New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-09-22
WORK IN THE NAVY YARD
SHIPS TO BE BUILT THERE.
WHAT A VISITOR MAY SEE AND HEAR AMONG

WHAT A VISITOR MAY SEE AND HEAR AMONe
THE MARINES AND IN THE SHOPS.
The decision of Secretary Tracy to have one Of the
new 3,00o-ton cruisers built al the Navy Yard here
has awakened new interest in the station and It's
capacity. IT will be rccollccted that the bids for
these two vessels were far in excess of the limit
allowed by Congress and that the law made 1t manda
tory upon the Secretary To have them built at the
Navy Yards in case he could not secure the bids
within the limits Some writer's have commented thai
the law made II Discretionary with the Secretary out
this provision of discretionary power was given to
him only in case he believed the bids were too high
but yet within the limits of the appropriation
Before deciding upon having them built at The
Navy Yards the secretary made Inquiry Of the lead
ing shpbuding firms as TO whether there was any
possibility Of modifying the designs for the vessels It.
tanning meanwhile full strength and speed 50 as to
secure bids within the limits fixed by Congress, and
upon their opinion that it impossible 10 do this he
decided as Congress directed. one vessel complete
will be built az the Ncw-York Navy Yard, as well as
the machinery for the other, while the hull and boilers
of the second viii be constructed at the Norfolk Navy
| Yard
Tho New-York Navy Yard thus becomes moro
interesting place for patriotic Americans. At pre- cn
a modern warshp fit to 90 anywhere in the world to
! meet and whip any ship that should
offer an insult 10 the flag Is being built there
| When IL was determined TO build the Maine here
| the yard did not even contain the machinery or ap-
planes to built vessel Of the fourth rate those
who were familiar with the antiquated tools and APP
! plcanccS will appreciate tho great changes
| that have been and to be made
! In the old shipshcd under which
| the unfinished Colossus built. is the partially
finished frame OF the new 6,O00-ton armored cruiser.
! Grouped about this shed several new buildings
containing the tools and machinery required for
! constructing the ship. The principal
is 2I5 feet long and 45 feet wide Leading to these
sheds IS railway upon which the plates and frames
carried In these sheds testing machines, plate
planning machines, rivepunching machines, shearing
machines, Ganee blocks, hange punches rivet FORCES
lathes, planers slOtters and other tools.
| When the plates tested for flaws several men
stand around large tank in which is solution Of
chemicals and acids. This is called pichljng vat
and into 1t placed the large steel plates. After
dipp ng the pa Is raised ont OF the ud and brushed,
| In order that any impcrecton may be detected. The
plate then goes TO machines where the edges are
adjusted to their measurements and the rvet holes
! are punched bored in them Then the plates ara
rolled between huge rollers. and shaped. Tho frames
are heated in huge furnace and then laid upon a
large perforated iron floor, upon which has been
traced tie shape required, and iron
pegs are put into the holes on the line OF the tracngs
| The frame is ben: to its required shape, and then
carried TO its position the vessel and fastened into
place. The plates then riycted to the frames.
Altogether the shops and ship house present an ami
! mated scene, aided materially by the din OF the
rivctug hammers the thud of the punching machine,
and the creahng of the rolling machines and cranes
| And when tie work the new 3OOoton snip j.
begun il Will be more lively and exciting. Com
mOdoie Ramsay the Commandani Of the Yard saId
yesterday that this was a fine chanco iol ErOohyn.
| and that if those who did the appointing selected
for their mechanical ability and not for the votes
which they cast, Brooklyn would probably receive
the honor Of having more warships built in her Navy
! Yard than IN any other pant Of the United states.
Eng,ncerin-Chi,f &. W. Melville is drawing up
lists Of tools that will be needed to build the engines
for the new vessels and Assistant Naval Construct tor
! Woodward is making up list of tools that arc
needed in the Constructors Department here, Dds
for which shortly 70 be opened in Washington.
Before the Kca.sarge which on Wednesday re
turned the yard after summer In laytian waters
can again go few repairs Will be necessary
These, however only minor repair, such "a are
necessary 10 any vessel after she has canned many
| thousands Of miles. 1t said on board her that
Commander shepard wanted to get permission TO lahc
her Gardinc.s BAY 10 have some target practice,
and also TO make a progressive speed IrIal.
The Pensacola, which las recently been fitted out
| a. a flagship the Norfolk Navy ard, came up 10
| the Navy Yard on friday morning Yesterday was
busy day on boa.d. ana officers wCfe rnsniIs mere
above below deck. She OF the largest of the
old vessels now in active service and her large decks
seemed almost swarm with men, officers, marines,
bandmen and sailors. The orders that she should
convey United States Minister FRED Douglass and Ia,
! family Hayti have been changed, and
oldcis have been received that shOUG convey tine
scientific parry TO Africa This party Is 10 lana al 81.
Paul de LGanaO, and proceed inland to 20 Mt where,
on December - Tho tOa. eclipse of the sun Will Dc
visible. scientific observations are to be mad, aAd
photographs Of the eclipse IA lis dlncien phases are
TO be taken The expedition Is 10 star from here on
| October :. 1t is Thought possible that the Yorktown
| may convey Minister Douglass 10 llayt.
Permission has been given 10 Rear Admiral Ban
croft GheIardl who is now in Haytian waters with
| the Gaena as his fas-shlp, 10 return North If rs
| desires. 1t Is thought that he may come home on
a merchant steamship instead Of bringing the Galcna
| up here.
Orders were received at the yard during the past
week that the Lancaster which recently returned
from Europe. and put ont Of cOmm's> at this
yarl be taken the Portsmouth Yard 10 be repaired,
| and she Is being made ready go. The Brooklyn.
| too IS all ready TO 20 10 Norfolk 20 be repaired.
| soon a vessel can ho secured to tOW h"r there
! The work Of laying the foundations for the new
boiler and machine shop IN the cast end Of the yari
| Is TO be begun tomorrow. The pile, have ben
| driven, and the building Is 10 be bc-un This
! Is to he built In consequence Of app OpriatiOn
The two steel masts which t. b. shipped 10
! the cruiser Baltimore AZ Philadelphia where thc'
! are 10 be stepIcd. now lying on the Navy Yard
| wharf ready t. 60 They each have military
| top. in which are 10 be piarcl guns. and IN battle.
| men These masts a,e hollow. and also t. act
and The steel masts for the Philadelphia a 80
| being constructed here
Medical Inspector T. : BoccIt Is to leave his
Office n.tle yard As his the has expired. AM W J
PROBABLY be made mem or OF the Examining Board
Of Surgeons. now IN session in the yard. IN a1ont
medical director and this. would keep him
! from any longer holding his present Office as The
! law Is that no above tho rank OF Medical In
| srecor can hold Office in this yard.