New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-06-07
WORK AT THE NAVY YARD
SPECIAL ORDERS ABOUT EXAMINATIONS
TESTING TIE MERITS OF PA1Nrs-THE MAINE
GROWING MORE LIKE A wARsHIr.


GROWING MORE LIKE wARsHP.
Especial Order No. a. of the Navy Department, re-
lating to tho reorganization of the civil force at
navy yards, received at the Navy Yard on FRIDAY
1t has reference to the examination for two vacant
places OF masters Of tugs One OF the vacancies Is
that caused by the removal Of Captain T. VI. Smith,
who in command Of the tug Nina, which went
ashore at Gay Head on March -, when towing the
vessel Galena to the Portsmouth Navy Yard; and
the other vacancy made by the recent act OF
Congress. The examination is to begin on Wednesday
morning next. and will be open TO all persons who
give evidence Of experience navigatOrs and who
can present certificates Of citizenship, good character,
industrious and sober habits and skill and experience
No person will be appointed unless he is "a qualified
tug captain frstrcass New York and Hell Gate pilot
and Atlantic coast pilot from the Capes OF Chesapeake
TO Portsmouth, " H." All applications must be filed
before Tuesday The candidates thus far are Captain
Samuel Duval, who now is in command Of the tug
Catalpa and ex-Lleutenant Roundtree. Of the Navy.
The examination board Captain Lester a. Beard
see Commander George W. Sumner and Lieutenant
Commander A. T. ii. Lille
especial Order No. 81 which has been posted, re
Iates to new examination for master mechanics at
the Norfolk Navy Yard to begin on June IS, the
present incumbents being declared discharged on
July l.
Surgeon General John NJ Browne visited the Naval
Hospital Thursday. also attention to the
Naval Cemetery near the hospital The small marble
headstones which have been used TO mark the graves
OF the dead seamen are 10 be replaced rapidly as
possible with iron tablets shaped like shield and
with the necessary inscription upon them. The plate
is ornamental sheet Of galvanized lron around
which Is raised border, the raised letters Of the in
scription being gded. The plate is thirteen inches
long and ten Inches wide and is attached to wrought
iron shank two feet long, which IS driven into the
ground.
Tha Nov Yard s Qufp inst Noth al
happens there, but the regular routine work of
veyng and repairing vessels that have returned from
cruises and Ct building other vessels and reconstuctng
still others, goes The North Atlantic Squadron
to be at Portsmouth. ~ H. by July 4, to take part in
a celebration there that day On the vessels of
this squadron that in the Navy Yard work being
done TO make them ready to sail for Portsmouth After
the celebration is probable that the ships Of the
squadron will have target practice and perhaps
some manOeuvrcs. Tho cruiser Philadelphia, the flag
ship of the North Atlantic Squadron, is to &c taken
Of the dry dock tomorrow. When the ship locked
her bottom found to be In fair condition. and bet
ter than was expected. There marine
growth. but the paint had kept we'll The bottom Is
now being recovered with the same paint that was used
before-the English composltion-hrthcr TO test lts
merits in comparison with the Marine Germcide com
postion the American paint. Some caulking is beng
done on the decks Of the ship TO put them IN me
proper condition. The work If the sieanI-ehsih@erns
department
argetpractice that the Phlladephas guns had. few
weeks ago in Seminole Bay one Of the carriages
was cracked Another gl-carriage has arrived at the
Yard and will replace the defective one.
The gunboat Petrol was put into the timber dry
dock few days ago, that an examination OF her
bottom might be made 1t received a coat Of the
Marine Germlcde paint when the vessel was in the
dock seven and a half months ago. and the marine
Growth was less and the plates were found to be
even in better condition than those Of the Philadelphia
which is proof of the superiority Of the American paint
There is little pitting around the bow ana there are
few barnaces around the exposed parts as tho valve
outlets But it IS said that the condition OF the
boom is much better than was expected, on account
Of the long time since the ship was painted and the
service that she has done. The bottom probably VIII
again be covered with the same paint that was used
before While the McInness paint is an English
composition the Germicde is American. Several
tests have been made vessels % determine the com
narrative merit Of each Of these makes OF protective
paint Besides painting the bottom, lew othe'
nleoes OF work are to be done on the Petrol but the
min Is in excellent condition. and there are not many
repairs necessary The limit Of time for completing the
work on the ship is June %. There are also but
few things to be done on the Enterprise The re
nars I'm the engineering department viii probably not
he made until the ship returns from Portsmouth,
M orders have as yet been received for the Ian
caster which vessel II Is expected, VIII san before
long 70 the Aslatic squadron TO act as flagship. The
various repairs and little Jobs OF work that have been
carried ON since the ship came to the Navy lard are
ohout finished. The ship Is ready for orders ut any
time now The leaking the fantic continues about
no or,e as II has been No orders for duty have been
received but part Of the Is TO be taken from the
vessel draft Of men Is to be sent 10 the Cons;ella
ton ot Annapolis and as only about eight men could
10 obtained from the receiving ship Vermont the COM
n,euent will be made up BY taking the seamen and
ordinary .esmen from the Yantc. some carpenter
work is being done Oh the ship.
The Maine grows every day more Ike the big arm