Chapter XLVIII. making Appropriations for the Naval Service for the Year ending tke thirtieth June, one thousand eight hundred and forty-eight
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Chap. XLVIII.— An Act making Appropriations for the Naval Service for the Year ending tke thirtieth June, one thousand eight hundred and forty-eight.March 3, 1847. *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,* That the following sums be, and the same are hereby, appropriated for the naval service, for the year ending ou the thirtieth June, one thousand eight hundred and forty-eight. ForPay of officers and seamen, including engineer corps. pay of commission, warrant, and petty officers and seamen, including the engineer corps of the navy, three million two hundred and ninety-two thousand eight hundred and six dollars.
ForAssistant-surgeons. pay of thirteen additional assistant-surgeons, whose appointment is hereby authorized, twelve thousand three hundred and fifty dollars. ThatPyrotechnist to be appointed—his salary. the Secretary of the Navy be, and he is hereby, authorized to appoint a pyrotechnist for the service of the navy, at an annual salary of fifteen hundred dollars, which sum is hereby appropriated, out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated, as full compensation for the services of said pyrotechnist.
ForProvisions. provisions for commission, warrant, and petty officers and sea-men, including engineers and marines attached to vessels for sea service, nine hundred and seventy-six thousand six hundred and sixty-six dollars and eighty-one cents. AndAllowance in lieu of the spirit ration.1848, ch. 121, §5. there shall be allowed, instead of the sum now allowed by law, three cents per day in lieu of the spirit rations in the navy, to be paid monthly to such persons as may elect to receive the same, who shall actually draw their rations in kind.
ForAdditional clerk for Bureau of Provision and Clothing. an additional clerk for Bureau of Provision and Clothing, one thousand dollars. ForSurgeons’ necessaries for navy and marine corps.Post, p. 266. surgeons’ necessaries, and appliances for the sick and hurt of the naval service, including the marine corps, including three thousand dollars for pay of the superintendent, who shall be either a captain, commander, or lieutenant in the navy, forty thousand two hundred dollars.
ForIncrease, repair, &,c. the increase, repair, armament, and equipment of the navy, and wear and tear of vessels in commission, including coal for steamers and purchase of hemp, two million five hundred thousand dollars. ForOrdnance and stores. ordnance and ordnance stores, including incidental expenses, three hundred and seventy-one thousand three hundred and ninety dollars. ForBooks, charts, instruments, &c. nautical books, maps, charts, and instruments, binding and repairing the same, and all the expenses of the hydrographical office, twenty-five thousand nine hundred and forty dollars.
ForContingent expenses. contingent expenses that may accrue for the following purposes, viz.: Freight and transportation; printing and stationery; advertising in newspapers; books, maps, models, and drawings; purchase and repair of fire-engines and machinery; repair of steam-en-gines, and attendance ou the same in yards; purchase and maintenance of horses and oxen, and driving teams; carts, timber wheels, and workmen’s tools of every description, and repairing the same; postage of letters on public business; coal and other fuel, and oil and candles, for navy yards and shore stations; cleaning and clearing up yards; incidental labor not chargeable to any other appropriation; labor attending the delivery of public stores and supplies on foreign stations; wharfage, dockage, storage, and rent; travelling expenses of officers, funeral expenses, commissions, hire of agents; clerk hire, store rent, office rent, stationery, and fuel to navy agents and naval storekeepers; flags, awnings, and packing boxes; fixtures for officers’ quarters; premiums, and incidental expenses of recruiting; apprehend-TWENTY-NINTH CONGRESS.
Sess. II. Ch. 48. 1847.170ing deserters; per diem allowance to persons attending courts-martial and courts of inquiry, or other service authorized by law; compensation to judge advocates; pilotage, and towing vessels; assistance rendered to vessels in distress, six hundred thousand dollars. ForEarle’s patent for preservation of canvass. enabling the Secretary of the Navy to test, by experiments, the value to the navy of Earle’s patented invention for the preservation of canvass, five thousand dollars.
