Instructions to All Persons Appointed for Building Frigates

Circular letter from the Secretary of War to Naval Constructors. Particular directions will be provided regarding the proportion of the ships. As public employees, they are to observe strict economy in labor, materials, and all other matters under their supervision. There must be a roll call for laborers and workmen at the beginning and end of the day as well as when they return from dinner; the constructor must be present at roll call. His fellow staff will include: an agent for procuring materials; a captain or superintendent of the workmen; a clerk of the year. All purchases, whether of labor or materials, must be countersigned by the captain or superintendent. Only materials of the best quality should be used. The whole effort of building six ships in different places is an experiment to consider how any future workmight be carried out.