The New York herald., 1873-11-21
NAVAL MOVEMENTS.
Continued Activity Mt the Brooklyn Navy
Ynrd-W0rk for the Winter Promis
inU-Transp0rts Wanted.

Continued Activity at the Brooklyn Navy
Ynrd-W0rk for the Winter Promis-
ing-Transpo Wanted.
Activity continues to prevail at the Brooklyn
Navy Yard despite the reported desperate efforts
beng made on the part of the administration to
delay action upon the Cuban question until further
diplomatic correspondence can be held and the
popular voice exhausts itself through sheer fatigue
About 300 men were taken on the pay rolls at the
yard yesterday morning. upon the most approved
political recomme ndations, and distributed among
the several departments. Fifty machinists came
over from Roach's iron works in New York, and
were set to work in company with 100 Navy Yard
hands on the triple turreted iron ship Roanoke,
which vessel is lying alongside the cob dock. in
the place lately occupied by the old hulk Delaware
This latter ship being OF no use whatever, except
to take up valuable space at the docks in the yard
should be broken up. Such, at least Is the opinion
OF prominent Official. The Colossus and Java
should also be broken up. Both OF these vessels
are on the stocks in the shiphouses, from which
they are not likely ever to be launched, having
been allowed TO rot through the parsmony OF back
woods legislators who ..never could see the utility
OF a navy anyhow though they had the temerty
to sit in the House OF Representatives and vote
themselves "back pay and sich." These vessels
were commenced about the close OF the war, and
when the appropriation was exhausted Congress
would not vote dollar to complete the work,
which had cost upward OF 100000 Taking such
ships 10 pieces viii give work TO hundreds OF men
during the winter.
The gunboat Gettysburg, Captain Macrickey,
laden with ammunition, copper and machinery ar
rived at the ordnance dock from Norfolk and WASH
ington yesterday morning. She will return south
ior stores to-day.
Men are at work night and day upon the Mime
sofa, Florida and Colorado On the latter vessel
the riggers have made great progress, having her
fore and main topmasts IN position. The Swatara
Minnesota, and the lively cnck'i OF metal beneath
the weight OF hammers on her sides and interior
swelis the chorus OF laDor along the busy dock
'front.'. About loo ship carpenters and joiners are
at work upon new sloop-oEwar. and have set
about half her rib timbers In position. The name
prospect OF her being engaged in the threatened
war is very slender considering the fact that she
win not be ready before July, 1874.
Az an indication OF the temper OF the officers at
this station touching the vexed virginius ques-
ton, and what Uncle Sam 'ought to do about IT,
IL may be in teresting 10 the public to know that
Captains Ransom, Mead, McCrea, Erben and viii
son have made application to the Navy Depart
ment for commands upon any OF the vessels fitting
for the cuban waters. Several OF these officers,
having recently returned from three years service
az sea. are entitled TO enjoy three years .'shore
duty but their patriotic desire TO uphold the
honor OF the nag at this juncture impes them TO
iorego the comforts OF shore life.
The government Is looking about for steamships
among the mercantile marine OF New York, Boston
and elsewhere, being DESTROYS OF using the vessels
as transports. Negotiations for the purchase OF
several are now pending In this city,
Captain Ralph Chandler, the assistant executive
OF the yard, has been absent from his accustomed
post for the past two days upon special and secret
service connected with the interests OF the navy,
which was connded TO him by Secretary Robeson
during his recent visit to this station. In his alb
sence passes to 20 through the yard are issued by
the gentemanly secretary, Mr.. Nipple.
Omccrs Detailed for the Franklin. Colo
rado, Brooklyn and Dictator-Na mes OF
the Comm . nders--Other Assignments.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 90 1873.
The Navy Department is to-day ordering officers
TO the frst class steamers Franklin, at Boston, anil
the Colorado at New York; the second class
steamer Brooklyn, at Boston, and the iron-clad
Dictator, which Is soon to be towed from New
London, Conn, TO New York. Nl Of which veasela