The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-08-02
THE BROOKLYN NAVY YARD.
Activity Existing In the stablishment-Hn.
crease In the Number Of Workmen.

d
The Brooklyn Navy Yard now presents an air OF
activity and business which would remind the
visitor OF the haIcyon days OF war at this station,
when work was not scarce and the price Of labor
high--when all who were so fortunate as to elude
the CONSUMPTION had not far to In order to obtain
profitable employment IN the government service,
without running any risk OF personal or bodily
harm. The Navy Yard, which has ever been an
asylum .or industrious patriots OF mechanical turn
and even for clever aborers, fell into odiu, how
ever, with hundreds of Its former hdbtu6s whose
names were stricken from the pay rolls
In accordance with instructions OF the gov
ernment regulating and providing for
more economical measure Of expenditure in the
Navy Department, as soon as practicable upon the
termination OF the war Gradually the host of en-
ployes. numbering at one period fully 5000, was
reduced, and the average number of men in the
various divisions OF labor during the past year has
not been lnore than 1900. Now, however the
department appears TO have been reused into life
| and activity, and to be determined upon amending
the Of the past by exercise OF future care
ana circunspection. The new measure, which has
been productive IN increasing the demand for addi.
tonal workmen here-the number engaged
Gently given by The Secretary Of the Navy to
Admiral G0dOn to at out several vessels, which have
heretofore been lying tout OF order! in ordinary at
In twcny-fOur hours notice whenever requisition
may be made for Their services. When vessel
comes In from cruise for the future and goes out
OF commission she will be immediately surveyed by
board of officers, whose duty 10 will be to report
the repairs required, which latter Will he perfected
as soon as practicable before placing her IN ordinary
THIS pre- caution WILL 1t Is believed. do away with
difficulty and expense heretofore occasloned
through neglect In tins really very simple though
| highly important precaution. The demand for
| an Increase OF the squadron IN Cuba last spring
was great incentive towards pointing out the
necessity for this timely prccaution there being DO
vessels available at any OF the navy yards for imme
date departure and active service at that time.
The salem, which went into commission ut Ports.
mouth, N H.. early In April, AFTER icing hurriedy
nocned, was the nrst to San as reinforcement to
| escaped shipwrecK on the passage 10 Hampton
Roads, being totally unseaworthy for want OF re-
par, and Is now out OF commission and lying at the
| .Gosport tVa.l Navy Yard.
| VESSELS UNDERGOING REPAIRS.
The ships undergoing repairs here are rs foilows-
The severn hitherto known as the Mothon first rate
carrying an armament OF sixteen nine-incn guns in
battery aud sixty FOUNDER pivot gun on her spar
deck, Is lifting for the West Indies she will nv the
pennant Of ADMIRAL Poor, who will relieve Admiral
Hon and the Conoocook ON that station. The latter
| months WIN reture 10 New YorR. The Severn Will
sail 1t Is thought about the latter end OF August.
| me Swatara Is In the dry dock. 4 duplex pro-
added 70 her. Her rg,. heretofore that of a light
spared bark, IL being altered to q ship rig.
- me steam irlgate Colorado is also being put In
| thorough repair
The Detroit, better known az the Canapdaigua. Is
| repairing.
The double turreted iron-ciah steam sioop. orwar
Roanoke Is also about TO be generally overhaued
anu repaired work has been commenced on the
steam irigate Hartford which vessel made her ast
cruise IN the China waters; on the Wachusetl,
whose last voyage was In China, and the Minnesota
| steam fr2ate which returned rom the European
squadron about year ago.
'rne Florida formerly the wampanoag), the Ar,.
iona QaLe Neshaniny) and the Tennessee date
| MadawasSal, all OF which are very large steamers,
are also repairing. ihe Tennessee has had two
| boilers taken out Of her. reducing the number to
SIX
Ihe Algonquin failure, which the Navy Depart
| ment holds Tor sale at her assessed valuation
| $S,o00-is yet al the yard awaiting purchaser
Inc Shawinlt, steam soop-ofwar, Is repairing out
sue ana IN; hef onier banking which s all rotten,
The sidewheel steam sloop-of-war Powhatan (the
old flagship OF the Perry expedition to Japan IN
1852, which has been three years In service In the
Pacific, now under command OF Commodore Nc
Douga, IS on her way home. This vessel
the nagshipot Admiral Turner, Of the Pacific squad
ron, until the consolidation OF the North and South
| Pacific squadrOns took place.
/ COMMANDER CIJTZ,
| late captain OF the Rawnee OF the South American
squadron ~ on dnty In the Ordnance Department at
this station.
| POLITICAL INFLUENCE AT A DISCOUNT
Considerable annoyance i5 occasIoncd to the Adj
mirai, Commander Bennam and other officers OF tue
| Navy Yard 10y the constant and annoying importu-
mites Of dockvard politicians who seek TO make use
OF the positions OF government officers by obtain
| Ing for their constituents or "fr1ends" work IN the
yard. These officials desire 1t to be understood that
they VIII not entertain such influences, that they
are oieers OF the government and not o any party.
Ihey take but llCe interest In party affairs and
| not to he Influenced IN any way whatever by such
| tnbueBces, having no interests at STAKE beyond
those which VIII best the interests Of the gov
| ernment An honorable discharge from the army
| or navy IL far stronger recommendation for an
applicant FOR employment than any politicians note
| that can possibly be presented, preference being
| always given TO the man who has served the coun-
| try M time OF war. provided that person qual-
hed IN all other respects TO perform the work re-
| quired 0y the government.
| sunday on Board the United states Receiving
Ship Vermont.
The Vermont. now lying In the Brooklyn Navy
Yard mas been for many years the receiving shipp
at this port for the United states Navy. There are
as present 400 men on board awaiting orders join
| whatever vessels they may no ordered TO nv the
| Navy Department, The routine OF duties and the
discipline board the Vermont correspond
| or course, in almoss every particular, with
those on board my ordinary war vessel
No account OF these duties Is therefore, necessary
A snndnr ON hoari ia uar.ra.,. aou....s.