New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-01-29
THE NATIONS NAVY-YARDS.
RESULT OF THE SENATE COMMITTEES IN
SPECTI0N.

ASYLUM TO NEw-LONDoN sUGGEsTED-CONDl-
TON OF THE NAVAL HOSPITALS.
WASHINGTON, Jan. Ex-senator Sargent,
Chairman OF the Committee Naval Affairs, made
report to-day on the resolution instructlng the Com
mittee TO inquire into the expedency OF reducing the
number OF navyyards and naval hospitals" The Com
mittee authorized to visit the different navyyards
ana marine hospitals on tho Atlantic coast for the pur
pose OF obtaining Information. 1t is understood that
the report was written by Mr. Sargent Appendicitis the
| report, partly summarized:
The ayyyards on the Atlantic Coast are at Washing
ION Noriolk, League Island, Philadelphia, BROOKLYN
NewLondon, Charlestown aud Kittery Bes ides these
Inere are maynard at Pensacola and Mare Island.
The Committee believe that three OF these yards on the
Atlantic Coast may be dispensed with without injury to
ne service and greatly in the interest OF economy viz
the navy-yards at Washington Philadelphia and New
London. The reasons for this opinion viii be given as
| we remark upon the separate yards.
| appropriations for Improvements at the navy-yards
from feeling OF uncertainty to the disturbances Of
be dispensed with Consequently. bat comparatively
small amounts have been appropriated either for pres
nent; and these works have been suspended IN many
instances aud have sustained the usual INJURY and re-
| l9aiued Incomplete. II would be most desirable 10
change this feeling OF uncertainty and for Congress to
determine upon plan OF action by which useless yards
those actually for the public service and best
suited by location and other natural adyan-
few Dayy-yards well located, ample In area. and sup
p ne with the best iaGtes for executing work rapidly
|
case OF war nan many yards scattered along the coast
they apt TO be where In time OF peace
II is OF obvious economic advantage to lessen the
De Vi ei' rgahzaohs paw. iroIn sne lrehsy' EaJh
men, &C. TO superintend and direct It's work. keep its
accounts and guard It's property The stan necessary
for small nayyyard can manage large one; aud, by
concentrating tho work, by building up few large
yards and dispensing with the others the wants OF the
Government be better served. aud hosts OF such
| employees be dispensed WITH ana the money ex-
pended for them remain in the Treasury. further
toward accomplishing the purpose OF navy yards the
! creation and maintenance OF an adequate navy The
recommendations of the Committee are not designed 10
cripple the navy, bur make efficient 1t is because
more, better, and cheaper work be done at few
large, welpoyided establishments, thu at the many
comparatively poor ones the country now has ana the
moneys appropriated by Congress produce more bene-
heai results to she navy, that we recommend ehAhSe'
TIE BROOKLYN MAYNARD.
The site OF the NavyYard at Brooklyn y, Y, Ia ex-
celenty adapted 20 the wants OF the navy IL has an
ample area. but not large there being for tim
Der docks basins aud buildings adequate to the wants
OF first class yard. The improvements at tue Yard are
generally OF a permanent and judicous character, and
the Yard is capable OF indefinite development at mod
crate cost There have been speculative projects
OF individuals for the breaking up or tgs YARD Dut IL
would be seriously detrimental to the interests OF the
Government 10 accede TO them. This Yard is wholly
within the defcnses OF the great cliydeIenses Whlch
must he kept up for the protection OF the immense IN
terests centerei III the comnereiai hetopons, ana
which, at tue same time. protect the properly OF tho
could not be had FOR the rd alone except at immense
and unnecessary cost TINS Havy-tatd Is sulrouhued
with their great numbers OF skilled artisans ana vast
stores Of material which the nation needs IN case Of
war. These all become auxiliary 10 the NayY-Yard IN
time Of war, as available "a part OF IT, and are di-
| rected by s skilled naval constructors ordnance
officers, and equipment officers aided by trained fore
mcG and mechanics. All these advantages are lost by
the removal Of this NayJ Yard to point remote from
NcwlOrk even II within what are called ITS waters.
