the yard from a possible cause of disease. The artesian well, for which an appropriation was made, was commenced under contract duly awarded September 28, 1885. At the end of the fiscal year a depth of 705 feet was reached. Since then the work has been temporarily suspended, owing to financial troubles in which the contractor became involved. Estimates are herewith subinitted for $4,200 for the completion of the floor of the boiler shop and the proper foundation for the heavy tools now on hand and awaiting a firm support; and likewise $5,755.40 for the completion of the floor and foundations of the iron-plating shop. This is necessary to put these establishments in proper working order. I hereby submit an estimate of $16,664.09 for the removal of the gasholder from its present place and its erection in another locality; also $3,109.15 for the renewal of the gas mains and pipes of the yard. I beg to call attention to the urgency of this, as the present gas-holder is situated in the courts of the smithery shops of the yard, exposed to the constant danger of explosion, which would involve loss of life and much destruction of Government property. At the same time this most urgent work is undertaken, advantage should be taken to renew entirely the system of gas mains and pipes throughout the yard, which are worn out and cause an extravagant expenditure of gas.

On account of the heavy rains at portions of the year it is particu larly important to put the roads of this yard in good order, for which purpose an estimate of $15,000 is submitted. For proper landings along the water front $5,000 is asked. For storage cisterns for fire purposes, also important during the dry season of this coast, an appropriation of $46,364.30 is asked. For an extension of the quay wall of this yard, to afford additional permanent water front, an estimate for $110,000 is submitted.

NAVAL STATIONS, ETC.

NAVAL STATIƆ17, NEW LONDON, CONN.

No work of any kind has been done, or is proposed, at this station, and only such expenditures incurred as was necessary to properly care for the public property now there. In view of the fact that other navyyards already established urgently need money for repairs, preservation, and extension of facilities, it is not the intention of the Bureau to ask for an appropriation to create a yard here.

NAVY-YARD, WASHINGTON, D. C.

This yard has been turned over to the Bureau of Ordnance for the exclusive purpose of manufacturing ordnance, hence no appropriation is asked for this place for improvements.

NAVAL STATION, PORT ROYAL, S. C.

Since the last report the wharf at this coaling station has been com pleted. The store-house and coal-shed appropriated for at the last session of Congress is contracted for, and, under ordinary circumstances, should be completed before the end of the fiscal year.

An appropriation of $4,000.00 is asked for the construction of an office and house, in one, for the officer in charge of the station; also $1,000 for an artesian well, $562.60 for a sea-wall, and $167.25 for wire tencing about the place.

NAVAL STATION, KEY WEST, fla.

Some improvment in the coaling facilities was made at this point out of the limited current appropriations for maintenance. An estimate is here offered for the construction of quarters of the two officers of this station of $8,000. By the recent fire, which almost entirely destroyed

this town, the facilities for living in a decent manner are most meager, and it is no more than bare justice that the Goverment should provide quarters for those stationed at this remote but important coaling station.

An adjustable stern dock would be most useful here, and its purchase is recommended.

NAVY-YARD, PENSACOLA, FLA.

This yard has been closed for all general work and only the amount necessary to care for public property has been expended in the past fiscal year or is asked for under the general appropriation this year. The appropriation of sufficient money for the purchase of an adjustable stern dock is recommended for this place.

NAVAL STATION, SACKETT'S Harbor, N. Y.

The remarks made above apply also to this station.

NAVAL ASYLUM, PHILADELPHIA, PA.

The expenditures at this institution for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1886, are as follows:

20,436 90

Paints, dry goods, lumber, coal and wood, provender, hardware, miscellaneous and house sundries...

9,383 46

For support of beneficiaries.....

43,275 13

Pay of employés

8,998 67

Repairs to buildings, for grates, furnaces, ranges, furniture, and repairs to furniture

4,470 74

Estimates are respectfully submitted for the Naval Asylum for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1888, as follows:

For stores of dry goods, paints, lumber, provender, hardware, miscellaneous and house sundries....

8,000 00

For improvement of grounds

500 00

For repairs to buildings, furnaces, grates, ranges, furniture, and repairs to furniture ...

4,500 00

For music in chapel.

600 00

For erection of brick building in rear of main building for kitchen, laundry, and servants' rooms

15,000 00

For fitting up bath-room with twelve tubs for beneficiaries

800 00

For removing range, laundry, boilers, and tubs to new building, and for plumbing....

Total for year ending June 30, 1888....

400 00

87,611 00

Commodore Bancroft Gherardi, U. S. Navy, who, for the greater part of the last fiscal year, has most successfully administered the affairs of this institution, reports that the conduct of the beneficiaries during the past year has, with a few exceptions, been very satisfactory and commendable.

As large a liberty as is consistent with good order and administration and a proper accountability is granted the beneficiaries, and the constant. endeavor of the Bureau is to make of the institution a comfortable home for the disabled men of the Navy and Marine Corps.

In this connection it is recommended that the name of the asylum be changed to the "U. S. Naval Home," in order to more exactly describe its character and represent the intentions of its foundation. The institutions for similar purposes for the regular and volunteer soldiers of the United States now bear the name of homes. The following table shows the changes during the past fiscal year:

During the year improvement has been made in the issue of clothing, in the plumbing, &c., of the water-closets, in providing a new and im proved range, enlarging the dining-room, and the purchase of an improved refrigerator.

