620 



NAVY OF THE UNITED STATES. 



vessel of suitable size and equipments fitted up 

 to search for the steamer Jeannette, of the 

 Arctic Exploring Expedition. A Government 

 steamer was also sent to aid in the sume benevo- 

 lent undertaking, for the particulars of which 

 see " GEOGRAPHICAL EXPLORATIONS." The first 

 vessel remains over, to continue the search in 

 the summer of 1882. The United States steamer, 

 being wholly unsuccessful in the main object of 

 her cruise, returned to New York in November. 



The Bureau of Ordnance reports that, besides 

 its usual work of fitting batteries of ships for 

 sea, and keeping up the stock of manufactured 

 articles for current service, it has been engaged 

 in improving the ballistic power of certain of 

 the Parrott muzzle-loading rifles by converting 

 them to breech-loaders with enlarged powder- 

 chambers. An earnest remonstrance is made 

 on the subject of modern rifled breech-loading 

 cannon, a matter which has frequently been 

 brought to the attention of Congress. " Our 

 vessels of war are obliged to appear to great 

 disadvantage beside those of ostensibly equal 

 force belonging to other nations, and our bat- 

 tery power is so low as to justify the gravest 

 apprehension in case we should be called upon 

 to meet foreign ships of equal size in battle." 

 As there seems to be an impression prevailing 

 in some quarters that torpedoes alone would 

 suffice for the defense of the coast against a 

 hostile fleet, care is taken to dispel this im- 

 pression, and it is affirmed positively that " tor- 

 pedoes, either for defense or attack, must be 

 covered or defended by the fire of powerful 

 rifled guns, both afloat and ashore. The two 

 destructive agents (artillery and torpedoes) 

 supplement each other, and, as a rule, must be 

 employed together." 



The appropriations available for the current 

 expenses of the year ending June 30, 1881, 

 were $15,035, 752.45, to which should be added 

 $59.309 transferred from the navy pension fund 

 to the Naval Asylum. There should also* be 

 added $185,443.31, appropriated to cover defi- 

 ciencies for 1881, making a total of $15,280,- 

 504.76. There was also a balance on hand at 

 the beginning of the year, under the appropria- 

 tions for pay of the navy and pay of marine 

 corps, of $1,495,313.35. From this sum should 

 be deducted $673,183.46, amounts due from 

 said appropriations to "general account of ad- 

 vances," and also $3,565.68 carried to the sur- 

 plus fund; also the sum of $19,458.94 appro- 

 priated for charts of the Amazon and Madeira 

 Rivers, etc., transferred from appropriations 

 made for that year and carried to the account 

 for indefinite appropriations. The net amount 

 available for the year was $16,020,301.03. The 

 expenditures were $14,450,789.86, leaving a 

 balance of $1,569,511.17. To this should be 

 added unexpended balances in the hands of 

 pay-officers, $692,987.74, which shows that 

 the net expenditures for the fiscal year were 

 $2,262,498.91 less than the amount applicable 

 therefor. The amount of appropriations avail- 

 able for the fiscal year (ending June 30, 1882) 



is $14,874,269.55 ; also transferred from navy 

 pension fund to the Naval Asylum, $59,813, 

 making a total of $14,934,082.55. The num- 

 ber of navy invalids, navy widows, and others 

 is 4,195 ; the amount paid for pensions is $965,- 

 138.24. 



The Naval Academy appears to be in ex- 

 cellent condition. It is regarded as a source 

 of pride to the department, and of usefulness 

 to the country. It is believed that the Acad- 

 emy is, in all respects, at this time superior to 

 any other naval school in the world. This ex- 

 cellence arises from the system of instruction 

 originally introduced at the first formation of 

 the school, and since then perfected by such re- 

 forms and improvements in its curriculum and 

 general management and discipline as have be- 

 come necessary in the course of time. The 

 interest and zeal which have been exhibited by 

 the corps of officers and instructors in charge 

 of the Academy are entitled to commendation. 

 In this connection it may be noted that the 

 training-ships for the purpose of training boys 

 to become seamen have proved very effective, 

 and, for the first time in our history, the naval 

 apprentice system seems to be established on 

 a sure foundation, from which the navy will 

 soon reap material advantages. It is confi- 

 dently believed that this training squadron will 

 maintain its present efficiency, and may be re- 

 lied on in future to furnish a nucleus for sea- 

 men for the navy. 



There are in the navy-yards large accumu- 

 lations of property, consisting of the ancient 

 hulls of vessels of war, launches and other 

 ships' boats, old machinery and condemned 

 stores and materials, and other effects, which 

 have become unfitted for use in the navy. 



The career of the celebrated United States 

 frigate Constitution, commonly known as " Old 

 Ironsides," so renowned in song and story, is 

 ended at last. December 15, 1881, she was 

 formally put out of commission at the Brook- 

 lyn Navy-Yard, her ensign being hauled down 

 in the presence of Admiral Cooper and the 

 other officers attached to the station. Since 

 then the Constitution has been stripped of her 

 spars and guns and has taken her place in 

 what is called "Rotten Row," with the Sus- 

 quehanna and Ticonderoga, and unless broken 

 up will be allowed to fall gradually to pieces. 

 Once before it was determined to put " Old 

 Ironsides " out of commission, but the lines of 

 one of our poets 



" Ay, tear her tattered ensign down ! " 



saved the frigate, and prolonged her career for 

 twoscore years. The keel of the Constitution 

 was laid in Boston, Massachusetts, November, 

 1795, and she was launched in October, 1797. 

 Her first cruise was made in the summer of 1 798, 

 and her first commander was Captain Samuel 

 Nicholson. Her last voyage was made in No- 

 vember, 1881, and her last captain was Com- 

 mander E. M. Shepard. In 1804 the Consti- 

 tution, under Preble, silenced the land batter- 



