The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-03-13

pertx Who havs examined IL declare IL
vii last only fhree or four years more.
pKsxxTxp SHOPS
Even . mo-e m0Hrnfnl specfac5e
than thaf ~ the dock is furnished by
the various machine shops and tool
houses near BY The yard has ca
pzcity 70 keep 100 men .efspsoyed.
yet the average number Of uoYkmer
for the past 10 years IL cniv about 40
men. while as present . heggariy force
OF about 3Dis zt work. In the Joiner
shop, which used 20 gre work 70 $50
men, there are nox none, xfe deserted
work benches extending In long rows
on each side Of the great roosn. tn
the iroa- plating shop, which was built
rs years ago. ard whick Is building
1nxD feet. with wing 5~rs0 feet
there IL net single tool. Only an old
wagon occs1pfss the house II 4 esxs
mated that 10000 expended for
tools In this and other shopz
would nave pat the yard
in condition for huissiing the
Charleston. As il il. Il costs <sslte per
month, besides the salaries az of5scers
70 keep the yard running. While scarce
iy any work Is being a0ne for the
navy. The foundry. boiler and ma
chine shops. sTnifny, workshop for
yard and docks. szumin and consfruc-
ton workshops. are ali practically
deserted Some OF the heavy ma
csflnery IN the yard consists OF one
1tt0n, one lotion and 0ne 5-ton steam
hammer Ia the sFnithy. and a pair
OF shears Supposed 90 bs capable OF
raising 80 tons. About the only real
work that has been done during che
last year has been the making OF good
roads about the yards. Formerly the
roads were slcughs in which loaded
teams ufred TO the hubs az soon as
the vet season set In. now several Of
the roads are like English tarnpikes
The credit of this great Improvement
Is due TO the executive officer OF the
yard
raE pfsMAxTLxD HARTFORD.
Along the water front OF the yard
are the old Independence. used rs
receiving ship: the Troqaois. the Mo-
nougahela and the Monadnock. The
Hartford lies in the stream. Several
months ago Il was hoped that an APP
preparation would be granted for the
rsFasr OF Farraguf's old flagship. the
Hartford. but Bourbon economy
crushed this hope Meanwhile the
ship Was dismantled in order 10 find
out what would be the cost OF retifting.
and now she looks worse than when
she came back from New Orleans.
Every rib is bare, the oakum Is Gem
ing out OF her sides, and she presents
q sight that would make any one who
ever sailed On her grieyed to see Her
tinlbers are still sound, showing the
honest work that went into her, but
much of the repair work done on her
was sicyeniy Ii Il doubtful how
whether the Hartford will ever be re-
paired.
MONITOR RESTING orT.
The iron monitor Monadnock was
shipped out here from New York in
1875. but she was not launched until
iss3. Her frame Is complete, but ii il
estimated that - 900 600 would be re-
qnired for her completion to receive
guns. The secretary does not believe
In iron vessels of the monitor type.
He has refused, until quite recently,
"a expend on construction or repair OF
these vessels one dollar of the ST, GO. :
COO appropriated by congress for the
purpose. All the plans have been
drawn for the machinery and arma-
ment Of the Monadnerk, but the pres
ent outlook Is that she viii lie where
she Is until rust eats her up, when she
will be sold for old junk.
AFrgR 4 Loso Cruise.
The Iroqouis. once the swiftest vessel
in the United States navy. and noted
for her success in overEanling block
ade-runners, returned year ago from
cruise, having been nearly six years
az sea. mainly in the South Pacific. but
so well was she taken care of by Lieu
tenant Commander Price that after
her long commission she was found In
good condition. Her bottom was
found to be sound. and ii Is estimated
that from 80. 600 to $50 900 viii put her
In good repair. Much OF the requisite
repairs have been done to her. but ow-
ing TO scarcity OF funds she is likely 10
remain at the yard for another year.
Out In the stream is the monitor
Camanehe, which Is the only vessel at
Mare Island which, il IL alleged, can
be counted on for service at short
notice. say four months. No officers
are. however, attached 10 the vessel,
and she Is taken care of by enlisted
men only consequently her assumed
efficiency IS not To be relied on. The
only prospect of ship-building in the
near future Is the construction OF a
ferry boat. TO he run by the govern
ment between Vallejo and the navy
yard, BY which the workmen win be
relieved of monthly tax of s. each,
now paid to the private owner of the