Rensselaer Republican, Volume 12, Number 12, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 December 1879 — Report of the Secretary of the Navy [ARTICLE]

Report of the Secretary of the Navy

- Washington, November 27. Secretary Thompson, in his report of the condition and operations of the Navy Department, says: The condition of the navy has greatly Improved during tho past year. There are now In commission thirty-five vessels, consisting of cruisers, monitors and torpedo boats. Of the different classes, sixteen can be put in condition for sea service in a few months, and twenty could be made ready in an emergency. With this done, the fighting force of the navy< which might be made available in a very short time, would consist of eighty-one vessels of all classes, and if to this number be added the four monitors—Terror, Puritan, Amphitrite and Monadnock—and eighty powerful tugs, which can be fitted for eithercruisersor torpedo lioats, our whole effective fighting force would consist of ninety-three vessels. The unexpended balance or appropriations which stood to the credit of the Department at the last fiscal year was $1,418,215.37, which, added to the appropriations, makes the aggregate of appropriations available for the fiscal year ending Juno 90, 1830, $11,502 251.67. The table .of estimates submitted of the expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1381, Aggregate $11,161,147, showing an excess over the appropriations of the previous year of $361,899. This excess is accounted for by the fact that the estimate for the pay of the navy was rcducod $106,725 in the appropriations; That $90,0X) will be required by the system of training boys for the navy and toy other expenses in various bureaus which are mentioned in detail. For the first time probably in the history of the Government the expenses of the past j-ear were less than the amount of the appropriation.