years attempted to maintain a naval fleet, but unable to meet the cost, the idea was abandoned in 1829,[1] and the navy was represented by a few revenue vessels. At a later date, however, it was revived, and in 1856 the government possessed 15 vessels mounting 40 guns.[2] In 1875 the navy was strengthened by two iron-clads which were built at Liverpool, England, and arrived at Vera Cruz in September. These were the first vessels of this class introduced into the Mexican navy;[3] two others were added, and in 1880 the republic possessed four iron-clad war steamers.[4] Naval arsenals have been established at Lerma, in Campeche, and in the bay of Acapulco, the first mentioned being provided with a floating dock.[5]
As early as 1822 a decree was passed to found a naval school at Tepic, and in 1854 one was established on the Isla del Carmen, Campeche, in 1857 another was established at the Fortress Ulúa, and lastly in 1881 a naval school was founded at Alvarado.[6] At the present time, two such institutions, one in Campeche and the other at Mazatlan, are supported by the government at an annual expense of $6,300 each.[7] Ten resident pupils are admitted into each of these establishment, whose expenses are included in the annual estimates for the military college.
- ↑ Maclure's Opinions, 358.
- ↑ Namely, in the gulf, 4 steamers with 16 guns, 5 schooners with 17 guns, and 2 transports. In the Pacific there were 2 barks with 4 guns, and 2 schooners with 3 guns. Butterfield's U. S. and Mex., Ap. 43. In Feb. two war steamers were sold in London on account of debt, the purchasers engaging to use them as packets plying between Vera Cruz and New Orleans. Mex., Legisl. Mej., Jan.-June, 1856, 406; Pensamiento Nac., Feb. 17, 1856, 2.
- ↑ Mex., Diario Ofic., Jan. 2, Oct. 2, Nov. 15, 1875; Voz de Mex., Sept. 2, Nov. 17, 1875.
- ↑ Namely, the Independencia and Libertad in the gulf, and the Mexico and Demócrata in the Pacific. Mex., Mem. Guerra y Marin, 1877-81, i. 37-42. Two coast-guard steamers were added to the gulf fleet later, named the Cuauhtemoc and Xicotencatl. Id., 1883, i. 135.
- ↑ Mex., Mem. Guerra, 1883, i. 131-5. The estimate of the expenses of these arsenals for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1984, was $44,115 each, and $6,838 for the floating dock at Lerma. The total estimate for naval expenses was $593,251. Id., Doc. 22, 290-99.
- ↑ Gac., Guad., May 22, 1822, 393; Mex., Col. Ley. . .Ord., May to Dec. 1854, vii. 292-3; Cor. de España, Jan. 13, 1855; Archiveo Mex. Col. Ley., iii. 639-47; Mex., Diario Debates, 10th Cong., ii. 338, 942; iii. 58, 181, 230.
- ↑ This sum is the estimate for the year ending June 30, 1884. Mex., Mem. Guerra y Marin, 1883, i. 299.
