Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1854-12-15
STAR,
LOCAL INTELLIGENCE
4 Eamble Through the Washington Navv
Yard-No

NO member OF either branch of our M.
honai Legislature-no s2journer or visiter at
the metropolis OF the Union-no citizen who
contemplates with pride the growing nower
Of our gallant Nsvy-should fail to 9i.nca
through the Washington Navy Yard. II !,
miniature world Of Science Art. and Undue.
I try. 1t is embellished with enduring monn
ments Of the genius, skill, and taste of On,
honest and hardy mechanics. Tits a vast and
vsried school, wherein the learned and inOe.
NOUS may be edited and interested. the mn.
learned AMI lnapt instructed and improved
The Navy Yard is the very life of the soutb.
eastern section of our city 1t NAV he I;kon-
Cd to great heart, throbbing in the bosom Of
the Sixth Ward, and impartiDg 10 IL ane-c.
activity, Comfort, and happiness. It's ;nSn''
srces are seen and felt in the numerous nsot
and unpretending dwellings that surround Il
cheered by the presence OF happy and con-
tented families; in the several handsome
c1u.cn edlnces that adorn the neighborhoed
In the schools, pub ic and private, that have
sprung up in its vicinity; and in the ben
encial and other useful societies that dispense
their charities and impart their ADVANTAGES tn
that thriving and interesting locality.
A somewhat accurate idea may be formed of
IN impetus given to business in the vicinity
o. the Navy Yard. and of the swarmine life
sna busting activity there visible, when it is
stated that there are now on the rolls of the
yard the names Of eLsren hundyed and sers,,.
yfve mechanics and laborers, and that the
disbursements for the last month. on account
OF wages, amounted to the sum of S42,5II 0S
Inc wages for some time past have averaged
$4,000 per week; they are paid semi .montbIv
large proportion of $4,000 ia thus twice
month, scattered through the community. and
especially through the eastern section Of the
city, by those honest and generous sons of toll.
Carrying with it. to many loved and cherish
81 abode, plenty and contentment In con.
, nochon with this point, we cannot forbear from
quoting two noble passages from the recent
annual Report OF the Secretary of the NAVY.
alike worthy OF the head and heart of James
Uoooln, Eioqusntly and truthfulIy has the
honorable Secretary remarked, in that Iumin
ous State paper, in justification of the great
cost OF building up sufficient Navy: "Tha.
ttae great cost should always be yipilantly
watched by the prudent statesman: who should
however, remember that every dollar is ex.
pended among our own people in the purchase
OF material and payment of labore-s, and that
II brings into exercise the mechani skill of
our country, promotes, and thereby perpe.u.
ates, class in our midst essential to our ma.
tlonal Independence. He who visits our NAVY
ards, and fingers a moment in bsholdinp tie
giant frames of the noble ships now being con.
trueted by the genius, the labor, and with
Il . material Of our own country, will find that
the money expeD led not merely results in ORE.
Hnung noanng battery to protect our prop
erty and our flag, but gladdens the hearts of
hundreds of cheerful artisans, who nav it back
Into the treasury with fourfold interest"
There are comprehended within the present
limits of the Navy Yard about twenty eight
acres of land. 1t is contemplated to eplaree
Ii by embracing three squares of about ten
acres, Tor six squares CT about twenty acres,)
Ga the eastern side This improvement would
aid greatly to the facilities of the yard for the
execution Of the public work, and, in view Of
the increase Of the Navy, becomes highly de.
nrable, if not absolutely necessary
The yard Is under the command of CAPTAIN |
Bran Paulding-an officer who combines with
the ability. dignity, and frmnsss essential in |,
such an important position, all tbs urbanity
and afability which mako Intercourse wit b !
him pleasant and agreeable. Indeed, all the
ofiaers assigned to duty at this station are,
" every inch of thera, officers as we'll as gem
uemen: and deservedly popular. Good feel
Ing and harmony prevail in and between the
various departments; the business progresses
yigorousi y-the men work cheerfully; and
these are the best evidences Of wise and Judi
sious management.
With the expression of these preliminary
thoughts, which have sprung almost unbidden
from the mind, and sought an outlet at the
point OF the pen, we shall proceed to portray,
as we'll as our feeble ability and limited time
will permit, some Of the prominent fsatur % Of
the various buildings and workshops which
enrich and beautify the yard. First, lie. us
enter
TIE ROLLING MILL,
pnder the sup erintendence Of Mr.. III Hunt.
chief engineer and machinist, (Mr. Matthew
McNally, foreman This is large and hand
some brick structure 200 feet in length and
F65 feet in width. The first object that attracts
attention is large double steam engine ONT.
William Quigley, engineer9 Of $50 horse
power, the fly wheel of which weights II tons,
the whole designed and cons 'ructed, about
two years since. by Mr.. William Il. Ellis
former chief engineer and machinist Here
there are also three heating furnaces and O
picking and drying furnace. The machinery
consists of three sets of rollers ere for break
ing down, another for finishing plate or sheet
copper, and third for rolling bolt copper
from half an inch TO two and a half inches
diameter. 1t is estimated that the capaci,v
Of this mill with full complement of hands,
10 amply sufficient to supply double the guam
tty of plate, sheathing, and bolt copper re-
CURED for our present navy. But, in addition
TO the rolling of copper, this mill is also made
available tor rolling milled Or sheet lead, of
thieknesses varying from three to fifteen
pounds to the foot, and of sheets weighing
about 500 pounds. From 10000 to 81, coo
pounds have recently been rolled from old
tcrap lead sent to the yard for that purpose
and will be forwarded to other stations. A
pair Of shears, for cutting the thickest plate
or bolt copper, may also here be seen. The
fouthern portion (nearly half of this building
"a yet unOccupied by machinery, being de-
signed for an equal number of sets for rolling
plate or bar iron. In connection with this
mill there il a smoke-stack l43 feet in height,
and also an immense reservoir continually
supplied through pipes from the river, con.
tanning upwards Of 80, 200 gallons of water,
for feeding the boilers, which embrace the
latest improved attachments, and are three in
number With the aid of Bakers patent force
pump, used in supplying the engine, the res
ervoir can readily be made available in case
of fire in any pat of the yard, and affords an
ineXhaustible supply of water. On the occa-
sion Of the recent fire at the iron toundery. it
was Of incaleulable service. There are at
epresent employed in this department, in roll
ing bolt, plate, and sheet copper, fourteen
hands. We will now step over the way, and
pass successfully through
THE BRASS FOUNDRY AND REFIsERY-THE CA.
B0OsE SHoP-IHE BRASS FINISHING SHOP