but the exterior of this hospital is now chiefly ion on the extent to which the operation of these causes completed, and it has become one of the most beautiful may affect the whole plantation: and, under existing cirand useful public buildings belonging to the Govern- cumstances, sound policy appears to require that the exment. The naval asylum at Philadelphia has been fin- periment, having gone so far, should be allowed a further ished, and partly furnished. But it is much regretted and full trial. The nearness of the plantation to the Penthat the Department has not been able to obtain a cession sacola yard, and to water transportation, enhances much of jurisdiction over it without reservations that render the the value of any timber it may produce. Lately, I have cession wholly nugatory. Besides retaining the usual not only placed this land under the general superintendpower in the State to execute criminal and civil process, ence of the commander of that yard, but required his the reservations subject it to, and it actually is burdened particular and constant vigilance over the live-oak reserby, the assessment of large taxes, which are paid from vations in all that region of country. the hard earnings of our seamen; and an unlimited right is retained to cut up the property by new streets. Further efforts are now making by the Department to obtain relief from these onerous taxes and liabilities, so disadvantageous, if not fatal to the success of this public and charitable institution. Should these efforts fail, all the correspondence and documents in the case will be submitted, in order that such legislation may be had as the whole circumstances connected with the subject shall be thought to require.

The general condition of the hospital fund may be seen in the statement before referred to. (D, 6.)

The ordinary purchases of medicines and surgical instruments for use in hospitals and yards, and in vessels afloat, are included under a specific appropriation, and are about 35,000 dollars yearly. The pay and subsistence of the surgeons and assistant surgeons attached to the hospitals, are provided for under the general appropriation for navy officers. The other annual expenses of our hospital establishment, independent of buildings, furniture, and repairs, are about $1,000. These are defrayed wholly from assessments on the seamen and officers. From the same quarter come all other resources for the establishment, with the exception of such appropriations as Congress have made, from time to time, to aid in erecting and furnishing buildings. These last appropriations have been made but seldom, and have within ten years amounted to a sum which would be on an average about $22,150 annually: and for the same purposes during that period, the fund has furnished, from its annual increase and former accumulations, about $45,000 annually. Should Congress grant what is now asked, more will probably not be wanted for many years. In immediate connexion with the yards, hospitals, and other real estate, belonging to our naval establishment, is the live-oak plantation. Being situated only seven miles from our most Southern yard, it has the past year been placed under the same general superintendence. The purchase of the land, and the cutting and removal of the

The whole agencies, heretofore connected with our live oak, have, as before suggested, been discontinued; all the districts, except small portions of two, having been explored as fully as is deemed useful till the surveys of the land into townships and sections shall be completed. As fast as they may be completed, arrangements have been made for additional reservations of public land, on which live oak has been ascertained to abound; and the prospect of a sufficient supply of that kind of timber in future is flattering, if that on private lands, as these are wanted to be cleared for cultivation, be, from time to time, purchased at moderate prices, and placed in depot for the frames of vessels specially authorized or collected under the head of gradual improvement. On this whole subject, I have so recently and at such length submitted to Congress the views of this Department, that further observations here are not deemed necessary. (See report on live oak to House of Representatives, December 14, 1832.)

Some miscellaneous matters connected with the navy deserve a brief notice. The usual attention has been bestowed on the suppression of the slave trade. The colony of Liberia has been visited by the schooner Porpoise, while in pursuit of a piratical vessel; and which vessel, it is gratifying to add, is supposed to have been since captured by a British brig, and her criminal career terminated near the island of St. Thomas, on the coast of Africa. One-half of the usual appropriation on the subject of the slave trade will probably be sufficient for the ensuing year, as may be seen by the state of the account herewith submitted. (R.)

The renewal of an appropriation for the relief of Alexander Claxton, made in May, 1830, has become necessary, in consequence of its having been transferred to the surplus fund before all the persons entitled to it were able to procure the necessary vouchers. The proceedings of the Board appointed under a resolution of Congress to revise the naval regulations, will be soon submitted in a separate report.

Documents accompanying the President's Message.

The survey of our seacoast having been placed in charge of the Treasury Department, it is not in my power officially to state its progress; but officers have been detailed, and all available facilities provided, whenever the wishes of those superintending the subject have been communicated.

