The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-10
NEW YORK HERALD THURSDAY SHEET


other vessels OF the squadron barely escaped serious
injury The De Soto, In the harb0r Of st. Thomas
"ps es q
lently upon the iron piles OF new wharf, but for
tunsely the next wave carried her again into deep
water and she sustained but little injury. The Sus
quehanna, In the same harbor, succeeded In getting
away from her dangerous position without damage.
o q oo WI
by wave over the warehouses and into one Of the
streets OF the town She came back with the return
ing sea and was left on coral reef ~ the waters
edge. Fortunately, but five OF her crew were lost,
and no very serious injury was sustained BY the
the officers and crew remained by the vessel On
learning the facts the United States bark Purveyor
was put In commission az New York, provided with
nth OF January lett for ST. Crolx where she arrived
on the 3lst and the party, under the supervision OF
Naval Constructor Davidson, commenced prepare
lions for getting the Monongahela anoat The nrst
attempt failed, But on the 10Th OF May successMi
EFFORT was made. She was safely launcneo ana ien
st. Crox on the 18th OF June arriving az New YORK
the 18th, and was put out OF commission July y.
On the 18th OF August last violent earthquake
which two Of the vessels Of the South Pacific squad
ron were Loss to the service. The storeship Ere
donna had, In consequence OF the prevalence OF ye
low fever At Callao, been moved up 70 AFRICA, ana
was there with the Wateree quietly riding at anchor.
A short time after the shock OF the earthquake was
bottom, aud a moment after the waters rolled in
with such power as to break her to fragments.
Twenty-seven officers and men We're drowned-three
were rescued, being all that were saved.
The Wateree was thrown ashore, and left high and
badly strained and her position was such that the
expense OF any attempt to launch her would have
exceeded the value OF tho vessel Under these cir.
cumstances 1t was deemed for the best interests OF
the government to sell her. and the necessary direc-
tons were accordingly given. But single man
canrains zig on the beach. who was carried out to
sea by the waves @E
Rear Admiral Turner was at Calao IN his flagship,
Dan hiu alan fv orao
matter OF security steamed out Of the harbor until
the next morning. On learning OF the disastrous re-
suits Of the earthquake at africa he proceeded to that
point The P0whatan, on application OF the auth0-
rifles OF Peru was permitted TO convey surgeons,
nurses &C. for the relief OF the thousands OF sufferers
at africa. The commanding officer OF the Wateree
also furnished such aid as ne could to the destitute
inhabitants with provisions from the ships supply.
The senior officer at Valparaiso promptly responded
placing the TuscarOra at the service OF the authors
ties to convey provisions and other necessaries 70
the sufferers along the coast.
NAVY YARD FACILITIES.
In the event OF war with any maritime power our
battles TO be fought upon the sea, and not upon
the land-Dy our ieets, not by our armies. No ma
ton OF Europe transport any considerable mill
tary force 20 our Shores but should IL be attempted
they would be met upon the and there arrested
by navy II IL Is maintained in condition at oil
commensurate with our maritime ability, and such
as common prudence admOnlsheS US TO have always
ready to be put In commission. Our noating bull
warks, not less than our harbor f0rtcations should
receive attention; for though peace now prevails,
and we hope and expect its continuance, there may
be war In the not remote future, for which o wise
and prudent government should be always pre-
pared.
we are also admonished by the experience OF the
past that among contending belgerenJs the. rights
of neutras are not always respected, and the best
guarantee against aggression Is q timely exhibition
OF ability to maintain the honor and rights or the
country.
Unfortunate would be our condition should the
country be suddenly involved In hostilltes with one
OF che principal maritime Powers were we no better
prepared than when the late rebellion commenced.
md nr1a ns
inadequate to wants, and large portion OF the
work was consequently executed, often at great dis
advantage and with great delay, by private parties.
mis- defect has been but partially remede d. for not
understanding our experience and the improvements
which have Deen made, none OF tue navy yards pos
sess the area and appliances nor have they the ne
cessary establishments and machinery fer manufac-
turing engines and armature, nor are we providing
from the abundant means which the country pos
sesses the aterials that should be collected IN an.
ticlpatiOn OF the national wants.
In none OF our navy yards Ii there more than
single dry dock and there are but six In allthreo
built OF stone and three floating docks. In the event
OF maritime war tpis deficiency would be seriously
leltperhaps to greater exien. tnan any other OF
sheraton whether steps should not be taken
without. delay 10 place our naval establish
preaching, at least, our relative importance with
other naval Powers. The dock yards a. Cherbourg
Britain, each contain greater number OF dry docks
than ali yards combined; and some OF the other
dock yards Of these Powers but slightly inferior
10 those named. while Great Britain, France and
other maritime Powers are increasing their dry dock
facilities already far greater than ours, we are doing
These and kindred subjects have been advertcd to
In preceding reports ana need not be recapituatcd
In detail, but could not be wholly omitted
REDUCTION OF THE FORCE IN NAVY YARDS.
A reduction Of the working force IN the navy yards
was commenced soon after the Close or the var by
gradually ismissing the most inefficient and unrel.
able mechanics and laborers, ana retaining only the
experts and most faithful hands for continued per-
manent employnenG This arrangement, while IT
relieved the lcpartInent the least profitable
poyes, secured body or skllfu mechanics on
whom the government could always. depend, and
who would form u nucleus to initiate Others IN
any emergency. Hus which had been commenced
In the navy yards during the war were In progress
OF construction aud yet unfinished at Its close, Tor
which engines were bulldog under contracts. TO
employ small force of the oest mechanics To conf
plee IN due time the WORK on these vessels was con-
sdered true economy, aud Tor the best interests OF
the government In all respects. But the action OF
Congress has neceasltated further reduction, 80
that but a remnant OF that body OF superior me
chanics who were employed during the war remains,
theyaie engaged almost exclusively in the repair
aud rchtInent OF vessels These reductions nave
introduced changes, and suggestions for improve
ments in other particulars have led 10 reforms and
reorganization OF the management and government
OF the several navy yards. or the large gangs OF
workmen that were employed Ia each OF the me.
chanica departments 80 few arc retained In any ol
the branches that masters to supervise the workmen
are no longer required and they have accordingly
been gradually dispensed with a. the WORK has
diminished foremen and qnartcr-men, who are
skiful mechanics, now perform che service which
with mechanics.
These reforms, and a more correct distribution oil
navy yard duties among the several bureaus, which
constitutes an essential feature In the rcorganiza
ton, whereby more close and rigid accountability
prevails, have saved annually many thousand dol
lars 20 the government at each OF the navy yards
Congress, by reducing the days labor OF those who
work Tor tue government 10 eight hours instead OF
ten, has imposed on the department., Az o necessity
the employment OF q larger number OF hands ~ exc
cute the same amount of work; and II II was IN
tented tina. tho per diem compensation for o work
ing day OF ten hours In outside establishments
should, under the statute Hx the rate OF wages IN
navy yards twenty per cent is added 10 the cost oil
labor.
The estimates for labor for the current year were
based On the standard which had always previousy
been recognized and observed; but Congress, while
Diminishing the appropriations below the estimates
also lesscned the amount OF labor to be daily rem
deied by each indlyidua workman. While there.
fore. the department. Is furnished with ess means,
Is compelled 10 employ one-nfth more laborers than
In preceding years FOR the same amount OF work.
10 preserve and protect tue vessels and other pro
perry at navy yards ~ duty prompted by eco
lt.Yn frlh Ia