with regard to progress have not been realized. In Mr. Herron's last report, dated 30th September, 1850, he states that on the southeast face of the wharf, which is to be 400 feet long, the following work only has been dene, viz: over one-half the foundation piles have been driven; the piles for 60 feet cut off at the proper depth; a portion of the wall, from 40 to 50 feet in length, commenced, a part of which is built to within 14 feet of the surface of the water only. Much time and money have been expended upon this work; and as the masonry has at length been com menced, it is hoped that during the remainder of the present fiscal year the progress of construction will be more satisfactory.

There has been expended for all improvements from the 1st October, 1849, to the 30th June, 1850, the sum of $148,897 27. Estimates are submitted for the fiscal year ending 30th June, 1852, for the permanent wharf, paint shop, and cooperage, guard-house, wharf near storehouse No. 26, tar, pitch, and oil house, storehouse for shells, house for boiling tar, pitch, &c., steam-tug and water-tank, rail tracks, fences and outbuildings for houses outside of the yard, and for repairs of all kinds, amounting to $158,713.

The sum asked for a permanent wharf is the amount which the commandant of the yard presumes will be sufficient to complete the work, he not having received the engineer's estimate and report, in consequence of his absence from the yard, in time for his annual exhibit.

The bureau, however, from a subsequent report of the engineer, believes a further sum of $100,000 will be required, in addition to the above, for the extension of this wharf.

Most of the other objects for which estimates are submitted are in progress, and the sums now asked for are required for their extension und completion.

The steam-tug and water-tank is an indispensable object, there being no efficient vessels for those purposes at this yard.

The amount asked for repairs will be necessary for the preservation of the buildings and other improvements.

MEMPHIS.

The foundation of this yard is of doubtful solidity and stability. The effect of the strong currents and overflows upon it cannot be predicted; and the most effectual means to guard against injury from these causes have not been decided upon, and the subject is of great consideration and importance. A large amount will be required to defray the expense of filling up the space allotted for the yard to a proper grade; and I recommend that a board of engineers be detailed to make a thorough examination of the premises, and report upon the nature of the bottom, the effects of the river, and devise some plan for protecting the river front, and guarding against future injury to the yard from the action of the cur rent, &c.

Since the 1st October, 1849, the work upon the embankment has been in progress, and a large space has been filled in around the buildings which have been commenced. The rope-walk building is nearly completed, and the contractor is now engaged in putting up the machinery, all of which is in the building.

During the past season the saw-mill building has been much injured

by the floods in the river, and it will be necessary to reconstruct a part of it. The joiner's shop is nearly completed, and is reported to be in good condition and of the best workmanship. The tarring house is nearly completed and ready for use. A small amount has been expended for pavements, drains, and ditches; and the total amount expended for all improvements, from the 1st October, 1849, to the 30th June, 1850, is $35,122 63. Estimates are submitted for the fiscal year ending 30th June, 1852, for embankment, rope-walk, saw mill, piling river front, paving, drains, gutters, &c., cisterns for rope-walk, line-house, and for repairs of all kinds, amounting to $116,600.

The amount asked for embankment is necessary for the protection and preservation of the buildings in progress. To complete the rope-walk and saw-mill, a small additional amount is required. The foundation of the building for officers is reported as defective and below the level of the yard. These buildings have been more expensive than was origi nally anticipated, owing in some measure to the insecurity of the founda. tions and the difficulty in obtaining suitable material and workmen. The rope walk is now very nearly completed; and it is expected that the machinery will be put in operation during the present year. The amount asked for securing the river front is of the utmost importance, as a large portion of the low ground is overflowed at high stages of the river, and liable to injury from the rapid current. Pavements, drains, and gutters, for carrying off the water, are all much wanted. The cisterns for the rope-walk are for supplying the steam boilers with pure and clean water, and are highly necessary.

A house for the storage of lime is much needed, there being no suitable place in the yard for that purpose. The amount asked for repairs of all kinds will be required for the proper preservation of the buildings in the yard.

SACKETT'S HARBOR.

At this station there has been expended from the 1st October, 1849, to 30th June, 1850, for repairs of all kinds, $344 35. Estimates are submitted for repairs of all kinds, and for grading and filling in some of the low grounds, amounting to $2,300-all of which will be necessary for the protection and preservation of the public property.

DRY DOCK, BROOKLYN, N. Y.

This important work had advanced so far towards completion as to admit of the docking of the United States ship Dale on the 8th of January, 1850. A large amount of work has been performed since the 1st of October, 1849, and the last stone of the dock was laid on the 19th of April last. The removal of the coffer dam was attended with great labor; but was successfully performed without accident. The iron floating gate was completed and delivered at the dock by the contractor on the 1st of January. The workmanship upon this gate reflects great credit upon the Contractor, Henry R. Dunham, esq. The foundation of the enginehouse is completed to the water-table, and about one-half of the quantity of granite required for the building has been delivered, and one-fifth of the whole quantity cut by the contractors.

The work upon this building has been much delayed by the failure of the contractors to deliver materials in proper time; it is now progressing rapidly, and the large pumps and engine for permanent drainage are being put up, and will probably be ready for operation by the middle or last of November. The iron for the folding gates has been procured, and the ribs and plates fitted; the work was then suspended in consequence of the near exhaustion of the appropriation. All the work remain. ing to be done upon the dock and its appendages will probably be completed during the next spring. The amount which has been expended since the commencement of the work is

The amount expended from the 1st October, 1849, to the 30th June, 1850, is

Since the 1st of October, 1849, the work upon the floating docks, basins, and railways, building under contract at the navy yards at Kittery, Philadelphia, and Pensacola, has progressed rapidly.