Absolute coutKuty o the city IS necessary 10 retain
| them
clu ie thai the appropriation most urgently demanded
there is FOR the preservation aud repair OF me Naudpe
made secure aud cdpacious basin at moderate cost
An annual expenditure of $4,000 per year foL TINS pr
pose for n few years would BE- very judi iOus The build
ings the yard numerous and generally suitable
or their purpose. Needed repairs on them are esti-
with large tools and excellent machinery, and ~ IN
many respects in an excellent state OF efficiency The
tematic improvements to develop its capacities aud
make 1t n iirst-class yard IN every respect
LEAGUE ISLAND AND wAsmEGroN YARDS.
| The League Island Philadelphia, and Washington
Navy-Yards should be concentrated at League Island.
Congress provided by act OF Flb. H. 1851 " that 1t
League Island DO selected the nayy-yari AZ Phladel
pima shall be dispensed with and disposed Of by the
| United states soon as the public convenience VIII
adult" Subsequent legislation has Prov led Tor the
partial removal OF Alsc'' ou Juc 4uau' PIMA nv
The sooner whole transfer f. completed and that
yard closed NJ the better. Tue maynard az PhiIdc
phla has less area Than any otncr-ivss na1 - ae,i'
entirely small for the purposes o. tue Government;
much exposed to hrc, ana It's site WOAd scI IOr scf
Tnc Washingt N Nayy-Yard has too small for
used rdtIer iot q repairing anu & TX,
than for bnlng. The approach to II l. by crooked
and difficult channe 1t IS far from the sea - remote
from supplies Of timber, iron aud coal; the number OF
skilled artisans is limited aud there Is no work done at
Il that cannot CheaplY done aud the materials
more cheaply obtained at League Island when mat
yard is put IN proper condition TO DO ~ INC Watnns
ton Navy Yard is well supplied WIN go0d bul dinga
tools, and machinery, and in better i0cAy Tor lta
purposes wonli be OF great yalnc Ihe estimate ior
| repairs OF buildings ~ about $4,000.
League Island Is situated IN the Delaware River
! below the Horseshoe shoals, and Immediately ABOVE
NJ no -
south from Markets, tue principal eastan west
street OF dne ple,5c ar" OF tI he b
channel 9O55 acres; between back chdnnr ana Govern
menavc. 1925 acres and outside OF banks 10 tue port
wardens ne 1905 acres; making total area OF Gov
ernment property OF 1913 acres The back channel Is ia
DO session OF the Government and entirely under It's
control The arrangement OF the wardens line gives
water frontage the Delaware ana SchuYlkl or nearly
three miles besides tue frontage Oh the back channel
About mile, along the Delaware 'front.' VIII have
depth OF % feet at low water BY series OF b0rngs on
the island, extending entirely across ana aeraly lt
has been found that stratum Of course sand, compact
gravel and powders exists at much less depth than
Was before supposed VIZ, minimum depth OF III teet
and a ma xnutn OF q feet The engineers or the Gov
ernnen md favorable for economical and suOstan
tial foundations for extensive pubic works compre-
hensve plan for the development aud permanent
Improvement OF this station has been prepared for the
Bureau OF Yards aud DOCKS ny poaru VI cpBneeIs dp
pointed for the purpose.
Toe Committee then give long description OF the
works planned at League Island 1t Is proposed to en-
large island proper to an area OF GA acres and at
the same deepen the back channel into capacous
storage basin OF ABOUT HO aeIes caPae''i q uccp re-
barring BASIN Of about 80 acres with -four stone docks
ia also proposed When the proposed improvements
completed believed that 2O vessels can be in course
OF construction or repair at the same time
THE SMALLER NAvY-YARDs.
The Charlestown NavyYard is fagoraby situated
within the deenses OF Boston has at its command the
skilled labor and of great city, aud has
extensive waterfront, part Of which has deep water,
and the remainder capable Of great Improvement The
Nayy-Yard Is well supplied with tools and machinery.
and its buildings compare favOrably with those OF