No. 4.

BUREAU OF YARDS AND DOCKS, October 12, 1850.

SIR: In compliance with your instructions of the 6th August last, I have the honor to submit my report, with the estimates from this bureau, for the fiscal year ending 30th June, 1852.

These estimates have, after careful consideration, been reduced to the smallest amount that a due regard to the public interest, and the present state and future progress of the several works of improvement at the respective navy-yards, will permit. It will be seen that the aggregate amount falls short of the last year's estimates in the sum of $1,113,742; owing chiefly to the fact, that nothing further is required for the completion of the floating docks now under contract.

The present report will exhibit the progress which has been made, with the amounts expended, for improvements and repairs for the last three quarters of the fiscal year ending 30th June, 1850. This is done with a view to enable the bureau hereafter to make the annual reports correspond with the fiscal year.

There are at this time eight navy-yards and two naval stations, which, with the Naval Asylum and the care of the timber upon the public lands, have been placed under the direction of this bureau. It is evident that considerable outlay and expenditures must be made for keeping these establishments in a good state of improvement and repair, and ready at all times to meet the wants of the service, whether as dock-yards for ship building, manufacturing or other purposes; and if kept in such condition, they will be found, with the addition of a naval depot in the State of California, amply sufficient to meet all the demands of our present navy for many years to come.

A description of the work done at the several navy-yards, and the particular objects for which appropriations are asked for the next fiscal year, with explanatory remarks thereon, will be found in detail under the head of each yard, to which I respectfully ask your attention, as follows, viz:

PORTSMOUTH, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

The works of improvement at this yard which have been completed since the 1st October, 1849, are: the quay wall west of ship-house No. 4, and the filling behind it; storehouse No. 30; pitch-house and engine. house; timber-shed No. 27; wall west of timber-sheds Nos. 6 and 7, and the powder magazine.

The progress made upon the other authorized improvements has been satisfactory, and they are all in a state of forwardness which promises an early completion. Timber-shed No. 28 is finished, except a small portion of the paving and painting. Quay wall east of ship house No. 4 is completed, and the enclosed space is about three-fourths filled up. The work upon the commander's quarters has progressed rapidly; the building is now nearly completed, and will probably be ready for occupation during this fall or the coming winter. Such repairs have been made upon the existing improvements as were required for their protection and preservation; and there has been expended upon all authorized improvements from the 1st of October, 1849, to the 30th of June, 1850, the sum of $29,382 63.

Estimates are submitted for the fiscal year ending 30th June, 1852, for commencing a quay wharf across the head of the timber dock; for filling in around the walls of the floating dock basin, paving around tim ber shed, magazine wharf, and filling in low grounds, engine-house, wharf, and filling east of No. 4, and for repairs of all kinds, amounting in the aggregate to $64,527.

The quay wharf, and the filling around the walls of the basin, are deemed highly necessary for the protection and successful operation of the important works now nearly completed. The pavement around the timber shed is required to carry off the water and render that portion of the yard useful. The magazine wharf is much desired, as there is at present no wharf in the vicinity at which articles for the magazine can be landed. The engine-house is very necessary for the accommodation of machinery to be driven by the steam-engine provided for the basin and railways.

The amount estimated for repairs of all kinds will be necessary for the preservation of the different buildings at the yard.

BOSTON.

Since the 1st of October, 1849, the works of improvement at this yard have advanced rapidly; those which have been completed are timber shed No. 37, wharf No. 59, and tracks in gun-park, and shot beds. The other works in progress are the sail-loft and cordage store; wall and filling in southwest of ship-house H; coal house near smithery; paving avenue 63; anchor hoy and water tank; reservoir, drain, pipes, &c., and addition to brick barn; all of which will be completed during the year 1850, except the sail loft, which will probably be finished next year. Such repairs have been made upon the different buildings in the yard as were requisite for their preservation, and the amount expended for improvements from the 1st October, 1849, to the 30th June, 1850, is $74,186 96.

Estimates are submitted for the fiscal year ending 30th June, 1852, for completing sail loft and cordage store; grading and paving; storehouse No. 36; paving, grading, and filling in between Nos. 27, 28, 29, and 30; grading yard; paving gutters; drains; rain-water cistern; rebuilding smithery; coal-house near rope-walk; dredging slips; completing steam. tug and water-tank, and for repairs of all kinds, amounting to $104,450.