ForContingent expenses. contingent expenses for objects not hereinbefore enumerated, five thousand dollars. ForCivil establishment at navy yards.1846, ch. 176. support of the civil establishment at the several navy-yards, the officers and others to be paid the annual compensation that was allowed to them severally in the act making appropriations for the naval service for the year ending on the thirtieth June, one thousand eight hundred and forty-seven, except as hereinafter provided: *At Kittery, Maine.*—ForKittery. pay of storekeeper, naval constructor, inspector of timber, clerk to the yard, clerk to the commandant, clerk to the storekeeper, clerk to the naval constructor, and porter, seven thousand six hundred and fifty dollars. *At Charlestown, Massachusetts.*—ForCharlestown. pay of storekeeper, naval constructor, measurer and inspector of timber, clerk to the yard, two clerks to the commandant, three clerks to the storekeeper, clerk to naval constructor, keeper of magazine, and porter, eleven thousand one hundred and eighty dollars. *At Brooklyn, New York.*—ForBrooklyn. pay of storekeeper, naval constructor, measurer and inspector of timber, clerk to the yard, two clerks to the commandant, three clerks to the storekeeper, clerk to the naval constructor, keeper of magazine, and porter, eleven thousand one hundred and eighty dollars. *At Philadelphia.*—ForPhiladelphia. pay of storekeeper, naval constructor, measurer and inspector of timber, clerk to the yard, clerk to the commandant, clerk to the storekeeper, clerk to naval constructor, and porter, seven thousand seven hundred dollars. *At Washington.*—ForWashington. pay of storekeeper, measurer and inspector of timber, clerk to the yard, two clerks to commandant, clerk to the storekeeper, keeper of the magazine, and porter, six thousand six hundred and eighty dollars. *At Gosport, Virginia.*—ForGosport. pay of storekeeper, naval constructor, measurer and inspector of timber, clerk to the yard, two clerks to commandant, three clerks to the storekeeper, clerk to the naval constructor, keeper of the magazine, and porter, eleven thousand one hundred and eighty dollars. *At Pensacola.*—ForPensacola. pay of storekeeper and naval constructor, clerk to the yard, two clerks to the commandant, two clerks to the storekeeper, and porter, eight thousand and fifty dollars. *At Memphis.*—ForMemphis. pay of storekeeper, clerk to the yard, clerk to the commandant, and porter, three thousand three hundred dollars.
ForImprovements and repair of navy yards. improvements and necessary repairs of navy-yards, viz.: *At Kittery.*—ForKittery. extending knee-dock wall, and filling in for gun and anchor wharf, rebuilding wharf number one, cistern near mast and boat-house number fifteen, and for repairs of all kinds, thirty-one thousand five hundred and twenty-eight dollars. That the SecretaryDry-docks at Kittery, Philadelphia and Pensacola. of the Navy is hereby directed to cause to be constructed at each of the navy-yards at Kittery, Philadelphia, and Pensacola, a floating dry-dock for ships of the line, with basin and railways at Philadelphia, and reference thereto at the other places, on such plan as may be preferred by the Secretary of the Navy: the said dock at Pensacola to be completed with all possible despatch; and the sum of fifty thousand dollars is hereby appropriated towards said dock at Kittery;1848, ch. 121, §3. fifty thousand dollars towards said dock at Philadelphia; andTWENTY-NINTH CONGRESS.
Sess. II. Ch. 48. 1847.171 two hundred and fifty thousand dollars towards said dock at Pensacola; out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated. *At Charlestown.*—ForChelsea. wharf number sixty-four, and repairs of dry-dock number fifty-four; timber-dock and bridge across timber-dock; brick barn to be erected on number twenty-seven; smith shop and plumber’s shop, and drains to reservoir, and pipes to srnithery; shell-house, joiners’ and carpenters’ shops and rigging loft; and for repairs of all kinds; ninety-seven thousand six hundred and fifty-five dollars. *At Brooklyn.*—ForBrooklyn. repairing wharves in front of D and E; cisterns to reservoir C; completing cob-wharf; filling in timber pond and dredging channels; shell-house on gun-block; and for repairs of all kinds, fifty-one thousand eight hundred and forty-eight dollars.
