The New York herald., 1869-04-25

the rggers room, where the gun tackle is made up;
makers, paint, &c. on the loft, which runs the en-
tire length OF the building stored In quantities,
all me various products OF the ingenuity and handi
craft OF the industrious w0rkmen who furnish the
ordnance equipments for the seag0ing vessels Of
our navy.
Until within the past four years the guns were
packed In the yard on the space occupied by the
receiving stores. When the buildings were COM
menced the cannon were permitted TO ''lay around
oose, 30 10 speak, and were TERED In the streets
throughout the yard. This was while the present
parking ground on the Cob Dock was being made for
their reception. For some time previous to this lat
ter accession 70 the ordnance accommodations here
dispute was going on between the Admiral oil the
Bureau OF Navy Yards and Docks and the Chief OF
the Bureau OF Equipments and Supplies IN relation
TO selection OF favorable sites for the re-
specuve purposes or wants OF their depart
compromise was effected by which the old park
near the Lyceum was removed and the work OF re-
claiming thirteen acres Of soft mud on the river
section OF the Old Cob dock was commenced In 1864.
This great undertaking. which was performed by
contract under the personal supervision OF Carpen
ter hainDor0, man of superior qualifications and
rare abilities as a builder (snce deceased and un
der direction OF Captain J. r. Mulloney and Com.
mander d. L. Brain, ordnance ofrcers. The cost Of
ms was less than $500 900 and It is claimed that no
nner or hrmer ground can be found than that which
at present forms the dock and gun park 1t Is TRAN
foundation was had by driving immense spiles.
sixteen inches at the butts, down deep into the soft
aed oY ee on sp aes os IL III
the 1rmest description OF earth. The test
10 wnicn the s0lidity OF this dock and re-
claimed land has since been subjected Is
iairy demonstrated In the fact that the weight OF
many OF the twenty-inch guns-weighng $1,000
lbs. eacll-have not been sufficient to bear down
these well laid crates. There are at present about
in the aggregate 500 guns principally Parrots,
ranging Ia sizes OF twenty fifteen. thirteen, eleven.
and eight inch-parked at this place. These are
resting on stone skids with iron caps the vent being
down 30 as to prevent the rain from cOrrOdng them
The original intention was to have railroad track
raid In between the different sections SO that the
derrick could be run up to the tier the piece re-
qulred be taken out and run or to the edge OF the
dock with a much greater saving OF time and labor
than is now required
Yet, as 1t is, the expedition with which ships
battery can be placed on board OF her by the Ord
nance Department OF this station is astonishing.
ship-of-war not long since left the yard at seven
O'Clock IN the morning, ran over under the steam
derrick on the Ordnance Dock, received her bat
terry on board and was back at the yard by noon.
The battery OF the Spanish frlgate Tecbuan, con-
slstng OF f0rtytwO heavy guns, were hosted out OF
her by this derrick the short space Of seven hours
The river face OF the Cob or Ordnance Dock is very
fine, and the well kept pyramids OF shot and shell
and the mounted cannon lining the whole are both
formidable and ornate In appearance. There is q
depth OF twenty-five feet or water ON this front
sufficient to float ships OF the largest size.
The gunp0wder IL stored in the magazines on
Ellis Island, where the shells and cartridges are
filled when called for by requistion. There are
loaded shells stored in the Navy Yard.