The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1864-04-29


machine shop for preparing and curving iron
plates for iron.clad vessels. There are four
stationary steam engines for driving ma
chincry, ono steam FIRE engine and one ordi-
nary fire engine.
The several Offices arc in centrally located
position in building Of brick and free-stone
while on ridge behind are. the handsome
and commodious brick buildings Of tho off,
GERS quarters. The gun park contains a
large number Of Dahlgren guns, PARROT
rifles, shot, shell &c.
The ordnance building to which We have
referred, is being enlarged. Unattended BY
an officer we should not have been admitted.
We acknowledge the polite attentions of the
officials, who cautioned US about the strin-
gent orders Of the Secretary Of the Navy,
and although by it Othello's occupation is
somewhat gone," We cheerfully submit.
WORK IN THE YARD.
Tho gun-carriages, Of which about 800
have been made since 1861. manufactured
under the superintendent Of Joseph vii.
liams, Of Kittery arc deserving Of mention.
The Chief Of the Bureau or Ordinance, in
his last report says Of the work at this Yard :
In gun-carriages, especially, the work has
not been excelled at any other station, either
in excellence Of finish, or the promptness with
which they have invariably been constructed
and forwarded to any given point.
Probably one half Of the carriages used in
the Navy are made at this station. They
are sent to California, st. Louis, on the Miss.
andeven supplied to the Charlessown Yard.
The Washington, seventy.four ship-of'the-
line was the first ship built at this Yard, and
i. was launched in 1914. Previously vessels
were built on Badgers Island, and prior to
the Revolution orders were issued to Sir VIM.
Peppercll for the building Of vessels there.
The next vessel commenced was the New
Hampshire, in 1919, which was launched
last January, now lying at the Yard receiv-
ing her spars and rigging, and being fitted
up for storcship. The following is the list
of vessels launched since then in the order Of
their commencement: Santcc, Porpoisc, Con-
cord, Congress, Preble, Portsmouth. Sarato-
ga; Mohican (swifD and Saranac, steamers;
-, Ossipec, Kearsarge and Sacramento,
steam sloop prupellon; Sebaso, Mahaska,
Sonoma, Conemaugh, Sassacus (swiftcst gun
boat aaoat) and Patuxct, side wheel, double
enders; and the Nipsic and Shawmut steam
gunboats of about 600 tons, both launched
at one tide, juno Is, 1868. The last eleven
have been commenced and launched since
the beginning Of 1861. When Sumter was
fred upon tho frigate Santco and the sloops-
of war Dalo and Marion wcrc lying at the
wharf. They wero fitted out at once, and
the Yard Immediately put in working order
for the largo orders which immediately fol-
lowed. for the building Of gunboats. Dur
ing this time there have arrived ut tho Yard
to be repaired, frigato Sabine, sloops-of-war
Portsmouth and Constellation, steam frigates
Colorado and Minnesota, tho purchased
steamer Cuyler, irigatc st. Lawrence, that
sunk the pirate Preble. tho bark Fernandina
and the gunboat Dacotah.
There were received last year on the Yard
7,OO6 tons white oak timber, 934 ,262 board
feet Of white oak plank, s95 white oak
knees, 1865 hackmatack do, 757 tons hack
matack timber and t,O5l 1888 board feet pine
lumber, the cost Of which was about $780,
900. The most Of the oak timber is brought
from Md. and Del, while some Of the largest
come from Ohio; ono pieco now ON hand
measures tons 25 cubic feet. Messrs Jewett
and Trickcy are tho largest contractors Tor
timber.
Our thanks arc duo to friends in the Yard
and in Kittery, but to mono more than to E.
p. Parcher Esq, OF this city, formerly the
popular Messenger Of the House Of Repre-
sentatiyes.