The sail-loft and cordage store is nearly completed, and a small amount is required to finish it and place the grounds around it in such condition as to render this important building convenient and useful. The amount asked for No. 36 is highly necessary, as this building will furnish several excellent work-shops, which are much wanted. Pavements, drains, grading and filling in low places, are all of the utmost importance. The present smithery is a very old building, much decayed and inconvenient in its arrangements: it is proposed to remove this old building and erect one having all the modern improvements and conveniences for the proper execution of the large amount of work done at this yard. A coal-house for the storage of coal to supply the engines at the rope walk is much wanted. A small sum is required to complete the steam-tug; this vessel is now receiving the machinery, and will be a very valuable acquisition. The amount asked for repairs will be required to meet the current expenses for that object.

NEW YORK.

Two houses for officers' quarters have been completed since the 1st of October, 1849, and are now occupied. The iron and copper store is nearly completed, and a small amount has been expended in dredging channels, filling in and building a fence along Flushing avenue, and paving gutters; the usual annual repairs have been made upon the exist ing improvements, and there has been expended for improvements, from the 1st of October, 1849, to the 30th June, 1850, the sum of $19,779 53. For the fiscal year ending 30th June, 1852, estimates are submitted for a smithery, saw-mill, continuation of quay wall, cob-wharf, dredging channels, timber-shed, paving gutters and flagging, cisterns, gutters and leaders to ship-houses and timber-sheds, filling in timber-pond, and for repairs of all kinds, amounting to $178,500.

The amount asked for the smithery is highly necessary, the present building being small, inconvenient, and requiring extensive repairs. The saw mill is much wanted, as all the sawing is now done by hand, which is a slow and expensive method. At the late session of Congress an appropriation was made for facing the wharves of this yard with stone; and an additional amount is now asked for the continuation of this very important work. The amounts asked for cob wharf, dredging channels, paving gutters, cisterns, &c., are very much wanted. A new timber-shed is required at this yard, the present sheds being entirely insufficient for the protection and preservation of the valuable ship timber on hand. The estimate for repairs of all kinds will be required to preserve the buildings, and render them useful.

PHILADELPHIA.

The only work of improvement which has been completed at this yard since the 1st October, 1849, is the addition of a second story to a portion of the smithery. The extension of ship house G is nearly completed; a portion of the amount appropriated for the extension of wharves Nos. 1, 2, and 3 has been expended, and the work is now in progress; two-houses for officers will be completed and occupied this fall; the build. ing slip for ship house G is nearly finished, and the new timber-shed will be completed and ready for use during the month of October. The buildings in the yard have been kept in a proper state of repair; and for the several improvements there has been expended, from the 1st of October, 1849, to the 30th June, 1850, the sum of $33,689 58.

Estimates are submitted for the fiscal year ending 30th June, 1852, for launching slip to ship-house G, addition to walls of basin, and filling in old timber-pond, and for repairs of all kinds, amounting to $24,400.

Ship-house G having been moved towards the river, it becomes necessary to construct a new launching slip. The building ways are now in a condition to be used for building purposes; and to render them complete, the launching-slip is required A small addition to the walls of the basin, and the filling up of the old timber-pond, has been found necessary; and a small amount is asked for these objects. The usual amount is asked for the necessary annual repairs upon the several buildings and other improvements.

WASHINGTON.

Since the first of October last the following works have been completed at this yard, and are now in successful operation: fitting of part No. 11 for a boiler shop, steam-hammer for faggoting scrap iron, steam-hammer in place of old tilt hammer, extending brass-foundry, boiler and furnace for small faggoting hammer, and boilers for engines Nos. 1 and 2.

The work upon the stone wharf has progressed satisfactorily, and a small amount will be required to complete it. The large boring-mill has been put in operation, and several heavy lathes and planing-machines have been built, and the other machinery provided for by the appropriation of March 3, 1849, is advancing towards completion. The necessary repairs have been put upon the several buildings in the yard, and there has been expended for improvements and repairs since 1st October, 1849, to the 30th of June, 1850, the sum of $24,948 49.

