New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-06-11
ECONOMY IN, NAVY YARDS
RECOMMENDATIONS BY THE COMMISSION.
SOME TO DE CLOSED AND EXPENSES TO BE REDUCED
IN oTHERs-THE REPORT APPROVED.

day received and considered memoranda furnlshed hm
| by the Navy Yard Commission, Of which Commodore
Luce president concerning the report Congress lie
approves the Commissions Recommendations for the
closing Of certain yards concentration OF the organ
Zaon and reduction OF expenses In the remainder and
they will be ordered to take effect about July 10.
| The recommendations are as follows; That there
shall be reorganization and concentration OF the me-
chanical department Of every Navy Yard 80 that there
shall be shop in each for the performance OF the
class OF work This involves the following changes
Abolition of all shops doing the usual work
OF machine shops except those of Steam EDglneeringi
all Joiner shops except those Of Construction all cop
persmh and plumber shops except thoseof steam En-
gineerng all painter shops except those OF Construc'
tom all foundries except those OF Steam Eng1neering
and all boiler and plate iron shops, except those OF
Steam Engineering.
The Commission also recommends further concen-
traon OF work. that each OF the several articles that
form part OF the outfit OF each ship shall be made IN
single shop be established in such yard as may now
have the best facilities and conyenences
therefor. It mentions some OF the prnci-
pal articles. viz; Boats, blocks, sails,
bags, hammock tarpaulins, steamcutter machinery,
and other special objects for engine and boiler mount
ings guncarriages and gun fittings 1t advises further
that at each yard there be erected suitable general
steam generating establishment, which shall provide
steam for all motive power and steam-heatng purposes,
as reduced expense for attendance and increase Oh
convenlences and efficiency sure to follow"
It considers It OF absolute importance that Mare
Island Navy Yard be retained in full operation, as II 10
the only workshop OF the Government on the west
coast m accordance With the suggestions made for the
concentration OF work It submits table showing the
present foremen, etc. and the number which would be
required II the propositions OF the Commission are
adopted. There are tnirty.two foremen employed
in this yard, and 1t is proposed to decrease
tho number by abolishing eight foreman
ships follows: Foreman iron platter, quarterman iron
platter, master plumber, superintendent OF dry dock,
foreman blacksmith, superintendent OF machinery,
quartcrman machins and the foreman Joiner the fore
manshps Of the coppersmith and plumber shops to be
merged Into one The daily pay at PRESENTS $l79 23
and these removals would reduce 1t TO Sl36 81.
The report continues: 1--WE advise that the Pensacola
yard be closed The present force being In our opinion
no more than necessary for the preservation OF the
yard and the property therein, no chanse
In that respect"
The Commission then advises that the Norfolk yard be
retained arstclass working condition and suggests
In accordance with the proposition for the concentration
OF work. certain changes, which may be summarized as
follows Abolition OF the positions OF master iron pater
quarerman iron platter master plumber foreman house
joiner and quarterman hod carrier, the master boat
builder aud block maker to be retained II not at any
other yard aud the ooppersmith and plumber to be
merged. The total daily pay would De thus reduced
| from Sl25 70 TO sl09 O3
WASHINGTON AND LEAGUE ISLAND.
It's advised with regard the Washington Yard that
n be dropped from list OF navy yards. and be desig
mated as paval arsenal retaining II In full working
condition for the manufacture certain specified
cles only under the Bureau OF Equipment and Ordnance,
the production OF sheet copper, under that OF
structon and Of closing Of the Boston yard,
manufacture OF standard articles under that OF steam
Engineering The following changes ia the personnel are
| ter carpenter, quarerman carpenter, quar-
| terman joiner, quarterpan painter qnarterman
charge, quarterman smith, foreman rnnchinist
secohd.caSs foreman samaker Establish the position
OF quarterman aOorers IN the Yards and Docks Depart
ment. The total daily pay at present 10 SlO9 oo the
is is recommended that the League Island Navy Yard
be closed both as a yard and as naval station until
A. the Department requested authority 10 con
struet aud Congress authorized, and until until
walls aud gsteways the great shpbasn in the back
channel are completed The present plans contemplate
cared it dld not want viz another similar yard
those It then possessed whereas the Department de-
Ing yard Only This change plan necessarily involves
the expenditure Of an sum Of money for pgr
aud which would therefore DO unJastIhablo.
The cOmmS'lOnTsrs, consider the stc too
aud do not believe similar or equal accommodations
that better locality than the Delaware River be
found for the purpose for which the site was selected
on the original basis but they are also unanimously OF
IA III
doned the island should be also.
THE NEw-YoRK YARD.
The Commissioners recommend that the New-York
yard be retained as rstoasI yard but that money
shall be spent In the way Of improvements either In tho
yard or on cob dock, until plans for its full develop
meht shall have been prepared and approved. These
plans should include the improvement OF Wala-
bou. Channel and the utilization Of the cob
dock for wet basin. table showing
the present and proposed list OF foremen
IA submited In the latter. those foremen OF trades
witch tho Commissioners are OF tho opinion should be
carried ON at one yard only are omitted pur
pose Of indicating that they should not be established
posed pay correct The omission, are Master iron
platter, master boatbuilder master plulnber master
OF teams aud master plumber the master
coppersmith 10 be coppersmh ana plumber The estab-
sRmcnt Of the position OF general foreman is recon-
mended The above omissions would reduce the daily
pay from $195 20 to Sl06 O6
The report says NewLondon should be dropped forth
with from the lat OF navy yards, and that naval sta
tons and material OF all kinds that can be made
available sent to other yards IL Is recommended iur-
the that plans be prepared at looking 10 the trans
fer OF the Naval Asylum to the vacated site on the
Thames - -
THE BOSTON AND PORTSMOUTH YARDS.
Some differences Of opinion exist IN the Commission In
regard to the disposition OF the Boston and Portsmouth
yards All agree tina the yard at Portsmouth would be
indefensible from O feet OF iron-clads armed with
modern rined ordnance, unless new and extensive |
Notifications could be erected the cost of which would
he go enormous IA 10 preclude the consideration Of such
exnedient Even then 10 would be so vulnerable |
20 attack from force LANDED to the eastward OF the
YARD that II could be defended only by equal force.
ksa consequences il Ia recommended that no further |
expendtures thereon for improvements OF any
kind. - 49,, -. ...,. !. A., |
All agree that would be difficult 10 overestlmate the
importuce OF the yard In time OF war and that
shond he so improved TO utilize the water frontage
to the most extent that at the earliest moment
No expenditures for fortheaons wiz oe required Tor us
dene beyond those demanded for the protection OF the
city itself All agree that any proposal to dispose OF this
msrneent property cannot be too strongly condemned.
tnat the walk should be kept IN operation,
and that in view of this fact and of he superior quality
~ naIne canvas goods made at this yarj tho sail
department should be kept In operation for the
msnufacture OF sails tarpauns and other similar art
oes for the entire Navy ,, -,
difference OF opinion exists to the immediate dis
nostion 10 be made OF these yards Two members be-
eve that the Portsmouth yard should be closedj one
beeyes that the yard Boston should be retained In
active operatlon aud member considers IL important
10 Keen the Portsmouth Navy Yard open Tor
tho reeeption and rehttng OF infected ships,