Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-11-14

ANNUAL REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF THE b.
REAU OF YARDS AND DOCKS, NAVY DEPART
MENT.
Commodore II. b. Harmony, chief of the bu-
reau of yards and docks, in his annual report
submits estimates from the commandments of
the various navy yards for the fiscal year end
ing June 80, 1877, aggregating S9,666,69
The amount to be expended upon yards and
stations, he says, will depend largely upon the
policy which Congress may decide upon with
regard to them. In order that the matter may
be fairly before it, he estimates for certain de-
sirable Improvements, in addition to the nee
essary expenditures for "repairs nd preserva-
tom and 'maintenance.'
The estimates of the bureau itself aggregate
only 81 1884, 1877: as follows: For support of the
bureau, S11 $50: general maintenance and
contingent, $4,000; support of naval asylum,
S96,661; repairs and preservation, SSOO,OO0;
improvements at navy yards SO, O6S, 337; civil
establishment, S6S,1o9.
Zine very limited appropriations made for
the care and maintenance of yards, the past
few years. writes Commodore Harmony, "has
necessarily resulted in such a condition OF de-
cay III buildings docks and wharveS, that in
order to put them in proper condition a liberal
appropriation is absolutely necessary under the
Sairs and uS nreserVatinn. ' more anu narti-
ticularly under the latter. Scarcely a week has
passed since assumed control of the bureau
that reports have not been received OF build
ings tumblng down or liable to do SO at any
moment roofs leaking to such an extent as to
involve the destruction of property, and in
rough weather preventing men from working;
wharves rotten and falling into the water; stone
dry docks having to be shored up with timber;
road and ways broken In and in bad condition;
wafer service defective OIL account of worn out
pipes, and complaint Of decay that implies
general destruction. It surely mast APP
pear to Congress that vast estab-
1ishments, such as our navy yards
are, cannot be kept in proper condition, avaia-
BILE for the needs of the country without suff-
Ha tn hnil divuc
that they can be used at all times for the pur-
poses intended. Much has yet to be done in the
way OF improvement to make any of our yards
equal to the demands that may be made upon
them. The appropriations have generally been
well expended. but they have been small
little could be done. Not less than
$500, 900 should be appropriated annually Tor
the next three years to put the property in
good condition, and 1 sincerely hope that this
amount may be given"
Under the heads of the different yards Com
modore Harmony gives lbs views OF such of the
estimates seem to him deserving of particu-
lar notice.
WASHINGTON NAVY YARD.
The only Improvements recommended at the
Washington navy yard are new wing to the
machine shop, sos 600, and the extension of
the yard wall, $21 III.
The estimates of the Norfolk, Va, yard, for
Improvements recommended, amount to ST.
545, JIG. "As this yard writes Commodore
Harmony, sis OF equal importance TO any on
the Atlantic coast, the expenditure of u large
amount for its improvement is warranted so
that 1t may in all respects be put in condition
for carrying on all kinds of works of frSt-claSS
naval establishments" The bureau recommends
| items of the estimates aggregating $3.50, 1863 as
essentially necessary, and in addition to the
estimates submitted by the commandment of the
yard the bureau mentions as especially import
ant the extension OF the present dry dock, for
which an appropriation OF $24OOOO is-heeded.