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18th Congress. ]

No. 243.

[1st Session.

ANNUAL EXPENDITURES FOR THE GRADUAL INCREASE OF THE NAVY, AND THE PROGRESS MADE IN BUILDING SINCE 1816.

COMMUNICATED TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, FEBRUARY 26, 1824.

Washington, February 25, 1824.

To the House of Representatives of the United Slates:

In conformity with the resolution of the House of Representatives, of the 17th instant, I now transmit the report of the Secretary of the Navy, accompanied by statements marked A and B, showing "the amount of money expended in conformity with the provisions of an act, entitled 'An act for the gradual increase of the navy of the United States,' approved April 29th, 1816; and of the 'Act to amend said act,' approved 3d of March, 1821: also, the number of vessels built, or now, on the stocks, with their rates; the value of the timber purchased, or for which contracts have been made; and whether sufficient timber has been purchased, or contracted for, to build the vessels contemplated by the provisions of said acts."

JAMES MONROE.

Navy Department, February 24, 1824.

Sir:

In compliance with the resolution of the House of Representatives, of the 17th instant, requesting the President of the United States "to present a statement of the amount of money expended, in conformity with the provisions of an act, entitled 'An act for the gradual increase of the navy of the United States,' approved the 29th of April, 1816; and of the "Act to amend said act,' approved the 3d of March, 1821," I have the honor to communicate a copy of a letter from the Board of Navy Commissioners, respecting the vessels built and building; and the timber purchased and contracted for: also, copy of a letter from the Fourth Auditor, exhibiting the amount of money expended in conformity with the provisions of said act.

It will be perceived that the timber purchased and contracted for amounts to a small part only of the whole expenditure, being but $1,546,452 74, while the whole amounts to $5,972,460 27. Other materials have been purchased, and contracts made for more, which, not being called for in the resolution, are not embraced in the answer. With the highest respect, I have the honor to be, sir, your most obedient servant.

SAMUEL L. SOUTHARD.

The President of the United States.

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A.

 Treasury Department, Fourth Auditor's Office, February 19, 1824.

Sir:

Pursuant to a call of the House of Representatives of the United States, by their resolution of the 17th instant, I have the honor to hand you a statement exhibiting the annual amount of money expended in conformity with the provisions of an act entitled "An act for the gradual increase of the navy of the United States," approved 29th April, 1816, and of the act to amend said act, approved 3d March, 1821, amounting, in the aggregate, to five millions nine hundred and seventy-two thousand four hundred and sixty dollars and twenty-seven cents, ($5,972,460 27,) and embracing the whole period from the passage of the first recited act to the 18th February, 1824.

I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

CONSTANT FREEMAN, Fourth Auditor.

Hon. Samuel L. Southard, Secretary of the Navy.

Statement exhibiting the annual amount of money expended in conformity with the provisions of an act, entitled "An act for the gradual increase of the navy of the United States, approved 29th April, 1816, and of the 'act to amend said act, approved March, 1821,'" prepared in pursuance of a resolution of the House of Representatives of the United States, passed the 17th February, 1823.

From 29th April to 30th September, 1816,

681,783 01

1st October, 1816, to 30th do. 1817,

508,352 36

1st do. 817, to 30th do. 1818,

627,321 24

1st. do. 1818, to 30th do. 1819,

1,083,410 15

1st do. 1819, to 30th do. 1820,

1,451,650 67

1st do. 1820, to 30th do. 1821,

973,040 04

1st do. 1821, to 30th do. 1822,

700,248 30

1st do. J822, to 30th do. 1823,

446,959 72

1st do. 1823, to 17th February, 1824,

99,691 78

$5,972,460 27

Treasury Department, Fourth Auditor's' Office, 19th February, 1834.

CONSTANT FREEMAN, Fourth Auditor.

B.

Navy Commissioners' Office, February 20, 1824.

Sir:

In reply to that part of the resolution of the House of Representatives, of the 17th instant, which requires information as to "the number of vessels built, or now on the stocks, with their rates, the value of the timber purchased, or for which contracts have been made, and whether sufficient timber has been purchased, or contracted for, to build the vessels contemplated by the provisions of said act" of 29th April, 1816, the Commissioners of the Navy have the honor to state:

That four ships of the line and one frigate have been built; that five ships of the line and five frigates are now on the stocks; that the frames of two other frigates, and of two steam batteries, have been procured: that the frames of another frigate and another steam battery have been nearly procured—the deficiency in both not exceeding probably 10,000 dollars.

That "the value of the timber purchased, or for which contracts have been made," after a careful examination of all the various contracts made, since the first organization of the Board, is estimated at $1,546,452 74.

That sufficient timber has not been purchased, or contracted for, to build all the vessels contemplated by the act for the gradual increase of the navy—and of the timber procured, a portion, though a very small one it is hoped, will probably be found defective on working up. The whole deficiency of timber may, possibly, amount to 120,000 to 130,000 dollars. It will not, we are confident, exceed the latter sum.

I have the honor to be, with great respect, sir, your most obedient servant,

JOHN RODGERS.

Hon. Samuel L. Southard, Secretary of the Navy.