National Republican., 1883-08-09
THE NEW NAVAL ARSENAL.
Changes that Have Taken Place in the Wash
ington Navy Yard.
The Work 20 Bo Done There VIII Prob
ably he Greater Than Heretofore

The recent order of tho Navy department
changing the Washington navy yard to
naval arsenal, in accordance with the views
Of the commission appointed by congress, has
caused considerable comment and conjecture.
REPUBLICAN, reporter started for the
navy yard yesterday morning in quest of
solid information on the subject, and while
passing down Eighth street met an old resi-
dent of East Washington who stated that in
1900 party named Prout donated the ground
on which the navy yard stands to the govern
ment with the proviso that should it ever
be used for any other purpose the title
should revert to his heirs or assigns. The old
citizen then remarked that the heirs of Prout
intended to proceed against the government
for tho recovery of the property. as they
claim that there is u vast difference between
a navy yard and an arsenal.
This story, which has been in circulation
for several days, was afterward Investigated
by the reporter who found that there was
not an atom of truth in it, A visit to the
Navy department and search through the
files of the bureau of yards and docks dis
closed two musty, time FOLLOWED deeds. The
first ono was dated March L. 1SGJ (St. Pat
rick's day., and set forth that the squares
upon which the navy yard stands was sold to
the government on tho above date by Gus
tavus Scott and William Thornton, commits
sioners of tho city of Washington, in con-
sideration of the sum of $4,000, and by virtue
of an act of congress, entitled AN act for
the establishment of n temporary and perma-
nent government Of tho United States at
Washington" The ancient looking deed was
attested by Commissioner Cunningham and
Robert Brent, and was filed with the county
court of Prince George county, Maryland.
The name of Prout did not appear anywhere
in connection with the transfer, hence the
untruthfulness OF the story related to the re-
porter.
At the time Of the transfer the squares
were designated as squares 1888 and Ssi."
Tho other paper shown to the reporter was
the deed of the site upon which the old ma
rine barracks on Eighth street southeast now
stands The city commissioners in this case
were William Thornton, Alexander White,
and Fristram Dalton. The sto was pur-
chased by the government in the year 1901
for $4,000.
IL was hardly week after the navy yard
site had been purchased before ground was
broken and the work of erecting the massive
buildings began. 1t was continued, after the
main structures were completed, at intervals
until 1881, at which time the secretary of the
navy estimated that the sum of $3.50 had
been expended upon the work.
The reporter after ransacking through the
above ancient documents betook himself to
the yard for information of a more modern
nature. Passing down the broad clean
walks, between long rows of huge anchors
and antique guns, he entered the office of
Commodore Semmes, the new commandant.
That gentleman, who had been pacing the
long verands, paused long enough to tell
the reporter that the proposed conversion of
the yard into an arsenal would doubtless be
made as recommended by the navy yard COM
mission, subject to the approval of Secretary
Chandler. AS an arsenal tho work of the
nll ltchf ant hn mad tnlx 20
the manufacture Of ordnance and other
arienal stores. The ordnance department
will then, of course, be the most
important. He does not think the
change will decrease the number of men en-
poyed, but will rather increase the force
There are between 500 and 600 employees now
1t is proposed also to consolidate all kindred
branches of work. For instance, four of the
main departments have .joiners' shops attached
TO them now The new arrangement will
consolidate these shops into joiner's depart
mcnt. This rule will be followed all over,
and the result will be economy of both time
and money. 1t is further intended to con-
centrate all the steam power in the entire
establishment into one building and supply
power to the various engines through
series of underground pipes. Of course
the construction department will be
a thing of the past, as 10 vessels will be
either repaired or constructed at this point in
the future. However, the freight steamers
Despatch, Tallapoosa, Speedwell, and Rescue
will rendezvous here nearly all the time, when
not engaged in transporting ordnance and
stores to the naval stations and vessels.
The engineer department is quite busy Just
now, and l59 men are at work i'll the commo-
dious shops constructing four large boilers for
the Marion and air pumps for the fish COM
mission steamers, beside large ice manutact-
uring apparatus for the same vessels, to be en-
ployed during the propagating season. A
large quantity of the boiler work previously
done at the other yards will now
come here, owing to the splendid facii-
ties offered. A force of men from
the engineer department are also
engaged in overhauling the large double
turreted monitor Miantonomoh, which lies
at the main wharf After the latter work is
completed it will be necessary, it is thought,
to discharge quite number of the men who
have been employed on that class of work.
The equipment department, too, presented
a busy scene. A force of men are engaged in
manufacturing tho newly designed steel
chains, which are made from scrap material.
These chains are much lighter than iron ones,
and its is claimed that they will prove
stronger and more durable for general
service. Another branch of the equipment
department is engaged in manufacturing gal
leys and ranges All the chains, anchors,
galleys, ranges, and sails used in the navy
are furnished from this city, and have been
for years.
In the sailmaking department sixteen ex-
perienced hands and four apprentices were
busily engaged with needles, thread, and
shears, shaping huge pieces OF canvas to grace
the masts of United States vessels. The
sailmaking branch of the Washington navy
yard is famous for its perfect work and ex-
petition. This, coupled with economy,
makes it n. decided feature. Tho forco at
work now are engaged upon set of sails for
the Iuan.of war Ossipee, which will cost the
government about $4,000. The same work, if
done on Philadelphia estimate, would
reach $4,000.
The construction department is working a
limited force OF men, who are principally
engaged in rolling copper sheathing ana re-
pairing the turrets of the monitor Mianto-
nOmoh.
HIN the ordnance department somewhat
larger force are employed, and are very busy
on the colossal gun previously described in
this paper as tho largest ever made here, and
numbrr OF atGel guns and gun carriages for
new vesSele. ThtS department. is destined tC
bccoinG quite factor in the armament oi
United States war vessels in the future. The
following vessels arc lying along the whar
front of tho yard: The Miantonomoh, Speed
we'll, monitor SArRus store ship Relief
Frolic, tug Mayfower, and monitor Wyan
dotte.
The old storeship Reliof and the side
wheelor Frolic will both be sold at public
suction next September. Tho former ha
bscn ont Of commission for many years. She
HAs last used before tho war to convey store