John A. Dahlgren Letter 8 October 1868
Oct. 8,1868
Commodore A. H. Kilty,
Comandant Navy Yard, Norfolk, Va.
Sir,
The present expenditure of this Bureau so far exceeds the appropriations, that further retrenchment becomes indispensably necessary in the Ordinance Department of all the Navy Yards.
The work must be positively limited to the wants of the vessels in service, or fitting for service, and for the preservation of materials which are liable to deterioration.
No repairs of arms or equipment will be made so long as there is a stock on hand in good condition for issue, the articles will be stored for repairs which are worth it.
The only exception will be such work, or materials, as were contracted for previous to July 1, 1868.
With a view to exemplify my meaning, I quote some of the expenditures reported by the Inspector of Ordinance for the month of September 1868, which should be suppressed or much modified.
Repairing stones $74
Cleaning stones $62
At Fort Norfolk, at Saint Helena work not specified $947
Ordinance office $117
making a total of $1200.
The Bureau also notices on the Ordinance payroll for the month of September, that two writers are charged in the account. One paid under “Civil Establishment” at $4 dollars per diem, the other called a “Receiver”, paid under the head of Ordinance at $3 per day. The order of June 29, 1868 directed that but one writer at $4 per diem should be allowed in the Office of the Inspector of Ordinance, and this must be adhered to.
The charge for the month of September is $2300, would it be possible to reduce this to $1000.
I am Sir,
Your obedient servant,
J. A. Dahlgren
Rear Admiral Chief of the Bureau
Fort Norfolk Documents
1790, 1791, 1792, 1793, 1794, 1795, 1796, 1797, 1798, 1799,
1800, 1801, 1802, 1803, 1804, 1805, 1806, 1807, 1808, 1809,
1810, 1811, 1812, 1813, 1814, 1815, 1816, 1817,
1850, 1851, 1852, 1853, 1854, 1855, 1856, 1857, 1858, 1859
1860, 1861, 1862, 1863, 1864, 1865, 1866, 1867, 1868, 1869
1870, 1871, 1872, 1873, 1874, 1875
Source of Information
National Archives, Record Group 74 Records of Bureau of Ordnance
Letters Sent to Navy Yards & Stations, 1842 - 1882.
Norfolk
May 1867 - Oct 1881
Box No. 16, Entry 3
Page 85 - 86