The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-06-10
VISIT TO THE NAVY YARD.
IMPROVEMENTS IN NEW BUILDINGS-vEs-
Sells ON THE SrOCKS-THE STEAM FRI.
GATE NIAGARA &n &c

| AaAI hONEMENIo IN NEW bUlbDlNGS-fES-
Sells ON THE SrOCKS-THE STEAM FRI
GATE NIAGARA &c, &c.
The Brooklyn Navy Yard presents at the present mo-
uent scsne Of industrial activity and official energy
directed towards works Of improvement the
advancement Of our marine power the of univer
sal philanrophy and the development OF kno Wedge
OF tne navigation of the icy Of the North, which
are at once pleasing to bsho oredabe to the country
and interesting to the civilized world The appropriation
Of three hundred and fifty thousand dollars, lately
voted by Congress- being xpended in the erection Of
new buildings suited for tbs purposes Of armory,
timber sheds, and smhsry; the promoting of system
ef general drainage, the constant supply of
water both for mechanical and the comfort OF the
people employed the better enclosure Of the place along
the line separating 1t from the city, and the building Of
solid boundary wall which viii curve around the pre-
mses inside from point to point and
to the waves Of the WaAbout On the other hand the
waters Of the bay lately dotted with vessels of
war-frat class ships, frigstes and sloops-which
either in process Of being completed and made ready for
sea, overbaued and repaired laid up in ordinary In
addition to these, the tive vsssels-Arctic and Release
which were despatched 3 few days ago cruise TO
the Arctic Ocean in search of Doctor Kane and his
companions lying in the East river ready to start
at few hours notice their mission Of patriotism and
research. This fine feet augmented by the four
United States vessels which have been since detached
by the executive in order to blockade the steamer
United States in the East river, and thus preserve the
present conservatism Of in the eyes Of
other nations. by preventing Col Kinney from sailing
with his armed volunteers tor Nicaragua In the ship
building department, American me :hanc-Mr. Geo.
Steers--has over three hundred at work new
steam fgate Of war, which, when completed, will sha
esge the wonder and admiration Of the world for size
beauty of mould and equipment; whilst her launch for
the government by private individual contractor will
afford bright example of ths fostering which
democratic institutions extend genius and merit
These remarks necessary to enable the reader to
clearly understand the result of visit which of
reporters paid the Navy Yard Tuesday the Goth Of
May, which detailed below, under different heads and
pretty much in the which the subjects
noticed. With regard to
THE LAND IMPROVEMENTS AND NEW BUILDINGS.
At point running about south west from the fire
gine houss in the yard, about fifty laborsrs daily
employed under direction OF the Engineer in Oh ef in
fling in large space Of damp waste ground which
1t La Intended to build extensive timber shed. Over
of land has been already reclaimed and nearly
double that space viii be available. The old tim
Der basin, situated in the neghborhood is also
being gradually filed in, and another is being formed
ut point more advanced tow rds the river and
convenient to the sheds and mills. All the oak
being cleared out of the basin hitherto used and the
magnificent ship knees Of that wood which had lain in
it for time taken to the knee pond" of the new
basin which is already fit for This pond is situate
at the end of the basin nearest to the land and is
divided from that portion Of the reservoir which is in
tended for general purposes.
A litte bi. further commences the great and me-
cesssry work of the building OF quay WALL which
is ntendsd to act barrier sgsinsr the tides aud
of the river and bay This wall will be OF blue
granite stons with its foundation laid wooden piles
sunk ten feet beneath the of the shore bottom
1t will avefsge breadth OF ten feet all through and
extend in gentle for two hundred and sixty
fest along the fringe Of the land. After the val
has reached the intended height, . Russ pave
snsnt, sktsndng forty feet in the yard, will
be laid down all along its length, which
will make complete finish that side and add greatly
to ths beauty OF the premises. On the old wall which
separates the yard from the city Of Brooklyn, about
eight hundred feet Of spiked iron fence railing have
put lately This completes the protection of the place
that side and very much required The eng inesr
having lately ordered that water pipes should be laid
down. so as to supply the mechanical departments
quiring it, this work has been nearly finished ami in
short time thousands Of feet of pipe will convey
water into the shops Of the smith and boiler maker
is brought to the Offices of the various officers
With respect to the buildings in the vicinity Of
the newly formed ground an obiong brick house has
been put up, Of tho of three hundred feet
long by eighty feet broad II stands with end to the
river, and s entered BY elegant and light arches on
but win not have any door above. The roof is grace
fully supported and Drsced by light metal rods. One
end Of I. .n be partiioned OIL ana used as piummsrs
smthery No building could be better adapted for such
kpurpsses its great extent admirable location and
arangeuepta for ventilation will secure both the de.
spstch OF work and the health OF tbs artizans.
South of this smithery boiler makers shop win be
immediately put the extent Of three hundred feet by
sixty THIS building has been already commenced,
ao coal house of the size Of one hundred and thirty
Running east by west in the yard and nearly forming
the other eide of square with the smithsry about
forty men, masons with their attendants, employed
In b,Icipg brick house intended for Q timber she'd
1t viii bs three hundred feet long by sixty and story
and half high series of elegant and substantial
arches gronde with cut stone, will lead into it, and
thence to large room overhead.
A new atmory, which win be two stories high aud two
and new gun carriage house and gun carriage shed,
the of iron and the other Of brlcs, will be built
The upper story OF the armory will be used Tor the keep
ing OF small arms
Near the smishery just spoken of, the
height OF one hundred and twenty Eve feet from blue
stone base Of eighteen feet. This chimney will have
four aues ONE connecting with each shop heat
such the sthery and boiler makers The old houses
half of wood and brick 30 long used As rgser's and
bockmakers shops, gun carriage house. and coffee and
spice mills about to be taken down and new shops
for the joners and carpenters erected their stes 1t
has also been decided to put up new oakum she'd
steam sewm ID also nearly completed All these i'm
provements have been msde with view to system Of
thorough drainage About sixty men are constantly
employed dredging the harbor close to the shore ia
order permit the masons to carry the the
new quay WALL already described These lsborers work
in ell senous.
In connection with the nswly made ground which
many OF the buildings have been erected fact
related By Mr. oNe the master housecarpenter of the
yard-is worthy OF mention. Some years ago the Ger
rag pickers OF Brooklyn, women and Children
were In the habit Of resortng TO this snd daily
IN order 10 m the heaps Of coal ashes they had ceect
cd They were not disturbed and the effect was, that
the rlddl'nss formed hard foundation and dried ups
lot of land which 1t would have cost the government
upwards OF teu thousand dollars reclaim the usual
way since the organization Of their new settlement
near Williamsburg, these German aids Of "Uncls
Sam. have ceased operations, but they remain thank
Jul for the accommodation he afforded them in
time Of Deed. Mr.. Entriken, master mason directs
the men employed on the new houses; Mr.. Wilson
superntends the progress OF the quay wall and
Hued chimney. Mr.. Charles Beck is in charge of the
lumber she'd and Mr.. E j. Sturgss OF the of
whom employed, Of course, in carrying tue de-
signs and drestons Of Gen. Ward B. Burnett chief en-.