B.

Names.

Causes which prevented
their going to sea.

Services rendered (for ten years previously to August 30, 1841.)

Yearly pay and
emoluments.

At navy yard, Philadelphia, as master commandant or commander, from December 26, 1832, to March 6, 1837.

2d Session.

Navy Dept.

REORGANIZATION-NAVY UNITED STATES.

LETTER

FROM

THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY,

TRANSMITTING

The information called for by the resolution of the House of Representatives of the 18th instant, in relation to the reorganization of the navy.

MARCH 31, 1842.

Referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs.

NAVY DEPARTMENT, March 30, 1842.

SIR: I have the honor to transmit, in reply to the resolution of the House of Representatives of the 18th instant, a copy of my communication to the chairman of the Committee on Naval Affairs of the House of the 7th instant, which contains the information called for by the resolution.

I am, with great respect, sir, your obedient servant,

Hon. JOHN WHITE,

Speaker of the House of Representatives.

A. P. UPSHUR.

NAVY DEPARTMENT, March 7, 1842. SIR In submitting to you a sketch of a bill for the reorganization of this Department, my object was to present the outline of a plan, which might be advantageously filled up after more mature reflection. That reflection I have given to the subject, and am convinced that the bill, as reported, requires important alterations. Permit me to offer, with that view, the following suggestions:

With respect to the proposed "bureau of navy yards and docks," a civil engineer, three clerks, and a draughtsman, as provided by the bill, would probably be found sufficient; but the pay proposed, particularly for the clerks, is considered inadequate to secure the services of valuable men; And the distinctions, as to grades, observed in all the departments and bureaus of the Government, and, indeed, in all mercantile houses, and other establishments where a number of clerks are employed, would, I think, be highly proper, if applied to this and all other proposed bureaus. If placed upon an equal footing with other bureaus of the Government, the compensations should be

For one chief clerk, who would be charged with the general correspondence, with the archives, and with the distribution of duties among the other clerks, and with a superintending direction over them, under the supervision of the chief of the bureau, $1,700.

For one clerk, who should prepare contracts, with the necessary copies for distribution; keep an account of money requisitions; of the appropriations for the bureau; of the deliveries under contracts; and, generally, an account of the expenditure of the articles procured. For such duties, an able accountant, thoroughly acquainted with the proper forms and guards to be observed in drawing up contracts, would be required; and such services could scarcely be expected to be faithfully, intelligently, and vigilantly performed for a compensation less than $1,400 per annum.

For a third clerk, as a general copyist and recorder, the compensation proposed (viz: $1,000) would be sufficient; and the same compensation would be sufficient for a draughtsman, who, acting under the immediate directions of the civil engineer, would seldom have to originate drawings, as it would be the duty of the engineer to prepare the originals.

The bureau of construction and repairs is very insufficiently provided for by the bill. The chief of this bureau must frequently visit the several navy yards, where ships are building or repairing, to see that services of this kind are going on in a proper and economical manner; that no more than the necessary amount of labor is employed, and that his own instructions to the subordinate constructors are faithfully observed. During such absences, an assistant constructor would be an important, if not absolutely necess ry, appendage to this bureau, which should never be left without some person competent, from professional knowledge, to act for the chief, in the current business of the bureau. This bureau would have extensive correspondence, numerous contracts, and still more numerous accounts; and a copying clerk and draughtsman would be indispensable. I would suggest for this bureau

An assistant constructor at, say

A chief clerk

A contract clerk

A clerk for accounts

A copyist and draughtsman, each at

With regard to the third bureau of "equipment, provisions, and stores,' the provisions of the bill are believed to be very inadequate to the duties arising under these heads; and so extensive and various are these duties, that I am fully persuaded they ought not to be imposed upon one bureau, but that two bureaus should be created for the performance of them.

A bureau of "equipment" would be fully employed in supervising and conducting the duties arising under this head, which embraces a greater variety of objects, probably, than any other branch of the service; all the varieties of anchors, blocks, tanks, cables of iron and of hemp, canvass of all kinds and numbers, (flax and cotton,) cambooses, standing and running rigging, copper, iron, lead, tin, paints, oils, spare stores, and innumerable articles of ironmongery and shipchandlery, necessary in the equipment of ships, are among the objects which would come under the cognizance of a "bureau of equipment." The procuring of all the hemp required, the general direction of the ropery where all the cordage for the navy is made, the procuring of hides for hide rope, are other and important duties for a

bureau of equipment" to attend to; besides causing all the necessary tests and examinations of all these varieties of articles to be observed before they are received for the public service, keeping accounts of their receipts into store, the issues out of store, charging those to whom they may be issued for expenditure, and settling their accounts, (never heretofore done,) are other duties which would devolve upon this bureau.

