New-York tribune., 1873-12-18
OTHER NAVAL PREPARATIONS.
TIE NORFOLK NAVY-YARD-wORK on THE MACE
DONIAS-THE SAVANNAH READY FOR SERVICE


DoNnN-rHE SAVANNAH READY FOR SERVICE
NEW ROIJING-MACHINE.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUsE.l
NORFOLK, Va, Dec. 17.-The laborers in the
Yards and Docks in consequence Of limited amount OF
funds being hand, have been placed on half time
until January. The naval appropriations WILL it Is
thought tend to increased activity in all the depart
ments here The old Constellation and st. Marv's
are still moored side by side at tho wharr
OF the Yard, quietly awaiting their turn Tor
commission, but no orders have yet been received
The work the Macedonian s hurriedly pressed for
ward and the board the iveest in the yard
To-day the shpcarpeners eagerly at work repair
ing her gnndeck, spsrdeck and battery and the calk
ers were following rapidly as possible 1t VIII PROB
ably require more than month to tt her out. The
Savannah 10 now 80 nearly completed as TO be
ready for service at any moment The boiler
makers are at work the boilers Of the New Gaena.
large new rolling machine, capable OF rolling or
bending iron plates for boilers inch thick was yeser-
day for the first time put in gear and given trial
The rollers are 10 feet long and the largest
are l6 inches in diameter. powerful steam
dredge 10 deepening the entrance TO the Dry
dock and the work is thoroughly and effectively
done Stores continue TO arrive and yesterday several
hundred barrels OF PORK, and to-day $4,000 pounds OF
canned beef, 1900 pounds Of coffee, aud 10000
pounds OF butter received. The marine
several days past adjourned finally this afternoon.
Major James Driver, the new commander OF the
Marine Corps, Is expected 10 arrive tomorrow
morning and assume command. The whole Marine
Corps will turn out TO receive him. Capt. George H.
Cooper recently placed command Of the lron-clad
Terror in Cuban waters wiit is reported soon be
re,urned 10 the executive Office Of the yard.
THE BROOKLYN NAvY-YARD.
The Dictator was to have been taken to the
Erie Basin at Red Hook yesterday, hut kept back
nv the FOG boiler tubes all In and she IL ready
for steam She is 10 be docked TO enable her bottom TO
he scraped and painted which Will take only few days
and she will be ready for by the middle OF the COM
ing week She considered OF the safest vessels OF
her aoat She lies at the Long Dock. alongside
the Roanoke. The latter vessel is ready for service
with the exception Of few trfing repairs. The Ten
nessee the Morgan Iron Works nearly ready to be
fitted out. The monitor Montauk which was expected
10 arrive here repairs has been ordered to remain At
the Washington yard large force were busy IN the rig
ging OF the Minnesota. but we're shrouded from view
by the slmos, npenetrabe fog. The repairs in other
departments went usual. The Florida ID last
assuming a finished appearance. large NUMBER OF
men are constantly at work on her. Sixty men from
New via Key West arrived yesterday in charge
OF Lieut.. c Commander W. f. Wheeler About $500 men
are at present employed at tho yard though decrease
OF that number daily expected No orders 70 that
effect yet been received but night work ana over
time in somo of the departments have been stopped
As the ships at the yard completed the force will be
gradually cut down. Surgeon A. s. Obery reported Tor
duty on the Minnesota. There was nothing done yester
day toward raising the sunken coaLoarge, and the
Araples lay high aud dry in the dock hardly dscernabe
through the fog The report published in morn
ing journal that plot had been concoeted probably by
the officers Of the Arapes their confederates TO blow
I'D the Minnesota without truth. henof-war, on
arriving at this port discharge their powder az the
Ellis Island magazine reservng only small amount
for sautng at tho Yard. When the Minnesota, under
Capt Alden returned 1858, there were two powder
tanks left in her magaxineone empty. the other oon
tanning IA charges of 10 pounds each for her sinch
gupa Tho gunner OF the vessel failed TO remove them,
and they have remained In the closed magazine ever
snce These tanks were only discovered ON Tuesday,
ana removed To the Ordnance Department while the
powder was placed IN noep 1nS y .eYersly Commented
upon BY the officers of the Yard IS II might nave Dc
stroyed the Minnesota and many vaiuao" n'es'
NAVAL ASSIGNMENTS
WASHINGTON, Dec. 17.-Actlng Assistant Sur
seon Chioa hss been ordered 70 tho Phsdephia Navy
Yard and Acting Assistant Surgeon Cronyn to she
Boston NaVy-fsrd'
A CuBAN VESSEL PREPARING FOR SEA.
WORK ON THE EDGAR STEWART AT BALTIMORE
HER COMMANDER PROPOSES ANOTHER FHIBUs-
TERSG EXPEDITION.
The steamer Edgar Stewart' aIter success
fully landing her nth cargo OF Arms and men upon the
Island Of Cuba returned to Baltimore or the lst OF
February last and has since been lying at Jenknss
Wharf within the past few days, however the steamer
habeen undergoing preparations for another run into
Cuban vst.rs Her boilers are being thoroughly re-
paired and nev crank IL being made. The steamer 10
in rather bad condition and the need Of painting aud
oakins and scraping is particularly noticeable Her
rigging ia all down. and tho copper on her keel broken
and torn in several places COL necn1r Aeaero, VINO
bought the v.se in s7a left NewYork several days ago
to take charge Of her, taking with him his son. Foerte
Asusro. Capt, Pastor BursO, l. r. s.nchea and p ftou
- aidsdecsmp COL Asuero, who has made suceessfu
eIpedtions on the Hornet Webster Anna and other
vessels sad seen much service .s leading oeos N tho
Cuban amy told . reporter that ne intended 70 80
again 10 AID the Cubans would not state wnon no
prop,sed To atari or where would land IL thought
he yssS ~ III he pssdy by jan l. Ths engineer Of the
Edgar stewart In G. Acosto, alias Lecosfoo nasso he
was " uh the Hornet and Anna. and looks like mau
who would obey orders and put on al sues" - ong
ordered.
rup uNION LEAGUE OF AMERICA.