New-York tribune., 1890-03-30
PROGRESS At THE NAVY YARD,
COMMODORE FARQUHAR ON A VISIT OF
INSPECTION

|
INSPECTION
Commodore Norman II. Farquhar. the new Chief
of the Bureau Of Yards and Docks. has been In the
city during the last week. and paid visit 70 the
Navy Yard The object of his visit was TO inspect
the new wooden dry-dock which Is being built IN the
northern part OF the yard. The work on this dock,
which was TO be opened In November. has been de
ayed by the discovery of qucksands and the difficulty
Of getting good foundation. but 1t Is now though'
that il will bo ready to open by June l. The DOCK
itself is practically finished. and the oasson is In
place but an entrance must now be made. Some oi
the stone sea~wal which is at that end Of Walabout
Bay has been torn away. and the accumulation OF
mud and dirt between the wall and the mouth OF
the dock is TO be taken ont in order TO make SUM-
GENTLY deep and wide approach This dock Will be
boon TO the Navy Yard when II is open for use as
then two vessels can be repaired IN dock at the same
timc-one In the old and one in the new docS-and'
too the stone dry dock Will be too small for some OF the
additions TO the Navy.
The engineering work on the Alarm is about fin
lshed and her engines for short time at
the dock during the last week. and the doctrai VIII
probably be made some time this week. The heavy
iron beams which support the deck on which the gun
| Is TO be mounted in place, and the deck Will
/ probably be riveted TO IT.
Four men were busy yesterday near the iork-st.
gate scraphg the rust of the cannon balls wmch were
taken from the pile and spread over the lawn near
there O few weeks ago. After they are scrapcd they
Will be piled up again in symmetrical pyramids 'he
foundation having been strengthened
Yesterday the Cowlcss boiler was run for awhile,
preliminary TO the Official test, "hch
will probably be begun this week. The boiler
Was run Yesterday with forced draft, with a
pressure sufficient 10 hold inches of water in a
siphon and the sound Of the escaping steam might
be heard at distance from the foundry In which inc
boiler was erected FOR trial. The alright fre-room
is a small box Of the size which IT would be on snip
board and as one enters II from the outside air there
is slight pressure noticeable on the ear. Two doors
shut out the interior Of the frc-room from the out
side and the forced draft in through pipe open
ing into one side Of the room. Another thing which
Is noticeable that the temperature IN the cro'
is lower than in the ordinary fire rooms. one might
think that in small room before two iron o'oGs
which hide blazing fires. consuming from forty Z"
fifty pound, of coal the square foot per hour, e
heat would lie almost unbearabe, and IT If intense
with ordinary draft but when forced draft is III use
the air which is forced into the serves to keep IL
decidedly cool
ANTICIPATED FLEET MANoEUvREs.
One of the questions asked by people interested in
the Navy Of those who are supposed to possess any
information whatevc Of the plans Of the Department
s What vessels i.rc 20 be sent 10 the European
waters?7 1t is a flct that since the Enterprise re-
turned home there aas been no European Squadron
As she was the last remnant Of the sqn"'
ron which two years ago was com
posed Of the Lancaster the Quinnco"ue
and the Enterprise. The Lancaster returned ihorc
than a year ago, and IS now being repaired Al Nc
Portsmouth Navy Yard to be used AS a gunnery snip
at the Naval Training station al Newport 10 'ah"
the place Of the New Hampshire which has been
practically condemned for that service by the sur
goons The Quinnebaug also. returned several mon,n'
ago has since been condemned as unfit Tor service
and Is 10 be sold at auction 70 the highest bidder
very soon unless Congress authorizes that more tah
the 90 per cent original cost be expended for
her repairs. Then the Enterprise came home only a
few, weeks ago This did not leave the United states
unrcrrcscnted In European waters but the four vessels
now there under command of Acting Rear Admiral
Walker comprise what is known as the Squadron OF
Evolution. 1t IS thought that the Enterprise Will
20 back 10 Europe In few weeks with new detan
OF officers and crew, and IL Is possible that the Essex
may also 80 to Enrope, although the belief l. tat
she will 60 10 the Asiauc. Iic new cruiser Phiit
delpha, which Is soon t. nave hcT steam uldls VIII
probably 60 10 Europe as flagship.
II i expected thai the squadron OF Evolution VIII
return 10 the Jnitcd states IN July, and IL Is very
probable that IT, with the North Atlantic squadron,
wi engage in several sham battles and such other
squadron manocuvres as VIII be Tor the improvement
or instruction Of officers and men In practical navel
warfare. 1t IS very probable that ten OF the new
vessels. in addition 10 those now In commission, VIII
be m active service By that time. These new vessels
are tn built double turreted monitor Mianionomah
tic ca,l,cr5 Charleston, Pbiadclphia and baltimore
the guub1ats bennington and fctrcl, the dynamite
cruiser Ncsuvius and the torpedo ram Alarm ihe
al'' trial in about two months and win probably
remain about this port. II Is believed that captain
Montgomery sicasd Chief Of the Bureau Of Ord
The naval appropriation biz deals literally with
the Brooklyn Navy Yard. 1t gives 100000 for ,ho
improvement Of Cob Dock, such the building OF
concrete wall storehousc for sighting. storing ana
the storage Of about is 900 OF coal 1t gives
Appropriation Of 10000 for additional tools for the
Construction and Repair Bureau; $4,000 for ncN
machinery for the steam engineering department
$4,000 for TIC Improvement Of the entrance to tho
dry docks; $4,000 for new water pipes In Inc yard
and 30 900 t.r completing the railway.
THE SAMOAN DISASTER RECALLED
Rear Admiral Kimberly. who commanded the Amcri-
Squadron at samoa. which met with disaster IN
The violent hurricane Of March 10 and lG 1850,
was In New YORK the anniversary of that occasion.
conducting the investigation by the court Of inquiry
OF the serious charges against Commander McCala,
Of the Enterprise But he had pleasant reception
from the citizens Of Newton, Mass on TUESDAY even.
ing last, as Tie Hero Of Samoa. Governor Brackctt
and his staff and The members Of the houses Of the
Legislature Here m,ng ne pr mlneni wn9 gree,
The Lels la;urc also adopted resolutions commencing
the marked ability and statesmanllhe conduct" DIS
affairs Of the ISLAND involving international questions
between England. Germany and the United statcs:
during the hurricane. The Samoan hurricane must
have been recalled 10 the Admlrars mind on FRIDAY.
when this city became darlcDcd By the threatening
Ink black clouds and the lurd lights shot through
them. - o.
struck blow at the service which has caused small
amount Of talk among ollcers OF The American Nay
lghtng,ship, should be deprived Of their sail power
In other words. that masts and sails should to
abolished The First Lord remarked that this is
rot so much desirable IL is absolutely necessary
step. TOO long has the presence OF these obsolete
rags and sticks occupied the valuable t1mc Of officers
and men that ought to have been given to tactics and
gunnery The day has gone by when a ship Is 10
BE considered smart because her utterly useless
royal yards have been crossed in three seconds less
10 the purpose II credit were given r)r rapdity IN
rendering disabled boiler effective once more"
Another Interesting feature In connection with the
British Navy which has attracted much attention and
envy among the junior officers Of the United states
Navy IS the yOuthfnncss Of some Of the Meet com
inandcrr who have recently been promoted. Lord
Walter Kerr. Of the feet commanders, is only fifty
Of and Admiral Hothan j. only forty seven
There several Of the lieutenants In the United
states Navy receiving only about 81 900 year at
sea, who more than forty five and with no pros
necf al the present rate Of prOmOtiOn Of getting u