New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-03-17
WORK At THE NAVY YARD.
DELAYING THE COMPLETION OF REPAIRS.
RUMoRs OF AN INTENDED SHAKING uP"-
THE pLRFERENT BATTLE SHIPS.

RUMoRs OF AN INTENDED SHAKING UP"-
THE DIFFERENT BATTLE.sHrPs:
The suspension Of the force Of the Equipment
DEPARTING mt at the Navy Yard few days ago, be-
cause the money appropriated for the current
fiscal year had been expended and the deficiency
appropriation had not become avsilable, made the
appearance OF the Yard less active, but 10 is be-
leved that within the next few weeks work will
be resumed. especially upon the monitors Terror
and Aiantonomah, and the new battle-ship naine,
and these vessels will be pushed forward TO COM
pIction rather than be permitted 10 remain they
are. Then, too the Chicago, Boston and Yantic
will be mnde ready for squadron duty Secretary
Tracy has intimated that instead Of permitting
the vessels now in commission TO lie ut the Navy
Yards, ms they have been doing with officers and
crews under full pay. they will be sent upon
squadron duty TO perform actuai service.
IL is said ut the Navy Yard that Secretary Tracy
last week requested 10 be informed by the heads
OF the several departments as 70 how soon the
Chicago conld he made ready for sea. The Con-
struction Department replied that so far as ii was
concerned, the vessel could 20 TO sea inside of
n week: the Equipment Department and that Of
STRAIN Engineering made similar reports. but
thu officers having charge OF completing
the battery reported that it depended entirely up
them with the last of the s.inch guns and the
rcmodellcd carriages. II is reported that the
Secretary is so incensed with the Ordnance Bureau
that he threatens TO have thorough reorganiza-
ton OF IT, Commodore Scard is recognized as one OF
the few experts in ordnance among the lne officers
but no one will admit that there has been the
thoroughness and facility in lifting the batteries
TO the Atlanta, Boston, and Chicago that there
ought 10 be.
REPORTS ABOUT THE SECRETARY!
The Secretary is also reported 10 have expressed
himself with much force q few days ago when
Commodore Sicard told him that under the most
fay orabc circumstances the guns for the Charles
ton, at San Francisco, could not be made ready
for that vessel before October /.
THE NAMES STEEL STEM!
One OF the curiostics of the Maine is the steel
stem. II is shaped like an l., the two arms
measuring respectively 26 and 10 feet Some
parts OF the casting ore AZ inches thick. II is
one OF the largest masses Of steel ever poured In
this country and wns cast at the Pttsburg Steel
Casting Company's works in September. The
original piece, IN the rough, weighed $4,000
pounds, but Wien finished it will weigh 1000
pounds less IL will he used as ram as well
as being fitted for the stem.
Lieutenant Bridley A. Fisle, who was member
of the Dynamite Cruiser Experimental Board
hns devised an electric apparatus to regulate the
motion OF the machinery for hcistng shells from
the magazine to the guns. He has bad one
constructed, which was intended for the Atlanta
but as that vessel was hurried of 20 sea, IL win
be put on board Of the Boston. IL is designed
to avoid the danger Of the she'll being thrown
into the hold through u failure 10 stop the hoist
ing apparatus by the man at the steam brakes
who might possibly be killed or wounded in
an enga gement IL requires constant attention
by the man in charge Of it, and when this
ceases by. the use OF the regulator. the pro-
jectile will ascend in tho shell tray only few
inches, fall a little and then come to dead
stop because Of the relieving Of the flow Of the
electric current. To continue the hoist, the
wounded or dead man must be replaced. The
whole machine is compact and simple.
THE USE OF ELECTRICITY.
"The countless devices by which electricity
is made applicable aboard the new war vessels
are simply marvellous" remarked one OF the
officers Of the Chicago. And " The Electrical
Review has recently given much attention to
describing the system of electric lighting on war
vessels and has given facts TO prove that the
conclusion from the firing Of the heavy guns |
will not destroy The incaudcscent flaments The !
first American war vessel to be fitted with electric
lights wns the Trenton, the flagship of the
Pacific Sauadron. Since then electricity has |
been aprIed 10 the Omaho, Dolphin. Atlanta, |
Boston, and some Of the other ships. but INC 9p~
pcation Of electricity 70 tne War va 4bc Sayy OH
GERS. In addition to lighting the Cmcago WIN
lights, electricity y 70 re nsea ZOE
training some OF the heavy nam Dastery suas'
led with duplicate plants, and 10 Is expected thnt
The electric lights can te dcpendeu opon an ~. IL
times except In action. when the piant WIN NC
liable 20 GET out OF order. "a ~. a.
Boston win be sent 10 the European Sq1aaron
n the flagship. and that she Will stsrs pHi"he