[23d CoNG. 1st SESS.

both personal and material, it has been able to erect hospitals, to construct dry docks, to improve greatly the old yards, to add and maintain a new one on our Southern frontier, and to collect in depot a large amount of valuable stores as a part of the due preparation in peace for the various contingencies of war. With a careful regard to Some expenses under the contingent appropriation for system and economy, and with strict accountability in enumerated objects, have not been included under any agents and officers, this policy can long be pursued and of the amounts already mentioned; but they belong to extended without making the ordinary annual demands courts martial, to pilotage of vessels, to transportation of for this branch of the service often exceeding four milmaterials, to the purchase of charts and books, and vari-lions; and if, without essential changes by Congress, inous other small items, forming an aggregate of $80,000. creasing our present expenses, and without any unfore On a review of the whole affairs of this Department, it seen and extraordinary wants, our fiscal operations can appears that its expenditures, on all naval subjects, the usually be confined within that amount yearly, it is contipast year, have been somewhat less than four millions of dently hoped the naval establishment will not be considdollars. It will be seen how this result compares with er wasteful or burdensome beyond its benefits to the former periods, by adverting to the fact that, during the country. In disbursing between three and four millions last twenty years, these expenditures, except during five the past year, it is not known that a single instance of years of that time, have never fallen so low as three mil- any loss has occurred. lions; and, except during six years of that time, have never exceeded four millions. The whole estimates made the past year for the general wants of what is technically considered the navy, were only $3,176,766. Those for the year previous were $3,227,383. Those for the present year are $3,292,224. (S, 1 to 10.) But it is to be remembered that, under the head of naval expenditures, besides what is paid from the amonnt voted on the annual naval estimates, it is customary to class what is paid from half a million appropriated for a term of years to gradual improvement, almost $200,000 for the marine corps, the payments from the navy pension, hospital, and privateer pension funds, and several miscellaneous sums voted by Congress on motions, resolutions, and petitions; and part of which sums, though charged under this head, have little or no concern with our naval establishment. On the contrary, some of the expenses connected with the administration of the Department at this place are included in the general appropriation bills for the support of Government, and are not usually clased under the head of naval expenditures.

The balances on hand, unexpended, are about one million four hundred thousand dollars, but most of them will probably be wanted to close the different accounts, on all the different subjects, when finally adjusted. Connected with our financial concerns, is one other circumstance of urgent importance. The period of time at which the annual appropriations for this branch of the service are usu ally made, is a source of great inconvenience and injury. The estimates and appropriations are known generally not to extend beyond the current year; consequently, it hap. pens that, after the 1st of January, there is nothing on hand under some heads to meet the daily demands of the service, amounting, on an average, to ten thousand dol lars per day, unless a new appropriation has been made, or there happen to be some balances of the former year not called for. Under some heads such balances always exist, because some disbursements, by means of absence, distance, and other causes, are not completed within the year. But they seldom exist under other important heads, and ought not to, if the accounts are seasonably settled and the estimates were accurate, and the appropriations, as is usual, conformed to the estimates. The power now vested in the President to transfer a balance from one ap

It is a high gratification to be able to state that, since 1827, nearly half a million a year has been disbursed for gradual improvement: that within ten years a larger num-propriation to another, is confined to certain classes of ber than formerly, of seamen and officers, with increased claims, small in amount, and hence, as to all others, no pay to four classes of the latter, have been maintained; transfer can legally be made; and, if no balance remain at very great and valuable improvements, besides the dry the end of the year, and the new naval appropriation bills docks, have been begun and accomplished at many of the have not passed, payment is entirely stopped, or the whole yards; and our force in commission considerably augment-operations of this Department dependent on them are sused; and yet that all our ordinary naval expenditures are, pended. Considering how large a part of these operaand probably can be kept within four millions of dollars tions and of our expenditures necessarily takes place in annually. distant quarters of the world, it will be seen that the embarrassment of this branch of the service must often be peculiar and aggravated. In the case of bills of exchange drawn abroad, chargeable to the appropriations already exhausted, the public faith, under the above circumstances, is sometimes in danger of being violated, our credit in foreign countries becomes injured, and the Treasury (as actually happened during the last winter) is exposed to large losses, if the holders choose to resort to protests and claims for the mercantile rate of damages.

The smaller appropriations originally made for the navy, served to maintain the few officers and seamen then employed, and supplied us with several fine vessels, four of which are still in existence. The subsequent appropriations on a more extended scale, besides supporting the current expenses of our force in its infancy, furnished the purchase-money for most of our present yards, and defrayed the expenses of our brilliant hostilities with France, and afterwards with Tripoli; till, a few years of comparatively inactivity having ensued, the commencement and progress of the last war with England led to a great addition to the naval establishment, and to expenditures much larger than at present. The liberal appropriations that were continued for some years after that war, aided in laying a good foundation for the gradual increase of the navy, and helped to build not only many of the vessels now in commission and ordinary, but most of those upon the stocks. The appropriations for some years past have been similar in amount, and have enabled the Department enlarge its policy and widen the sphere of its operatons. Besides building some additional vessels, and defraying all the current expenses of an increased force,

