New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-11-24
WORK AT THE NAVY YARD
COST or CONTEMPLATED IMPROVEMENTS
e,-ncr, ,rcr or ADMIRAL BRAINE's RbpoKT-

Tho Trihune recently referred to the WORK OF Vhe
BOARD of Permanent Improvement Oh '"e '%'
Ward with regard to putting the var" III SUN
condition rs il should be TO construct rcpd'r an.
eouin sbips-of-war, or 10 accomplish WIN ".''
nar in the near future be required OF H. oiho'
the, and within few days, Rear Auihii"i "
praine who was the president OF inc Do"ro' ms
sont to Washington q report ana coihpr'neh''''
plans for such improvements ss"'' ~
his associate members, CIvil Insihei w.
,,sorsop and NJ T. Endicott. The report SHOWS
that a thorough and critical eXamlii"''oi 100 ~
made The amount Of money consldcreh heccSs"iS
for the complete development oil the S"i" %
"a oA2 ~ but this expenditure Is h'cilueu "
oover a pcriod of ten years, al lhe CIV VI "'"''
tho rcsult will he a complete naVa st"''o" "o VI"
metropolis' There are some recomnehua'.onSo VI
an governmental nature OF when Chlei W pu.'"'
- vo.d, aud Docks Commodore George H. "hlle
- a.. ol .hc future will determine their wisdom.
Go othors such as the additional dry-docks, wei
hosins ctr might perhaps be omitted uhtii tue
;,,,noosod necessities of the service demand Their
co,stpction. thus rendering the aggregate amount
L.. than - 600. 600 But many OF the recon-
orda,ions relate 10 the absolute wants ana neces-
sites of the near future
A COMPLETE REPORT.
The report embraces what wouid I'LL I'VE coi''Ai"s
~, ,r,,a rro,une and the following are some Of
thc most valuable recommendations: Inc serious
want of more docks is felt, even with the present
dor,and unon them. and when that demand IN
creases as il Will, with the increase IN the NUMBER
If steel ships. the docking facilities VIII be IN
ADEQUATE TO an embarrassing degree lhcre Is
also an insufficient extent of waterfront con
tiguous 70 the workshops which could be largely
overcome by the construction OF decp-"ater
basin. Many Of the buildings, although oil SILL
fccnt extent nre badly designed Tor theIr pur-
noses being low and badly lighted. Many have
fallen into decay, and few show signs oil ultimate
coIlause If at present a sudden demand should
be made upon the country 10 meet an aggressive
and powerful enemy, II would be found that of
all the Navy Yards in the United States most
would be expected from the New.Ycrll station in
meeting the emergency; ana from the siea' conf
mercial Importance Of the adjacent cities they
would invite attacks. 1t IS therefore suggested
that not only should there be ships-ofw at this
mint ready 10 meet any emergency, but that
every possible provision should be made for their
construction. repair and outfit. The Navy Yard
and the adjacent waters would be the base OF
opcraiions against an enemy seeking entrance 10
the barbor. either by way of Sandy Hook or Long
Island Sound.
The general plan OF development submitted.
briefly outlined. contemplates the construction Of
two additional dry-docks, two launchng-ways,
two wct-bdsins; the completion of the Whitney
Basin: the extending Of quay walls along the
entire waterfront OF the yard. Including COD
Dock Island: the construction OF additional work
shops storehouscs, etc, for all bureaus looking
to the working of the yard TO the fun capacity
allowed by the number of building slips dry-dockS,
the amount of wharfage etc; the extension OF the
present railway system, sewerage. paving, bound
airy wall. etc.
sTOREHoUSE FOR PAINTS AND OILS.
There is not 10 De found in the yard, proper,
safe. suitable building for the storage of oils
paints, combustible material of any kind and
yet large quantities are received, used here and
rcshipped from here 10 the fleets and otier naval
stations. For the want Of a proper building for
general paintshop and oil Storehouse, paint
shops have been located in storchouses. lumber
workshops, and I'm old frame sheds which are
liable to fall at any time. A lrcprOol building
for such a srorehOusc is recommended. A. the
receiving ship Vermont cannot hold together many
years longer before her usefulness is gone il is
recommended 10 construct three buildings, or
barracks for the accommodation Of about 5000
men, with quarters for the necessary officers and
attendants. Additional quarters are also recon-
mcndod for the officers experimenting work at tlc
yard, where they can be- ayailaby reached at all
times. The old house occupied by the command
ant OF the station is so much dccaycd and dapi-
dated that further repairs upon il are "a useless
waste of money, hence Il new building is recon-
mcnded. IL Is also recommended To put up "A
building near the present granite drydock for tn.
ordnance department. that II NAV be- hcttpr
facilitated IN the work Of repairs Of fitting
sol forS cftp f,, ~
and caring for modern heavy gums is designed Ia
be constructed on the Cob Dock. suitable
shelter Tor the storage OF about II, 1000 tons of
coal is also prov dcd for.
The first years work cOntcmplat,s the following
work and estimates OF expenditures Continue
work on Whitney Basin, SO, 600; begin work
on concrete wall around Cob Dock 5000 600.
build machine, bending. blacksmith, and service
shops, 10000 begin boundary wall from Marine
Barracks, $50 linear feet along Fmshng-avc
I .Jlj linear feet from the avenue 10 Wallabout
Channel, and 7Sj linear feet OF quay wall work
TO extend two years time at "A total cost of
81 86,072l, 81 90, 600; continue railroad tracking
in yard and on Cob Dock. 5000
neering Department, S207,6l0; remove dlapidatcd
ship house. - 900.
What is perhaps one Of the busiest vessels in tbc
Navy the tranngship Portsmouth. is now hing
in the Navy Yard. where she has been for about
two weeks After her return from her summer
,ruise she went TO Newport, where she received
ietail Of % apprentices, and then she came to
his yard for repairs. She forty DAYS i'm
making the journey from Madeira to Newport
md this was due TO an accident which happened
80 her ruddcr The repairing Of this is the prn.
.ipal thing TO be done to her. although there
ire "A few other repairs. II is hoped that the
udder can be unshippcd without putting the
fessel IN the drydOck, and TO do this heavy
weight will he put in her bow. thus tipping her
stern high enough to take out the ruddcr This
5 TO he repaired and then put back and IL is
hought that this will occupy at least two weeks.
he portsmouth VIII then start for the West
ndeS where she ~ To make her winter cruise
SOUTH ATLANTIC SQUADRON
The day set for the departure for the South
IF the three vessels of the North Atlantic SQUADRON
which in this gard Is December 2 Stores and
supplies are being taken on board the vessels
md they are almost ready to depart
the flagship. the Galcna, is about ready
as Is also the new steel dspatch
boat Dolphin The kearsarge is In tho drvdocI"