NOTE. The pay of 1st clerks to commandants at all the navy-yards is fixed by the law of 1835 at $900. The bureau proposes to increase their pay at the navy-yards at Boston, New York, Norfolk, and Pensacola to $1,200, and an estimate is submitted accordingly. BUREAU OF YARDS AND DOCKS, October 12, 1850. Y. & D.-No. 4. Estimate of the amounts that will be required towards the construction, extension, and completion of works at the several navy-yards, and for the necessary current repairs at the same, for the fiscal year ending 30th June, 1852, as follows, viz : PORTSMOUTH, N. H. Towards the construction of quay wharf across the head of timber dock; filling in around walls of floating dock basin; pavements around timber-shed; magazine wharf and filling in low ground; engine-house; wharf and filling in east of No. 4; repairs of all kinds. BOSTON. For completing sail-loft and cordage store, grading and paving; completing storehouse No. 36; paving, grading and filling in between Nos. 27, 28, 29 and 30; grading yard, paving gutters, drains, &c.; rain-water cistern; re building smithery; coal-house near rope-walk; dredging slips; completing steam-tug and water-tank; repairs of all kinds $64,527 00 104,450 00 NEW YORK. For a smithery; saw-mill No. 24; quay wall continued; cob wharf; dredging channels; one timber shed; paving, guttering and flagging; cisterns, gutters and leaders to ship-houses and timber-sheds; filling in timber-pond and low places, &c.; repairs of all kinds 178,500 00 PHILADELPHIA. 24,400 00 For slip of ship-house G; addition to wall of basin and filling in old timber-dock; repairs of all kinds WASHINGTON. For filling up timber-dock; saw-mill and machinery; ordnance building No. 11; completing wharf and slide lathes; completing copper-rolling establishment; to convey water to the yard, reservoir, pipes, &c.; railway in ship-house T; paint-shop and wharf-crane; brass foundry and tankshop, (raising one story;) repairs of all kinds NORFOLK. For sea wall at St. Helena; brick saw shed; cylinder exhaust pump and apparatus; water-tank and capstans; repairs of all kinds 224,800'00 50,800 00 PENSACOLA. For permanent wharf; paint-shop and cooperage; completing 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 in yard; fences and outbuildings for outside houses; repairs of all kinds MEMPHIS. For excavation and embankment; rope-walk; saw-mill; piling river front; paving drains, gutters, &c.; cisterns for rope-walk; lime-house; repairs of all kinds SACKETT'S HARBOR. $188, 713 00 116,600 00 For repairs of buildings, grading, filling in, and repairs of all kinds For Portsmouth, N. H. Boston New York Philadelphia Washington Norfolk RECAPITULATION. Pensacola Memphis Sackett's Harbor Total for yards BUREAU OF YARDS AND DOCKS, October 12, 1850. Y. & D.-No. 5. Statement showing the several sums which make up the_amounts of the first and second items in the general estimate for the Bureau of Yards and Docks, marked Y. & D.-A, for the year ending June 30, 1852. SECOND ITEM. For the civil branch at all the yards and stations BUREAU OF YARDS AND DOCKS, October 12, 1850. Y. & D.-No. 6. For navy hospitals and asylum. At Boston. For repairing, painting, whitewashing, gla- At Philadelphia. For removing and rebuilding stable; drains and water to stable; excavation and grading; wall on south side of Shippen street; curbing and paving along Shippen street; painting house, iron railing, &c.; repairs of all kinds At Norfolk.-For general repairs At Pensacola. For wall around hospital grounds; draining and filling ponds; repairs of all kinds Total for hospitals, &c. BUREAU OF YARDS AND DOCKS, October 12, 1850. $1,500 15,000 0 13, 837 0 5,000 0 4, 450 0 39, 787 00 No. 5. BUREAU OF PROVISIONS AND CLOTHING, November 16, 1850. SIR: In compliance with your instructions, I have the honor to trans. mit herewith, estimates for that part of the naval service coming under the cognizance of this bureau, for the fiscal year ending 30th June, 1852, marked A and B; also, statements and abstracts, in compliance with the acts of Congress of April 21, 1808, March 3, 1809, and March 13, 1843, marked C to M. The estimates correspond with those of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1851. On this subject I beg leave to make some remarks. It is evident, from the information possessed by the bureau, that if all the bills for pro visions (including the ten per cent. reserved on all deliveries until the completion of the contracts) were presented for payment within the fiscal year, the appropriation for provisions would be inadequate to meet them by many thousand dollars. As it is, the expenditures of one year running into the succeeding appropriation, leaves no deficiency for the moment apparent, however much it may be felt subsequently. I will en deavor, from a sense of duty, to state, as concisely as possible, some of the causes which have heretofore produced, and will continue in the future to produce, this deficiency; and in doing so, would disclaim all purpose or desire to retrench any just right or privilege of the men of our service. The actual first cost of the ration, by contract, has for a series of years averaged about fourteen cents; but the appropriation for provisions is founded on an estimate of twenty cents for each ration. This difference is intended to cover not only the first cost, but likewise all contingent and incidental losses and expenses, such as deterioration, leakage, condemnation, &c., the greatly enhanced prices sometimes paid on foreign stations to supply deficiencies, and for expenses of substitutes, such as fresh beef and vegetables, for different parts of the ration, as well as for various other charges which fall on this appropriation. But it is subject to heavier drafts still, in consequence of the large number of rations allowed to be commuted by the men, for which the full estimated price of the ration is paid, which in my opinion is in conflict with the spirit of the act of August 29, 1842. It is paying a maximum price for commutations on the part of the government, for articles in return not of equal value, and liable to constant deterioration; and in proportion as the price paid the commuters exceeds the value of those articles, the appropriation is the loser. In the army, no commutation of subsistence, except to officers and their attendants, is permitted, but all must draw the rations provided for them. Unless it be made obligatory for the crews of our vessels, with the exception of the officers and their attendants, to draw the rations provided for them, or unless it shall be made imperative that a fixed number of rations shall at all times be commuted on board every vessel, and at all stations, the bureau has no data to guide it in providing the supplies, but must continue to estimate for the full complement of men allowed to each vessel; the number of commutations varying so materially at different times on the same vessels and stations, as to make it unsafe to adopt any estimate but that for a full complement. The result of this shows that the appropriation is subjected to great loss, both in money paid for commutations at an advance upon the cost of the ration, and the conse. |