ForDry-dock. dry-dock, two hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars. ThatProceeds of sale of stores and clothing. from and after the passage of this act, all moneys derived from the sale of all stores and other articles belonging to the navy shall revert to that appropriation from which such stores and other articles were originally purchased; and the Secretary of the Treasury is hereby authorized and directed to refund to the appropriation for “clothing for the navy,” the proceeds of all sales of condemned navy clothing which have been paid into the treasury of the United States subsequent to the first day of August, eighteen hundred and forty-four, as shall appear from the accounts of the Bureau of Provisions and Clothing, and the Fourth Auditor of the Treasury;Transfers of appropriation for clothing. and it shall not be lawful hereafter to make transfers from the clothing fund, or the head of the appropriation for “clothing for the navy,” to any other head of appropriation, except in the adjustment of the accounts of disbursing officers, at the office of the Fourth Auditor of the Treasury. *At Philadelphia.*—ForPhiladelphia. outside piers of wharves numbers two and three; wharf number four, and outside pier of number four; workshops on site number ten; anchorage; and repairs of all kinds; forty-seven thousand four hundred and sixteen dollars. *At Washington.*—ForWashington. trip-hammer in anchor shop, and blowing chain-cable fires in hydraulic proving machine shop; new boiler to steam-engine number two; converting number eleven to an iron foundry; temporary laboratory building; and repairs of all kinds; thirty thousand five hundred and forty-eight dollars. *At Gosport.*—ForGosport. completing storehouse number thirteen, and launching slip number forty-eight; new wharf where small shears now stand; and for repairs of all kinds; forty-five thousand two hundred dollars. *At Pensacola.*—ForPensacola. completing storehouse number twenty-five, and timber-shed number twenty-six; blacksmith shop and steam-engine; permanent wharf; extending and completing coal-house; completing lime-house; and for repairs of all kinds; fifty-eight thousand and seventeen dollars. *At Memphis.*—ForMemphis. blacksmith’s shop; steam-engine and boilers for ropewalk; joiner’s shop and storehouse, (one wing;) sawmill; commandants house and offices; foundation of wall to enclose yard; embankment and excavation; and for repairs of all kinds; one hundred and two thousand two hundred and five dollars. *At Sackett’s Harbor.*—ForSackett’s Harbor. construction of officers’ quarters, and for repairs of all kinds, five thousand dollars.
ForNaval hospitals. the improvement and repairs of the several navy hospitals, viz.: AtChelsea. Chelsea, five thousand four hundred and eighty dollars and fifty-four cents. AtBrooklyn. Brooklyn, twenty-two thousand three hundred and ninety dollars. 172TWENTY-NINTH CONGRESS. Sess. 172. AtGosport. or near Gosport, five thousand six hundred and thirty-four dollars. AtWashington. Washington, one hundred dollars. AtPensacola. Pensacola, thirty thousand four hundred and forty-one dollars and seventy-five cents.
ForFor magasines. magazines, viz.: At Charlestown, Massachusetts, two hundred dollars. At Brooklyn eight hundred dollars. At Washington, one hundred dollars At Gosport, three hundred dollars. *Marine Corps.*—ForMarine corps.Pay and subsistence. pay of officers, noncommissioned officers, musicians, privates, and servants serving on shore, and subsistence of officers, one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. ForClothing. clothing, forty thousand five hundred and forty-eight dollars.
ForFuel. fuel, fifteen thousand four hundred and sixty-nine dollars. ForMilitary stores. military stores, repair of arms, pay of armorers, accoutrements, ordnance stores, flags, drums, fifes, and musical instruments, four thousand three hundred and five dollars. ForTransportation. transportation of officers and troops, and for expenses of recruiting, eight thousand dollars. ForBarracks. repair of barracks, and rent of temporary barracks, six thousand dollars. ForContingencies. contingencies, viz.:
Freight, ferriage, toll, wharfage, and cartage; compensation to judge advocates; per diem for attending courts-martial and courts of inquiry; per diem to enlisted men on constant labor; house rent where no public quarters are assigned; the burial of deceased marines; printing, stationery, forage, postages, and the pursuit of deserters; candles and oil; straw, barrack furniture, bed sacks, spades, axes, shovels, picks, carpenters’ tools, and keeping a horse for the messenger; fifteen thousand dollars.
That1st section of naval appropriation act of 4th Aug., 1842, ch. 121, not to apply to appointments of boatswains, gunners, &c. the first section of the act of fourth of August, eighteen hundred and fortytwo, entitled “An Act making Appropriations for the naval Service for the Year one thousand eight hundred and fortytwo,” shall not be construed as applying to the appointment of boatswains, gunners, carpenters, and sailmakers. Sec. 2. *And be it further enacted,* That1843, ch. 83. so much of the proviso of the act of third of March, eighteen hundred and forty-three, entitled “An Act making Appropriations for the naval Service for the half calendar Year beginning the first of January and ending the thirtieth Day of June, eighteen hundred and forty-four,” as requires that provisions and all other materials of every name and nature, for the use of the navy, be furnished by contract with the lowest bidder, after advertisement, shall be and the same is hereby so far modified, that it shall notButter and cheese, &c., for the navy. apply to butter or cheese destined for the use of our navy, or things contraband of war.
