National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1885-08-19
Tho Mn.hingtnn NAVY Ynrl.


THE REPUBLICAN has frequently shown
the admirable fitness Of this yard for every
description Of work required in the con
struction, repair, armament and oqulpm ent
Of ships.of-war In all their various depart
mCuts
ltis true that we have no navy yard whose
plant Is at present we'll adapted to the con
struction Of the hulls Of steel or iron vessels,
but It is equally true that the Washington
yard could be equipped FOR such work ut a
less cost than any Of the other yards, for
the reason that It's present equipment comes
nearer than that OF any Of the Others to the
conditions and appliances necessary for
such work.
Shors that can make the largest steel
boilers, I'm the best manner and shortest
time, have most of the costly mechanism
required for the construction of hulls of the
same material. 1t is an undlsputed fact
that the boiler shops of tie Washington
yard are the hest and most complete estab-
lishments of the kind owned by the United
States. In these shops during six or seven
years past many of the largest and best
boilers in use in our navy have been manu-
comparatively small cost, aud II is adj
mittcd by the best expert authorities that
no better work has been done in any ostab-
| lishment, public or private, In America or
Europe.
The machine shops of this yard have q
superb equipment and are capable Of doing
ten times as much work as has been re-
| quired Of them in any year since the war.
| One of the celebrated hundrcd-inch engines,
designed to give 'the highest attainablc
speed" was constructed here, rs were
mary other engines that have produced
the best results.
The ordnance department and the equip
mCnt and recruiting department are famous
in naval circles for excellence of outfit and
the high character of their work. All the
cables used in the navy, as well as all the
| galleys, have been made here for many
| years past.
Skilled artisans Of the hest repute and in
large numbers are available here. Many OF
the mechanics employed in this yard are
men of marked ability in their respective
lines, as Secretary Whitney will learn IL he
ever takes the trouble to make au investi-
|
man of pattern makers in the Washington
navy yard, too modest to call attention to
himself, who would be in the right place
If appointed on his board Of experts IN
place Of distinguished line officer who
graccs that board, but knows no more
about shipbuilding than Blind Tom does
Of spherical trigonometry. The Secretary
could find too, draughtsman IN this navy
yard who is capable Of instructing any of
the engineers, with two or three notable ex-
ccptiOns These are named as illustrations,
and not because they are rare exceptions
If the administration is In earnest in
any Of its talk of reform, of doing public
work on sound business principles, of
separating the public service from the
political machne-if this is not all bosh-
the Washington navy yard is the place to
show IT, There is no suffrage here. No
man in this District has any more political
rights than his mOther-ip-law or his baby.
This yard cannot be voted anywhere. For
this reason 1t has suffered neglect. 1t has
had no friends in Congress, and few In
| places or power elsewhere. If the talk of
reform is not fraud, the Washington navy
yard should be the pet yard for the good
reason that 1t cannot possibly be made a
part Of the political machine.
Another and very strong reason for do
ing large amount Of work here is that the
Washington yard is close to the Navy De
partment, under the immediate persona
supervision of the Secretary of the Navy
and all the bureau officials. This ought tc
count for good deal