The steady increase in the number of beneficiaries at the Asylum, though slow, has caused the main building to be in a crowded condition and has been the matter of report for some years past. A provision for increased accommodation has been made by adapting quarters previously occupied by the chaplain and paymaster for the use of the beneficiaries. A large portion of the building, though obliged to be used for the living apartments of the men, is unsuited for this purpose, this being especially the case with the basement and the attics in summer. In view of these circumstances the Bureau took advantage of the fact that one wing of the Naval Hospital building in the grounds, which was built as an extension of the Asylum facilities, was entirely unoccupied and could be partitioned off into forty rooms for the beneficiaries. This has been done under the direction of the governor of the Asylum, in an entirely satisfactory manner, at a very small cost, and as soon as the proper furniture will be provided the rooms will be in condition for occupancy. The remaining portion of the hospital building is more than ample for the use of the patients, the larger portion of whom are beneficiaries from the Asylum.

In the estimates submitted the following items are especially urged upon your attention: An estimate for $500 is given for the transportation of men who have been granted a permit to enter the Asylum, but who being out of the service are from poverty unable to pay their transportation to the Asylum. The Bureau has no means whatever to defray these expenses, and it is but justice that the disabled servant of the nation should not be compelled to beg for means to reach the Asylum after he has received a permit to enter. Applicants are liable to come from any portion of the United States, and a grant of $500 is asked for this pur pose, which if appropriated will be carefully expended.

The sum of $600 is asked for under the item of "music in chapel" &c. For more than thirty years past the services in the chapel, the governor states, have been accompanied by music on the organ provided for that purpose, and by the voice. Congress having failed to make appropria tion specially for this purpose for the present fiscal year, the music has been discontinued, to the regret of all interested in the chapel services. The sum estimated will be sufficient to provide music for the beneficiaries for the purposes of entertainment on other occasions. When it is considered that the Asylum is supported and all the facilities provided from the income of the Navy pension fund, a fund created directly by the exertions of the officers and men of the service, it seems but little more than just that in this and other matters the comfort and recreation of the old men, worn out in the service, should be generously considered. The Bureau approves of the repeated recommendation of the governor of the Asylum for increase of pay of the employés; especially is this necessary in regard to the chief cook and the assistant cooks. It is a matter so directly connected with the daily life of the inmates that pay commanding a better grade of employés in this particular will be felt most sensibly and constantly by them. The necessity for the erection of the brick building in rear of the main building for kitchen, laundry, and other purposes still remains. The present kitchen and laundry, both inadequate for the purpose, are situated in the basement directly under the quarters of the officers and men, rendering them hot and uncomfortable in the summer. In addition, quarters will be provided in the same building for the female employés, removing them from the main building and contributing generally to good order and a proper state of affairs. During the year Congress has granted the right of way through the part of the grounds known as the Asylum wharf property to the Schuylkill River East Side Railroad Company, upon the payment of damages, and under certain restrictions. The preliminary conditions. having been complied with, the railroad has now been constructed. This adds one more to the many reasons why the consideration of the question of the selection of another site, removed from the midst of a large city, should be seriously discussed. As the selection of another site and the erection of the necessary buildings, &c., will take a long period of time, everything herein asked for is necessary, both for the present and for the immediate future.

CONTINGENT.

The sum required under this head, $40,000, is to meet unforeseen emergencies and accidents that may arise calling for an immediate outlay.

GENERAL MAINTENANCE.

The most pressing and necessary expenditures of the different yards come under this head, such as repairs of fire-engines, purchases of horses and oxen and their maintenance, carts and tools, coal, water, and gas, telegrams, incidental labor, pay of watchmen, cleaning yards, the care of buildings, purchase of and care of machinery of every description, rents, &c. The need for the amount estimated is consequently obvious. On account of the reduced appropriations of the past few years there has been a deficiency caused in the state of the fire service, live stock, vehicles, furniture, and general cleaning and care of the yards.

REPAIRS AND PRESERVATION.

The necessity for a great increase over the very meager appropriations of the past few years for the purpose of repairs and preservation of the permanent works and improvements of the various stations has been set forth generally and in detail in the beginning of this report.

On account of the want of sufficient appropriations there has not been proper care and preservation of the public property coming under the charge of this Bureau.

An estimate of $800,000 is made for this purpose.

The entire amount asked for by the Bureau is $4,611,756.13, the detail of which is contained on the tabulated sheets Nos. 1 to 6, inclusive, recapitulated as follows:

Accompanying this report is an abstract of offers for supplies received for furnishing articles coming under the cognizance of the Bureau of Yards and Docks, made in conformity to act of Congress approved March 3, 1843.

A statement showing the amount expended under each specific head of appropriation during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1886, and the balances remaining unexpended June 30, as required by section 429, Revised Statutes, is appended.

Also a report showing amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1886, from appropriations pertaining to this Bureau for civilians employed on clerical duty or in any other capacity than as ordinary mechanics and workingmen at the several navy-yards, with estimates for the same for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1888, in compliance with the third section of naval appropriation act approved January 30, 1885. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, D. B. HARMONY, Chief of Bureau.

Hon. WILLIAM C. WHITNEY,

Secretary of the Navy.

REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF THE BUREAU OF NAVIGATION.

BUREAU OF NAVIGATION, NAVY DEPARTMENT,

Washington, November 9, 1886.

SIR: I have the honor to submit the annual report of the operations of the Bureau of Navigation for the past year, together with the esti mates for its support, and for the expenditures that will, in my opinion, be necessary for the naval service during the fiscal year ending Juno 30, 1888. Included in this report, and transmitted herewith, are the reports and estimates of the several offices under its control, as well as the statements required by section 429 of the Revised Statutes of the United States, and by the third section of the naval appropriation act approved January 30, 1885.