Under the present system of passing so late the naval appropriation bills, it happens that, unless money voted under one head is, without authority, (as was once the prac tice,) applied under other heads, this unfortunate condition continues every short session of Congress about two months, and every long session about four months. It can easily be remedied in two methods: one of them is, to make, previous to the 1st of January, new appropriations for a quarter or half of the year towards all permanent objects. By limiting them to such a time and to such objects, and by taking the estimates of the former year as a guide, no inconvenience will interpose, and no error can occur, which may not be readily corrected when

Documents accompanying the President's Message.

re bia

n, and

te the

Documents accompanying the President's Message.

[23d CONG. 1st Sess.

The increase of the annual amount of postages within the same period is $909,119 85, and the whole amount is more than the double of what it was in 1825.

be re more than the price of the paper, which alone, contrasted 13,154,485 miles, nearly equal to the whole amount of with the amount now expending by Congress in the pub-transportation in 1829. lication of the survey of Narragansett bay, would have bought and maintained a lithographic press for three or four years. In connexion with all this, it might be employed in printing off circulars for the Department. All this, I am of opinion, would occupy a press fully, and could not be obtained by even employing another printer at the press of the War Department, (which would be the same expense, except the first cost of the press,) as the time of printing could not be at our own disposal, which is a material consideration in the success of the operation, being very much influenced by the state of the temperature. These are some of the prominent objects that have appeared to me to be embraced in your letter, and which I have the honor respectfully to submit to your consideration.

$600

100

700

For the

of the st ten

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count

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I am your most obedient servant,

CHARLES WILKES, JR.,

Ll. U. S Navy, in charge of charts, instruments, &c. Hon. LEVI WOODBURY, Sec'ry of the Navy.

The average expense of transporting the mail in 1829 was eight cents and four-tenths of a cent per mile. The average expense of transporting the mail in 1833 is seven cents and fifty-seven hundredths of a cent per mile, making a difference in the rate per mile of eightythree hundredths of a cent; equal, for the whole service, to $222,892 22 per year less, in proportion to the service performed, than the expense of transportation in 1829; besides, a great increase in expedition between the prin cipal commercial cities, and a much greater proportion of the whole performed in stages.

After carrying into effect the law of the last Congress establishing new mail routes, the present length of mail roads in the United States amounts to 119,916 miles, viz. Miles. 3,824 In Florida, New Hampshire, 2,460 Vermont,

In Maine,

2,531

494 2,102

- 1,961

- 11,010

· 10,588

North Carolina, - 6,850 South Carolina,- 4,516 Georgia, 5,274 Over these roads, the annual on the 1st of July last, was

Missouri,

Making together, 119,916

transportation of the mail

64,248 76 $166,600 31

In Maine,
N. Hampshire,]
Vermont,

The annual transportation of the mail was, on the 1st July, 1833, 26,854,485 miles.

The annual amount of the transportation of the mail in stages and steamboats, on the 1st of July, 1829, was 6,507,818 miles.

The annual amount of the transportation of the mail in stages and steamboats, on the 1st of July, 1833, was 18,322,576 miles.

The expense of transporting the mail for the year ending 30th June, 1829, was $1,153,646 61.

The expense of transporting the mail for the year

ing 30th June, 1833, was $1,894,688 08.

end

The gross amount of postages, constituting the revehues of the Department, was, for the year ending 30th June, 1829, $1,707,418 42.

The gross amount of postages for the year ending 30th June, 1833, was $2,616,538 27.

The incidental expenses of the Department for the year ending 30th June, 1829, amounted to $69,249 08.

The incidental expenses of the Department for the year ending 30th June, 1833, amounted to $87,701 61. The number of post offices in the United States on the 1st of July, 1829, was 8,004.

On the 1st of July, 1833, the number of post offices in the United States was 10,127.

The increase of the annual transportation of the mail within the four years ending the 30th June, 1833, is

VOL. X.-H

Massachusetts, 1,563,640 23,712 150,037 1,737,389

16,692 134,680 598,987 17,376 175,608 791,971

3,053,558 155,339 854,937 4,063,834

548,330 2,414,801

92,674

100,840 649,179

762,873 3,177,674

17,264 109,938

585,792 58,380 161,588| 805,760 1,277,846 88,500 778,906 2,145,252

829,415 15,288 427,076 1,271,779

658,524

368,012

47,112 41,600 86,612| 429,978 96,360 353,652

275,548 934,072

498,626 866,638

175,324

Alabama,

579,990