New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-11-10
WORK AT THE NAVY YARD.
DESERTED BY THE STEEL CRUISERS
ONLY TWO VESSELS LEFT IN COMMISSION
CHANGES TO TAKE PLACE.

CHANGES TO TAKE PLACE
The Navy Yard presented a deserted appear
ance to visitors yesterday morning, which was not
due entirely to the rain, although that heightened
the effect. The fact is that during the last week
the handsome protected cruisers Chicago Atlanta
and Boston, and the gunbcat Yorktown four of
the first of the new steel Navy vessels, have left
the yard, and the sending away of these vessels
will deprive visitors at the Navy Yard Of much
that has been interesting there. Those who missed
seeing these interesting weapons of the most
modern type have only themselves to blame. for
The Tribune has noted from week TO week during
the last year the progress of these vessels toward
completion, the changes made in the mounting of
their guns and fitting Of their boats the modifica-
tons of their motive power, the application OF
electricity for lighting and also for the handling
of guns, the trials of speed and circle manoeuvrng
the preparations for their departure for cruise
in foreign waters and the final date for the calling
During the last week all these vessels have fol
lowed in turn and gone down to the Lower Bay for
an adjustment of their cOmpasses, the Chicago,
which was the last to go. leaving the yard yes
terdsy morning about half-past o'clock In
the last year all compasses Of obsolete pattern have
been replaced with those of the new type, ana
various experiments have been made with them
to prove that tn, latter are more efficient and
trustworthy in every sense, When these new
ships were building their magnetic headings We're
observed. and careful series of tests was recorded
TO determine the magnetic character of their con-
struction
MAKING OBSERVATIONS.
Some Of the newer vessels built at private yards
were put up in such close proximity to each other
that Trustworthy observations were Impossible
Esrecially was this the case with the Yorktown
and Vesuvius. which were built close 10 the Balh-
more. and other observations were made after they
were launched The Chicagos cOmpasses were re
com pensatcd while the vessel lay at the Navy
Yard Just before her speed trial, and after large
amount of iron bal last had been put IN her Inc
tests resulted in several notifications of the posi-
ton Of the compaSses The tests made with the
vessels swinging at buoys in the Lower Bay were
10 discover whether there had been any changes
in the magnetic condition OF the vessels, which ire
quently occurs after gun-6ring, and TO make such
correction of compasses might be found neces-
sary As each vessel finished this technical WORK
she returned and anchored in the North lhNer,
where the squadron IS to remain uhtI
the vessels have been Inspected by the
board of which Rear Admiral JOuett Is
president. the purpose being to ascertain whether
the vessels are thoroughly and properly equipped
with everything needful for cruise. Then the
Squadron of Evolution will go to Boston to be
visited and looked by the visitors at the inter-
national Maritime Exhibition. and lew days
later it will start for Europe
ONLY TWO VESSELS N COMMISSION
The dcparture of the squadron from the YARD
left in fact, only two vessels in it which are now
in commission These are the dispatch ooaU
Dolphin and the Galena. Or these two' t"e
former is a smalsized protected steel vessel anu
the latter is an old-type wooden steam VESSEL
There is now a rumor that the Dolphin Is 10 DC
attached to the North AT antc Squadron on WIZ t
Rear Admiral Gherardi Is the communities 10y ~
the Galena as his flagship Some sienU ie hP
have been made TO the engines anu mac maj i
of the Dolphin, but she coulu Iea'e '"' S"'N -
few days were il necessary $500 Mt ii,,ro1
That the bottom of tho Galena was not lhlureu
by her striking Romer keeI sgtS Vi1 I az" "
was proved Yesterday. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. IIo se
we're rain dnrinr the morning the VesSel was
NM INFO tbe drydock The supports ana stays |
were then put in place, ana wheh lle wa. VIE We
pumped out Of the dock IL was secI f LII ,, un
copper plating on the n oOf oated out of the dock
carly tomorrow morning. ana then VIII DC naue
ready TO 20 on special cruise IN the WeSt nue.,
IL is probabIe that she VIII ieaVc the yhru III
aSomt t,Do ypeelfs The Dolphin may follow the
c,oIcpa in the use Of the drydock, TO nave her
bottom painted -, no.,rrod f,or, PORTS
mnen tnr be went with the Lancaster in tow.
she wner he 81" docked and her bottom is to
be- looked after She has not been nn N the
dock lor Ion I IN a foul condition. The cor |
mat her bot.oii was put into the dock about
week ago. out in order I that tine b Ga Sns
might lie put in although IL sn mt back the conner
Ia m % hor bottom is to be repaired The wood
underneath IL is in good condition.
THE MAINE STEADILY GROWING.
The work on the monitors Terror and Mianto-
nomah and on the barbette battle-ship Puritan
continues steadily but slowly to advance, and it
will he many months before the vessels are com
pletcd The keel blocks for the new cruiser No.
are nearly all in place, and work on the vessel
can be gin when the steel arrives The plans have