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question respectfully submitted for the considera-
uon Of Congress.


There are reasons o. great weight in favor of
progressing with all these works with some degree
OF activity. Labor IS at moderate price, and
employment eagerly sought after. II is desirable
10 retain in the public service experienced mechan
les and laborers accustomed to the routine Of duty,
and the regulations OF the public works. Thus on
an emergency the public interest will not suffer by
suddenly calling into employment men who are
not thus prepared TO be efficient BY temporary
employment and sudden discharges in dock.yards,
great distress Is often produced. which justice to
the men employed, and due regard to the public
interest, forbid.


BY the act OF 18th June, the Secretary of the
Navy was directed to expcnd an appropriation
therein made in Continuance OF the work already
commenced at Brooklyn for the construction of
stone dry dock," or in the construction OF dry
dock on some other plan, if he shall deem the
same better suited Tor the purposes OF the Navy, as
IN his discretion ne shall deem best for the public
Interest"


In subsequent section OF the Same act the Soc.
retary OF the Navy was directed to appoint COM
retent board OF officers and engineers to examine
and report to Congress at its session. the rea-
tive properties and advantages Of dry dock and Of
the different kinds OF floating docks with or with.
out basin or railways. board of officers and
engineers, consisting Of Com. Kearney and Capt
Wyman, OF the Navy, and Capt. A. Talcott, and
U. p $. Sanger, Civil Engineers, were ordered to
perform this duty, and TO examine the harbors Of
Pensacola, and OF Portsmouth, N. H., for the pur
poses mentioned in the said section. Uncontrolla-
oie Sncuhstanccs ndvs delayed the Doaru In the
performances of their duties. But they have made
considerable progress, and their report may be ex-
pected at AZ early day as will be consistent with
conclusions.


In discharge OF the duty devolved on me BY the
section nrst above rected, repaired to New York
docks submitted for my inspection. r :


One OF these was jllberl's balance dock. and
the other the sectional dock Of Messrs Moody &c
pakIn. Both are floating docks; Messs. Moody
way az an appendage to receive the vessel which
has been elevated BY their dock. am not aware