And it shall be lawful that contracts for those articles for the use of the navy be made, as heretofore, for periods longer than one year, if, in the opinion of the Secretary of the Navy, economy and the quality of the ration will be promoted thereby. Sec. 3. *And be it further enacted,* That1844, ch. 107. the act of June seventeen, eighteen hundred and forty-four, entitled “An Act making Appropriations for the naval Service for the fiscal Year ending the thirtieth Day of June, eighteen hundred and forty-five,” which directs “that the Secretary of the Navy shall order a competent commissioned or warrantNaval storekeepers for foreign squadrons. officer of the navy to take charge of the naval stores for foreign squadrons, in place of naval storekeepers, at each of the foreign ports where said stores may be deposited, and where a storekeeper is necessary,” be, and the same is hereby, so far modified as to authorize the TWENTY-NINTH CONGRESS.
Sess. II. Ch. 48. 1847.173 selection and appointment of citizens other than naval officers to be storekeepers on foreign stations, when suitable naval officers cannot be ordered on such service, or when, in the opinion of the Secretary of the Navy, the public interest will be promoted thereby. PersonsPay. so selected and appointed to receive the same compensation as now allowed, and to enter into bond with security, as is requiredBonds. by law of officers of the navy performing said service.
Sec. 4. *And be it further enacted,* ThatPay of firemen and coalheavers regulated. the pay of firemen and coalheavers employed in the naval service, shall hereafter be fixed by the President of the United States, in the same manner as is now provided by law for the pay of other petty officers, and of seamen, ordinary seamen, and marines: and so much of the act of Congress, approved August thirty-first, eighteen hundred and fortytwo, entitled1842, ch. 279. “An Act to regulate the Appointment and Pay of Engineers in the Navy of the United States,” as fixes the pay of firemen and coalheavers, be, and the same is hereby, repealed.
Sec. 5. *And be it further enacted,* ThatRepairs and improvements at Fort Severn, Md.Ante, p. 100. of the money appropriated in this act for “pay of the navy,” and contingent expenses enumerated, an amount not exceeding twenty-eight thousand and two hundred dollars may be expended, under the direction of the Secretary of the Navy, for repairs, improvements, and instructions at Fort Severn, Annapolis, Maryland; and for the purchase of land for the use of the naval school at that place, not exceeding twelve acres.
Sec. 6. *And be it further enacted,* ThatIn case of the loss or capture of public vessels, pursers to be credited, &c. in every case of the loss or capture of a vessel belonging to the navy of the United States, the accounting officers of the treasury, under the direction of the Secretary of the Navy, shall be, and they are hereby, authorized, in the settlement of the accounts of the purser of such vessel, to credit him with such portion of the amount of the provisions, clothing, small stores, and money, with which he stands charged on the books of the Fourth Auditor of the Treasury, as they shall be satisfied was inevitably lost by such capture, or loss of a public vessel; and such purser shall be fully exonerated by such credit, from all liability on account of the provisions, clothing, small stores, and money, so proved to have been captured or lost.
Sec. 7. *And be it further enacted,* ThatExperiments to test the etficiency of Uriah Brown’s shot-proof steamship, &c. the Secretary of the Navy be, and he is hereby, authorized and directed to cause such experiments to be made, under the immediate direction and superintendence of Uriah Brown, as shall thoroughly test the efficient properties of a liquid fire, and the practical utility of a shot-proof steamship (the invention of said Brown) for coast and harbor defence; said experiments to be made in the presence of competent judges, to be selected by the Secretary of the Navy for that purpose; and it shall be the duty of the said Secretary to report to Congress, at the earliest practicable period thereafter, the result of such experiments; and his opinion whether the interest of the United States would be promoted by adopting this invention as a means of national defence.
That said Brown shall receive the sum of six dollars per day while engaged in making said experiments, together with all his travelling and other necessary expenses: *Provided,*Proviso. He shall not be so employed for a time exceeding six months. And that a sum not exceeding ten thousand dollars be, and the same is hereby, appropriated, out of any moneyAppropriation. in the treasury not otherwise appropriated, for defraying the expenses of said experiments. Approved, March 3, 1847.