This yard has become of much importance as a manufacturing estab lishment; all the chain-cables, anchors, tanks, and many other articles for the navy, are now made here; and tools have been procured for building and repairing steam-engines and other machinery. To obtain greater facilities for the performance of the increased work at this yard, estimates are submitted for the fiscal year ending 30th June, 1852, for filling up timber dock, saw-mill and machinery, ordnance building No. 11, completing wharf, slide-lathes, copper rolling mill, for conveying water to the yard, reservoirs, pipes, &c., railway in ship house T, paint-shop, wharf-crane, raising brass-foundry and tank-shop one story, and for repairs of all kinds, amounting to $224,800. The amount asked for filling up a portion of the timber-dock is much wanted, the land to be made being required for a site for the saw mill. The old saw-mill building having been converted into a machine shop, a new mill is highly necessary. The ordnance building is an important and desirable improvement, the present shops being entirely too small for the performance of the large amount of work to be done in that department. At the last session of Congress an appro priation was made for the commencement of a copper rolling mill, and the amount now asked will be required for its completion. The estimate for conveying water to the yard is of great importance; most of the water used for drinking purposes is now obtained daily, at heavy expense, a spring about one mile distant from the yard, and it is contemplated to procure the water, by pipes, from the spring on public reservation No. 17. An estimate is submitted for building a railway in ship-house T. This will be a valuable appendage, as we have now great facilities at this yard for the repairs of steamers and construction of steam-engines; and it fre quently becomes necessary to haul the vessel upon the ways, which can be done with much more ease and safety, and at less expense, it this appropriation is granted. The other objects for which estimates are included are all necessary for executing the large amount of work now done at this yard. The estimate for repairs will be required to meet the current expenses for that object.

NORFOLK.

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The improvements which have been completed since the 1st October last are 600 feet of quay wall; 450 feet of pile-wharf; coal-house, and the

steam-hammer and engine, for the smithery. The wall across the tim ber dock is nearly finished; one large cistern has been built, and is complete with the exception of the pipes; the engine-house for the smithery is nearly finished, and the amount appropriated for that object at the late session of Congress will be sufficient to meet all further expenses. A large amount of materials has been collected for building No. 19, the foundations have been built, and the walls are in rapid progress. This valuable building will probably be ready for occupation early in the spring. The several buildings in the yard have been kept in good repair, and there has been expended for improvements $66,960 80.

Estimates are submitted for the fiscal year ending 30th June, 1852, for sea-wall at St. Helena; saw-shed; cylinder exhaust pump, &c.; watertank and capstans, and for repairs of all kinds; amounting to $50,800. The sea-wall at St. Helena is necessary for the protection of the works erected at that place; the saw-shed is much wanted, there being no suitable place for sawing the curved timber for ship-building. During the past year a series of experiments has been made by the inspector of timber, James Jarvis, esq., to ascertain the proper season for felling timber; the cause and progress of decay; and, if possible, to discover means by which decay and the ravages of the marine worm may be arrested.

These experiments have established some important facts; and for the purpose of pursuing them further, an estimate is submitted for a cylinder and exhaust pump. The water-tank and capstans are much wanted; and to meet the current expenses for repairs of all kinds, the estimate submitted will be necessary.

PENSACOLA.

The improvements which have been completed at this yard since the 1st October, 1849, are the store-house No. 26, and cistern; four houses for warrant officers; coal-house; drains in rear of officers' quarters, and pavements in east and south avenues. The smith's and machine shop is now occupied, and arrangements have been made for procuring such machinery as will render the establishment complete. The guard-house is nearly finished, the walls being built and the roof slated. The paint-shop and cooperage will probably be completed during the next year.

The foundation for the new timber-shed is commenced, and the building will probably be ready for use in January next. A portion of the materials for the rail tracks has been procured, and the remainder is under contract. The brick kitchens for officers' houses are nearly completed. Nearly all the materials for the 1st and 2d class houses have been procured, and four of the houses are in a state of forwardness. The progress upon all these works has been highly satisfactory.

The permanent wharf has not progressed during the past year, as the bureau had been led to expect. In his report of 20th September, 1849, the engineer stated that by the end of the fiscal year (30th June, 1850) he expected to have 200 feet of the southeast face of the wharf above the water, and the foundation of the remaining 200 feet in a state of forwardness, provided means were furnished to carry on the work. Ample provision has been made for this object; the wants of the engineer have been promptly supplied from this bureau, and he has been repeatedly urged to go forward with the work. I regret to say, however, that his expectations