The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-05-30
NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.


Recent improvements in the Engineers De-
pnrtment-New Works Completed and In
Course Of Construction. &c.
One familiar with the Brooklyn Navy Yard ten years
ago would scarcely recognize now, such are tho i'm.
provements made and the number Of new buildings
erected large portion OF the marshy ground on the
eastern SIDE between the old canal and Clinton avenue
mas bean filled IN and walls have been built on the
river sde The yard proper covers an area OF one
hundred and five acres, exclusive Of the cob dock,
the latter being used principally for ordnance purposes
Among the most prominent buildings recently erected
Is very large and substantial brick storehouse for the
storage Of materials and supplies for all the different
bureaus. II is located on the avenue rs you enter
the yard gate from York street. The Iron
and Brass Foundry Is well worthy Of notice
among the recent improvements. This building Ii
three hundred and fifty feet long by sixty.nve feet wide
inside and has wing whole length thirty wde
The main build ng which is used the iron foundry,
contains two air furnaces, three cupoas forty-eight
inches in diameter EACH four pits two and four
heavy cranes. The blast for the cupoas is obtained
from two blowing cylinders driven by vertical
engine The brass foundry. which occupies onehalf Of
the wing, is furnished with twelve small air furnaces
besides all the necessary implements The other por
ton OF the wing 10 employed as coppersmh shop, and
can boast some Of tho best tools in the country.
All these works were constructed under the SUPER
Navy who also designed the general plans Of the now
machine shop, boiler shop smthy, erecting shop rolling
mill pattern shop and Office buildings, all OF which
to DO erected In group the foundry These plans
were approved by the Navy Department and the money
asked FOR from the last Congress Besides this
works New furnaces have been built in the
emithy and two steam hammers erected and put into
boiler smithy and twenty fires put in operation therein
also small heating furnace and two steam hammers,
one OF eight inch diameter Of cylinder and Of ten
inch diameter The latter is elfacting and is beau
tiful specimen Of machine TO hammer iron automatic
cally when compared with the old fashioned way Of
using sedges The old machine shop has enlarged
by additional space near the pumping engine while
several new machines have been added. The pattern
shop which at present occupies the third story Of the
10 ono or tho most complete shops OF its kind to be
found in the country.
been there many abosaving machines have been intro
duced by him into tho Navy Yard When first he
by hand with the old fashioned buck saw. machine
was constructed by him which required but three mon
to operate and thereby saved in this one tem $4,000
year. II 10 estimated that the total saving In labor
would foot up about 100000.
Heretofore the buildings, works. docks and all men
control Of the Chief the Bureau OF Yards and Docks
but 1t has been ordered by the Secretary Of the Navy
that after July each bureau shall control 81 tho men
materials and stores used In connection Herewith
Tho Thirtynnth Congress having failed TO mako any
appropriation for improvements In the navy yards all
work on the buildings docks wharves &c, at the Brook
Ign yard has been suspended except where unexpended
D2enCeS remain lu0 Walls OI new Duli0nR LOT pre-
pairing plates and such work up and the build
ing rooted in but no work has been done the into
rior and the $4,000 originally appropriated for its
completion has been expended, work has been stopped
The foundation for the now machine shop completed
last year, some Of the materials purchased but as only
$4,000 appropriated TO complete IT, progress
suspended with the expectation that the last session OF
Congress would appropriate the balance required. This
expectation having been disappointed matters remain in
aatu que. ts
Four pairs Of marine engines q any BY forty-two inch
cylinders, with accompanying boilers, in course
or construction at the Chief Engineers Department
These the FIRST engines which have been constructed
10 the Brooklyn Navy Yard Tho workmanship 10 frat
class the materials used Of the best manufacture The
four pairs OF engines will cost the government upwards
Of million OF dollara The vessels for which these
gines are intended have been commenced in different
yards.
Since the close OF the war large amount Of work has
been done in the yard Upwards Of forty vessels have
been repaired in the yard within the past two years
Now tho only vessel which are engaged Is the
sloop Java steam launch has Just bean completed a
the yard II has ono engine and one screw, and runs
about ten miles hour. has proved 90 successful
that two more have been ordersd and are 70 b Don
structed altogether Of iron.
Az there are some new government works TO DO con.
srucsed League Island Chief Engineer King leaves
the yard on June ! 70 superfntend the work