The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-02-16

The passage of the League Island bill by the
Senate seals the fate Of the old Navy Yard,
which has been one of the institutions of our
city for so many years, inasmuch as it con-
tains a provision to the effect 'that if League
Island be selected, the Navy Yard at Philadel
phia shall be dispensed with and disposed of
by the United States as soon as the public con-
yenience will admit"
"Public convenience it is true, is a very
indefinite term, and some years viii probably
slapse before the limitation is determined. But
as soon as the new establishment is well under
way, there win be no further convenience or
necessity for the Government to keep up the
cid one. In this connection the old Yard, its
anteeedents, and its present arrangements,
possess more than ordinary interest to our
sitizens.
The Present Navy Yard
extends from Front street to the Delaware
river, and from Prime street to within a short
distance of Reed street. Its width, including
The addition recently made ON the south side,
is 700 feet. The greatest length is 100 feet,
the shortest being but 1900 feet. Within the
enclosure there are about thirty buildings of
all sizes. The two most prominent ones are
the large yellow ship-houses, which present
such an imposing appearance upon the river
front. The larger of these is 800 feet in
length by 100 feet in width, the smaller being
250 by so feet. Four of the buildings are
eOmmodious dwelling-houses, facing Front
street, and occupied as residences by the Com
o41,a Off Tho
building occupied as the headquarters of the
yard, and standing just within the walls, to
the right of the main entrance, is likewise neat
In appearance, as well as large enough to meet
all requirements. The other buildings, con-
sisting of the Offices of the heads of depart
ments, the machine and work shops, and the
storehouses, were erected with a view to dura-
bility rather than architectural effect.
Vessels-Of-w War Built In the Past Thirty
Years.
In addition to the great number of vessels-of-
war which have been repaired and fitted out at
the Navy Yard during the past thirty years,
no less than tWenty-eight have been entirely
constructed there. Among these were one
ship-of-the-line, two side-wheel frigates, one
screw frigate, eleven screw sloops four gum
boats, and one iron-clad. In this enumeration
the numerous vessels which have been con-
strpcted 53y private contractors in this city, as
included. In 1865 two screw sloops and one
aouble-turreted monitor were placed upon the
stocks, and are as yet unfinished. We give
below the name and description of each of the
above vessels with the date of launching-to-
gether with the tonnage, according to the old
standard, and the number of guns carried
by such of them as are still upon the navy
Tegister:-
THE RELIEF was launched on the 14th of
September, 1886, and went to sea ON the Sth
OF December following. She is a fourth-rate
sailer, of 46S tons, carries 3 guns, and is at
present undergoing repairs at the Brooklyn
Navy Yard.
THE PENNSYLVANIA, which was launched on
1he 18th of July, 1887, was the largest ship-of-
the-line ever built in this country, and rejOiced
in an armament of 120 guns. She was burned
by the Rebels during the war, while laid up at
the Norfolk Navy Yard.
THE DALE, fourth-rate sailing sloop, of 566
tons, and carrying guns, was launched on
the 9Th of October, 1889. She is now lying at
Norfolk, condemned as unseaworthy.
THE MISSISSIPPI was launched on the 5th Of
May, 1S41, and sailed on the 10Th of February
following. She was steam frigate, carrying
about A guns, and under the old classification
ranked as first-rate. She was destroyed by fire
at Port Hudson, to save her from falling into
Rebel hands.
THE RARTAN which was launched on the
18th of June, 1S43, no longer appears upon the
Navy Register.
The PRINcEToN, third-rate screw sloop
800 tons, carrying D guns, was launched on
the 7th of September, 1843. She was designed
by Ericsson, and was the first propeller ever
constructed for warlilSe purposes. For q long
time she was the receiYing-ship on this station,
but in October of last year the Government
disposed of her.
THE GERMANTOWN, a screw sloop which was
launched on the 2lst of August, 1916, no longer
--.,,oo,,- =
.-J,,y,si5 on Une Register
1'HE SusoUEHANNA, a frst-rate side-wheel
frigate of 2450 tons, carrying IA guns, was
launched on the 9th of April, 1850. She is
now on special service.
THE ARCTIC, launched on the lst OF May
1855, no longer appears on the Register
From 1855 to 1858, four Gghtships Were
built at the Navy Yard. One of these, MAR
TrN's INDUSTRY. was launched October IL, 1855
another, the SHuBRlCK, August g. 1857; anC
two others of the second class on the 9th 0
January. and 23d Of June, 1888 respectively.
THE WABASH, a frst-rate screw frigate o
3274 tons and AZ guns, was launched on tn
24th of October, 1855, and sailed on the l4tl
of September, 1856. She is now laid up a
Boston.
The LANCASTER a seoond-rate screw sloo
of 1852 tons, and carrying Is guns, wa
launched on the Goth OF October, 1855, She
now on the way from the Pacific to Philade
phia tdNandergo repairs.
The WYoMING, a third-rate screw sloop
997 tons, and carrying guns was launche
on the 10Th of January, 1859. She is no
attached to the Asiatic Squadron, under Il
command of Captain ]. p. Bankhead.