At Kittery, all the foundation piles for the basin have been driven; the caps and plank floor laid; about one-half of the granite stringer put in place, and the walls of the basin nearly completed. The foundations for the railway have been commenced, and are in progress. The floor of the dock has been completed; two-thirds of the truss beams are built, placed and fastened; the bottom of the dock coppered and ready for launching. The work, thus far, has been executed in a very satisfactory manner.

At Philadelphia, the foundation piles for the basin and side walls are all driven; the floor nearly finished, and the walls so far advanced as to leave no doubt that all the work on the basin will be completed this fall. The foundations for both lines of railway are completed; the stone ways of one are laid, and the other will probably be finished before cold weather. Seven sections of the dock have been completed, except the machinery, and are launched; two other sections are framed and set up, and the machinery for all is in progress of construction. The contractors for this work have displayed great energy, and the works are rapidly approaching completion.

At Pensacola, the works have not progressed as rapidly as at the other yards, owing to the necessary suspension of operations during the sum. mer months. The platform of the dock and the truss beams have been completed, and the side framing and bracing commenced; the space for the basin has been enclosed by a coffer-dam, and the excavation for the basin is nearly completed.

NAVAL ASYLUM.

The condition of this institution is the only remaining subject to which I would call your attention.

Since my last annual report, the duties of the asylum have been performed with promptness and efficiency. An evident change, I am gratified to believe, has been effected in the character and general conduct of the pensioners. Good order and a disposition to conform to the rules and regulations which have been adopted for their government seem to prevail among them. My opinion, as expressed in my last annual report, in regard to the location of the asylum, is still unchanged; and I beg leave to call the attention of the department to the recommendations therein submitted. There are, at present, about one hundred and eighty-five inmates, including officers and attendants, and the applications for admission are gradually increasing.

The sum expended for the support of the institution for six months ending with the fiscal year, (30th June last,) amounted to $20,060 41, and was charged to the following appropriations: hospital fund, $8,472 96; pay of the navy, $11,466 71; contingent, $100 94.

As the contracts for the present fiscal year have not yet been made, owing to the late period at which the navy appropriations were made by Congress, they will be reported early in January next, agreeably to law; at which time, if it meets your approbation, the bureau will submit an estimate for the amount that will be required during the next fiscal year under the act approved 28th September, 1850, authorizing a floating dock in the State of California.

I have the honor to be, with great respect, your obedient servant, JOS. SMITH.

Hon. WILLIAM A. GRAHAM,

Secretary of the Navy.

Schedule of papers which accompany the report of the chief of the Bureau of Yards and Docks to the Secretary of the Navy, for the year ending 30th June, 1852.

Y. & D.-A. General estimate for yards and docks.

Y. & D.-No. 1. Estimate for the support of the bureau.

Y. & D.-No. 2. Recruiting stations.

Y. & D.-No. 3. Officers and others at yards and stations, in detail.

Y. & D.-No. 4. Improvements and repairs at yards and stations.

Y. & D.-No. 5. Statements showing the sums which make up the first and second items in paper A.

Y. & D.-No. 6. Improvements and repairs of hospitals and asylum. JOS. SMITH.

BUREAU OF YARDS AND DOCKS, October 12, 1850.

Ex.-21

Y. & D.-A.

General estimate from the Bureau of Yards and Docks for the year end. ing 30th June, 1852, in addition to the balances that may remain in the treasury on the 1st July, 1851.

4. For hospital buildings and their dependencies, (see paper Y. & D.-No. 6)....

3. For improvements and repairs at yards and stations, (see paper Y. & D.-No. 4)....

92,160 00

73,960 00

5. For floating and stone docks..

6. For contingent expenses which may accrue during the year for the following purposes, viz: for the freight and transportation of materials and stores for yards and docks; for printing and stationery; for books, maps, models, and drawings; for the purchase and repair of fire-engines; for machinery of every description, and for the patent-right of using the same; for repairing steam-engines, and attendance on the same in navy-yards; for the purchase and maintenance of horses and oxen and driving teams; for carts, timber-wheels, and workmen's tools of every description, and repairing the same; for postage of letters on public service; for furniture for government houses; for coals and other fuel; for candles and oil for yards and stations; for cleaning and clearing up yards; for flags, awnings, and packing boxes; for watchmen and incidental labor at navy-yards, not applicable to any other appropriation.

Less for 1852..

NOTE-The increase in the amount required for the naval branch at yards is occasioned by the addition of four warrant officers to the Boston, New York, and Norfolk yards, a chaplain to the Portsmouth, and an allowance of $80 each to the pursers' stewards at Portsmouth, Philadelphia, and Washington.

The estimates for the civil branch are increased in consequence of estimating under that head for the civil engineers at Portsmouth, New York, Philadelphia, Norfolk, Pensacola, and Mem. phis; and for a superintendent of the rope-walk at the latter yard, and by increasing the pay of commandants' clerks, and the second and third clerks of storekeepers, and naval constructors' clerks.

The hospital branch is increased by allowing a chaplain to the Naval Asylum, and nurses, washers, and cooks, &c, at Pensacola, Philadelphia, and New York.

The amounts asked for improvements and repairs at navy-yards, hospitals, &c., are explained in the report from this bureau under the head for each yard.

The contingent estimate has been somewhat reduced, and the aggregate amount of the estimates from this bureau have been reduced in the sum of $1,113,742.

BUREAU OF YARDS AND DOCKS, October 12, 1850.

JOS. SMITH.