Mr. STEVENS.R. Chairman, I do not wonder that my friendfrom Illinois requires some information upon this subject. The committee to whom it was referred sought information, not knowing beforehand whether the appropriation was proper or not. We sent for one of the ablest an most candid chiefs of bureaus connected with this Government, admiral Smith; and we inquired of him fully and thoroughly in regard to the propriety of this appropriation. lior years past the operations of this navy yard have been so cramped that the Government has been obliged to rent adjoining property for the purpose of carrying on the business of the yard. Seaveys Island furnishes a water front which would render all other purchases or rentings entirely unnecessar. The estimates proposed that We should a proriate $126,000 for officers quarters, as teo cers are now obligedto board in an adjoiningtown. Upon Seaveys Island there are now a large number of houses, which, Admiral Smith in forms us, would, if the island were purchased, be sufficient for officers quarters, for which the appropriation of $126,000 was asked. esides, the purchase of this island would give the Government a large area of ground, always necessary and always increasing in value. The Government now owns one part of the isl and; but the owners of the remainder of it have, by the authority of the law under which the Government purchased, established through the navyyard a very troublesome thoroughfare, interfering very much with the convenience of the operations of the Government. The committee, underall these circumstances, and knowing that, at the last congress, the ComNavAffrs examine this subject, and I believe recommended this very ur chase, thought that while we could afford to purchase Scuveys Island for the purpose of making complete a very important navyyard, we could save by the purchase not only the $126,000 estimated for Officers quarters, but also $25,000 which would be necessary for a quaywall. We thus became convinced that this would be a wise and economical appropriation, securing a property which is from year to year rising in value, an becoming more incumbered with rivate buildings, so that after a few years it will)be beyond the reach of the Government, and the want of this property will so cram operations there as to make this navyya a most useless. Now, sir, lhave no particular interestor feeling in connection with this matter. Admiral Smith is very decided in his opinion that this property should now be purchased by the Government. He furnishes us with facts and drawings which enforce his position. If that navy yard is to be kept up it seems to me that it is unwise for us to refuse this appropriation, thereb rendering necessary others still larger which would give us no such conveniences. this for the House to determine whetherthe purchase of this island, embracin 70 or 80 acres, is not expedient. I have stated the judgment of the committee which seems to be wise.