For the performance of these duties, five good clerks would be required,

viz:

A chief clerk, at

A contract clerk, at

Two clerks for accounts, each at

One copying clerk

A bureau of "provisions and stores," (clothing.)

$1,700

1,400

1,400

1,000

Such a bureau would be charged with the procuring of beef, pork, whiskey, bread, flour, and all the other provisions forming the navy ration; and with all the various articles of clothing required for petty officers, seamen, and others, in the various climates where our ships are employed; with the transportation to the numerous places of deposite, for the use of our ships; holding those intrusted with their expenditure accountable for them. Impositions have often been practised in furnishing these supplies; and it requires great vigilance and attention to guard against such impositions, and to secure for the service articles of the most approved quality, and guarded effectually against injury after they are received. duties would require, besides a chief of the bureau, at, say

One chief clerk, at

One clerk for contracts, &c., at

One clerk for accounts, at

And one copyiest, at

These

$3,000

1,700

1,400

1,400

1,000

No draughtsman need be allowed either for this bureau or for that of equipment.

In procuring articles of provisions and clothing for the army, two bureaus are allowed, viz: a Commissary General of Subsistence and a Commissary General of Purchases, and at an expense more than double the amount proposed for a bureau of provisions and clothing for the navy; while it may be observed, that generally the number of persons in the navy to subsist and clothe is fully as great as in the army.

In the army, also, a Quartermaster General, with a number of clerks, is allowed; and, while the duties do not, it is believed, exceed those proposed to be committed to a bureau of equipment, either in the number or value. of objects to be attended to, the annual expense considerably exceeds that proposed for a bureau of equipment.

It may be further observed, that greater impositions have been practised in furnishing articles coming under the head of equipment than, it is believed, in any other branch of the service; that hitherto the accountability for stores, after being put on board of ship, has been merely nominal; that the proposition now is to establish a perfect accountability; and therein will consist an improvement in this, as in every other branch of the service. The bureau of Ordnance.-The number of clerks proposed by the bill would probably be sufficient; but their compensations should be equal to those of the Ordnance bureau of the army. I should say

One clerk, at

One clerk, at

$1,400

1,200

One copyist, at

And a draughtsman for this bureau, at

$1,000

at least, as he would have laborious duties, and constant employment.

1,000

The bureau of Hydrography.-The number of clerks proposed would be sufficient; but the compensations should be on a footing with those for a board of ordnance. A draughtsman would be indispensable for this bureau. Maps and charts of all parts of the world would, with all the various astronomical and nautical instruments, be placed in the charge of this bureau; and means should be possessed by the bureau to multiply the most valuable charts, for the benefit of the service generally. This, under proper regulations, would produce a very considerable saving in the expense now incurred for such charts.

In the proposed bureau of medicine, &c., two clerks, as proposed by the bill, would be sufficient; but, as one of them should be a good accountant, and would have to assist in the correspondence, I would suggest that $1,200 per annum be allowed for one of the clerks, and $1,000 for the other.

These bureaus should be conducted in perfect harmony each with the others; and the heads of them will, when necessary, form a council for the Secretary. They should move upon one general principle of action, with a view to the same great purpose, viz: the construction, armament, and full equipment of our vessels, with the greatest efficiency and economy.

With regard to the office of the Secretary of the Navy, I beg leave to observe that, on entering upon its duties, I found many important matters which had not been attended to, owing, doubtless, to the necessary aids not having been provided. The necessity of additional force has frequently been urged by my predecessors, and, it may be, with the same objects in view to which I now invite your particular attention.

The Department has never possessed a proper registry of the personnel of the navy. A book is kept showing the commission and warrant officers; these form, however, in point of number, but a small portion of the navy. A proper registry should show the names, station, age, nativity, date of entry into service, and date of discharge from the service, of each and every individual, of every description, belonging to the navy; and by whomsoever any important service should be rendered, it should be specially noted on the register, as due to the individual, his family, and his country.

To keep such a registry, and prepare all the commissions and warrants of appointment, and orders for service, would require at least three good clerks. The whole personnel of the navy may be stated at 10,000, and rather increasing; and it may be said that many of these are leaving the service daily, while others are entering to take their place; so that the changes are so frequently made as to occasion far more labor than a stationary number greater than 10,000 would require.

In the army, the office of adjutant general, charged with duties similar to those arising out of a registry of the navy, and probably not more extensive or arduous, is allowed, it is believed, exceeding $15,000 per anI would propose, for the Navy Department, one principal clerk at the head of this branch, at $1,700; two assistants, viz: one at $1,400 and one at $1,200, making the aggregate cost of this branch $4,300, which is $10,000 less than is allowed for similar duties in the War Department.

num.

The provision for another branch of duties of high importance is equally defective. For preparing money warrants, and keeping the account of