The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-06-11
THE NAVY YARDS.
Secretary Chandler Approves the
Commissioners Report.
The Portsmouth Yard Among Those TO
be Closed.

CONCORD, N. H., June 9.-Seeretary Chan
dlsr has today received and considered the
memoranda furnished by the Navy Yard Com
mission of which Commodore. Luce is presi-
dent, concerning their proposed report to Con-
gTess, and approves their recommendations
for closing certain yards and concentration
OF organize ton and reduction of expenses in
the remainder and they will be ordered to take
effect about July 10Th. The commission rec
ommends the organization and concentration
of the mechanical departments in every yard
SO there shall be but one shop in each for the
performance of the Same kind of work and
makes several suggestions in the interests OF
economy. The retention of Mare Island navy
yard is considered OF absolute importance as
it is the only workshop Of the government on
the west coast. The report says:
We advise the Pensacola yard to be closed.
The present force being in our opinion no more
than is necessary for the preservation of the
yard and property therein, we recommend no
change. We advise that Norfolk navy yard
be retained in first class working condition.
We ADVISE with regard TO the Washington
yard that 1t be dropped from the list OF navy
yards and be designated rs the naval arsenal,
retaining it in full working condition for the
manufacture OF certain specified articles only.
We recommend that the League Island navy
yard be closed, both as a yard and a nava
station until plans have been prepared and api
proved for such yard as ths department re-
quested authority to construct and Congress
CT quay, walls and gateways to the great ship
basin ia back are completed. We recommend
the New York yard TO be retained as a first
class yard bat no money shall be spent there
In the way OF improvements until the plans
for the full development Of the yard shall have
been prepared and approved. New London is
TO be dropped forthwith from the list OF navy
yards and naval stations, and stores and ma
terials OF all kinds that can be made available
sent TO other yards.It was recommended further
that plans be prepared as locking to the trans
fer OF the naval asylum to the vacated site on
the Thames.
Concerning the Boston and Portsmouth
yards the report says: Some difference of opin-
ion exists in the commission In regard TO the
disposition to be made OF these yards. All
agree that the navy yard at Portsmouth Is inde.
fensible against serious attack from q fleet of
ifonclads armed with modern rifled ordnance
unless new and extensive Notifications should
be erected Tor that purpose, the cost OF which
would be so enormous as TO preclude the con-
sideration OF such expedient. We recommend
no farther expenditures to be made thereon for
improvements OF any kind. All agree II would
be difficult to over estimate the importance OF
the Boston yard in time OF war and that 1t
should be SO improved as to utilize the water
frontage to its utmost extent and ats the earli-
esq moment also, that any proposal to dispose
OF this magnificent property cannot be too
strongly condemned. All agree that the rope
walk should be kept in operation, and that the
sail makers department should be kept running
for the manufacture of sails. tarpaulns and
other similar articles for the entire navy.
Accompanying the report OF the commission
are tables showing the aggregate daily pay of
the foremen in various yards and the changes
proposed under the new organization. III the
Portsmouth yard is retained in working order
the foremen 8 daily pay roll will be reduced
from $117.Sf TO ss765 and should the yard be
closed TO $l5.76. Under the present organiza-
tion the daily pay OF foremen In the Boston
yard aggregates $153.80 which II the yard kept
open will be reduced to 500 80 and IL closed
with the exception of equipment department
to $40.54. The aggregate daily pay of fore
men at all yards is at present, $03o.03 With
navy yards at Portsmouth, Boston and League
Island closed and 'theothe, oilorganiza ion y ards
reduced as proposed they will be $4S0h, with
Portsmouth Rnd League island yards closed,
$5o9.6S.with Boston and League Islands closed
$o4l.16,