New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-12-02
STOPPING NAVY YORK At NORFOLK.
MEN TAKEN ON JUST BEFORE ELECTION NOW
DRoPpED-sHIPS AT THE YARD.


Norfolk Va. Dec 1.-The recent visit Of Chief
Naval Constructor 7. d. Wilson 10 tho Navy
Yard is followed by reports that have caused a
great deal of despondency among the several hundred
workmen who were added to tho force of employees
Just before election and the officers attached to the
vessels in commission feel blue the prospects OF
being relieved from duty within few days THOSE
employees who put to work Just before election
and were so exuberant the prospect Of being
employe during the winter that they voted the Dem
ccratic ticket now have expressions OF loyalty
for the cause 10 which they so faithful OH the
contrary, there are murmurlngs of ciscontent ana
declarations that the work hero was bait thrown
out for their votes.
II is said that Constructor Wilson was ordered here
merely to give tangible for stopping The work
at the Navy Yard on tho vessels under repair there
and that 1t had already been determined by the Navy
Department to discontinue repairs because tho ap-
nronr1ation for this station had already been ex-
pended though less than five months OF the nsodi
wear have expired. An order was received On "euhes
day by Commodore George Brown, commandaht Oh
the station, to shut down on all work for few
DAYS in order that the Secretary might determine "hat
amount of work necessary and which was most
urgent.
II will be remembered that three months before
election at the urgent request of Congressman FRANK
Jones the ossipee withdrawn from active service
in the North Atlantic squadron and sent 10 'he
Portsmouth IN. H. Navy Yard for repairs She was
there two or three weeks, during which timo expert
ship carpenters made "a thorough inspection and
found that seventyslX knees were In such bad con-
dton as to make the vessel unsafe for sea voyage
unless Immediately replaced" few days later she
was sent to tho Brooklyn Navy Yard TO be ceparcd'
and here the scverty-sx bad knees were Married for
removal Then came wall from General lmooueh
and other Democrats Of Virginia for work at ths
Gosport Norfolk) Navy Yard, to save the state FOR
no Osqn VI DISPATCHED
Instructions to stop at Philadelphia and tow along
the uncomplctcd doubleturIcted monitor Pulitah'
Tho Osspee is now in the drydock, and has had
some Of her planning removed to put IN NE" hnecs'
The vessel is and has been for some time IN comnlis
sion, but the officers quarters not being hap'aoio
while repairs are being made the officers are hVing ID
Temporary quarters in one of the yard buildings, lifted
I'D with cots and mess things. About S2o,ooo mas
been thus far expended upon the vessel by tho CON
strucon Department alone, and slight repairs are De-
ing made to the machinery. The vessel is now 10 De
put out Of commission and laid up, the money OK
pended upon her counts for nothing, and tho onceS.
who had made ready for cruise at considerable eX-
pcnse to themselves will be detached and ordered
home and In a little while, probably Will Dc orucioi
to other stations for ca-scTvicc.
The Pensacola which was sent from the Brooklyn
Navy Yard a short time before election, under tho
distribution system, 10 have repairs m&do upon Her.
also los here in commission, but II is believed that al
work will be stopped upon her, the officers and crew
detached and the vessel laid up. Several thousands
Of dollars have been expended upon her. II was 70
por,ed few years ago that She was so rotten that her
commander had to put extra lashinSs upon the guns
80 that they would not work loose She was to have
been the flagship of the North Atlantic squadron.
Tho Kearsargc, which was so hurredy put into COM
,,ission at the Port sm0uh Navy Yard To go 10 1Iayt
TO protect American interests, arrived at Hampton
Roads two weeks ago She has had 5 me repairs made
received and supplies and YESTERDAY sailed for Inc
south Atlantic squadron WI Il rev crew FOR tha ana
basse She win return in about three months.
Tie jamestown Is nero OcIhs P pau 80 80
II is not Known how much more work viii be zone
10 her The Puritan lies just ahead of the receiv-
ing shin Franklin. and everybody IS wondering
Wat Is to bc done with her In the Delaware
River. where she has been lying so long there was
little danger OF the deterioration OF her hull nut IN
these waters her bottom would become covered WIN
oysters and other distractions in few months. IL
il reported that She will be taken up the James
River TO lie with the seven checse-box monitors
in Richmond harbor The nucleus OF the new battle,
nosit,on In the meanwhile the Navy Department
Is bothered over The insufficient and faulty designs
;Iat we're purchased abroad for $4,000 Her plans.
as laid down in the moulding loft, show an inten-