The New York herald., 1872-09-09

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Clads-Ofacial Record Of Of
fcers Of the Station
Murmuring Marines.
the busy hum of mechanical labor, and the hereto
fore almost deserted docks and walks are made
lively by the appearance ofworkmen in goodly num-
bers. All this change has taken place within the
past month-since the authorities came into posses
sion of the annual appropriation set apart for the
maintenance OF the yard This is as 1t should be at
all the rava depOts in the country for certainly II
there ever existed genuine excuse for q generous
outlay OF public funds for rebuilding and repairing
the miserably deficient wooden and iron bull
warks OF our country, that time is the present.
There is no such thing as questioning this
assertion. No sane man having the interests
OF the naval service at heart can
visit any navy yard in the country, where our war
vessels lie either stocks or rotting in ordinary,
and not come away fully impressed with the con-
victi0n that immediate attention to these crafts is
essential to the promotion Of the welfare Of the
flag end" which is spared Of the navy. Notwlth-
standing all this, the antGrant press is loud in de-
claring against what it is pleased to term the ex
travagance OF the administration in spending
money upon war vessels for political campaign pur-
poses. They contend that the funds thus expended
are wasted; that worthless and utterly unskilled
men are daily employed as mechanics at the Navy
Yard solely that they may work and vote for U. s.
Grant in November next. The Admiral an old
and tried sea warrior, disclaims any partisan mo-
tives whatever in the administration Of the affairs
OF this station, and contends that o preference is
given In all to veterans Of the late war; when
they are equally competent in all other respects
compatible with the best interests of the service
discharge the duties Of the positions for which
they may make application. Be that as 1t may,
there are now not less than twenty-five hundred
workmen employed on this station, and from a
government standpoint they are actively
engaged, and II justice be done the SER
vice there will be no diminution in
the force for three years to come New
war vessels Of modern design are imperatively
necessary If we would hold our pristine glory on
the seas, and give the starry banner to the breeze
in foreign ports where the influence and respect
to distant natiOn-a great republic-cannOt be
sustained long unless we make display OF power
commensurate with our vaunted ability to accord
protection to American citizens wherever or
whenever their rights as such may be assailed.
Weakness Is never compatible with power, and q
judcious exhibition OF the latter must ever be con-
UuClVe 10 permanent respect among Tile udtl0uS OF
the earth, whether civilized or barbarian.
THE WORK AT THE BROOKLYN YARD.
The chief force Of the Navy Yard is now thrown
upon the hitting out Of the renowned sloop-ofwar
screw steam soop, Of 1900 tons, carries eighteen
guns. Sne is undergoing repairs with all despatch
upon the dry dock: I'm Her % destination Is the East
Colorado The Hartford viii be pushed forward
SO as to be ready for commission by October.
The good old sailing ship Portsmouth, built in
lS47. at which period she considered
feet gem in the way of naval architecture, has
been undergoing repairs since her recent return
from special cruise as school snip on the Brazil
station. She Is destined for three years. cruise
in the Pacific Ocean, where her commander, Cap
the Pacific This important work, which has been
found necessary owing to the imperfect and inac-
curate charts at present extant was authorized by
special act OF Congress- passed last session. and her
fittings are very considerable and include many
appointments not usually required by men-ofwar.
For instance, the Portsmouth will carry no less
than three steam launches and all conceivable sci
entifc instruments requisite for the survey and
deep sea sOundings. The commander Is chosen for
and corps OF scientists will accompany him on his
responsible voyage. The Portsmouth, WILL 1t Is be-
lieved. be ready to hoist the commission pennant
The sloop-Ofwar screw steamer Swatara was
originally built by Constructor Leuthenal, at Phia-
delpha, In 1855. Like all the other vessels built OF
other material than live oak in the hurry and con-
fusion of the war, she did not last longer than six
years. The hand OF rapid decay was upon her, and
she was condemned as unseawOrthy. In February
1872, the veteran naval constructor, B. F. DelanO
since 1861, was instructed to rebuild the Swatara.
This work is now under way, and about twO.thrds
of her frame is up. She will be completed by the
widened and deepened, and will be full shiprigged
instead of bark-rigged, as heretofore. Her length
VIII be 2le feet BEAM 81 feet hold, l9 feet; she viii
Besides these she will have an Orop and
q poop deck and forecastle. There will be accom-
usual steerage and warrant officers quarters ad-
join the wardrOOm The crew will be about one
hundred and seventy-fye men. Her armament
will consist OF ten e1ghtinch Dahgren guns broad
side, and one eleven-inch pivot gun forward. The
Board Of Engineers have not as yet determined as
the but as her lines are such as 20 puv war
rant speed, Ii the formation Of the vessel be
sidered by the designatOrs OF her motive power,
ter Of splitting the waters. She will be built Of the
best seasoned live oak and fastened after the most
approved modern plan.
Constructor DelanO prides himself upon the
superior specimen of American workmanship which
Is being put in shape in the form of torpedo boat,
as being "pretty well under way" but the de-
sgner OF the craft respectfully declines to give any
description OF her further than this She Is being
constructed upon what is termed the Brocket
principle-that Is to say, she has double bottom.
Her castings are the first OF the kind ever made
United States. She will be fully equal in strength
to any iron vessel OF war ever constructed in
Europe.
IN ORDINARY
are the following war vessels The paddle e-wheel
steamer Susquehanna second rate, carrying %
guns. She was undergoing repairs some months
ago, but 1t became necessary to suspend work be-
cause OF the exhaustion Of the funds applicable for
that purpose She is fine vessel and should be
flying the flag on duty in foreign waters.
The Guerriere, steam screw sloOp-Ofwar, 21 guns,
is also lying uselessy by in ordinary.
The Florida, % guns is also in ordinary at this
yard.
The Minnesota, of the same class as the Colorado,
Franklin, Wabash and Niagara, was repaired re-
Gently and Is now housed over, awaiting call from
Washington. About six weeks would sufice to
equip her for three years. cruise. She carries 45
guns and Is a magnificent vessel
The Tennessee, twenty-three guns, screw slOOp,