New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-01-18
OUR Big SISTER CITY.
AFFAIRS IN BROOKLYN.
what T, coiro on at YardIiquOrs and the Union
1oaoue Club-National Guardsmen and Their Reg-
mepts-Items of General

mcnt. and is now at Philadelphia being made
ready for her cruise. She is to be commanded ny
Captain Slas Casey. and nearly all of her officers
have been ordered to her and she will be put in
commission on February 20. The cruiser Concord
Is another Of the new vessels and when the
report OF the trial made last week is received
and considered and reported upon by the Navy
Department, she will probably be accepted and
at once 90 10 the Navy Yard TO he fitted out.
The doublc-turrctcd monitor Miantonomah is at
the Navy Yard and Il nearly ready to go INTO
commission but aS she will not be sent on a
foreign cruise embarrassment will be caused
The old wooden cruisers Swatara and Marion
are at the Mare Island Navy Yard being made
ready for another cruise, probably in the Chinese
and japanese waters. and the Omaha. now at
Yokohama, will need a new crew in about two
months. No special anxiety is felt relative TO
The scarcity of men. but there is TO be a renewed
effort toward rc-cnlistmcnts of the old men. and
it. is believed that with what Congress has done
already toward improving their status and what
further is expected TO be DONE very many Of
the best men will continue in the service.
The news coming from Washington that the
new cruiser San Francisco is not to be assigned
flagship of the Asiatic Squadron, as il was
first intended, but should remain in the Pacific
Squadron for the time being, at least a sur
prise 10 many Of the officers at the Navy Yard,
especially 10 some who apprehend that they may
hc now ordered to the flagship Omaha, now in the
ASiatiC Squadron which was about to be ordered
home. The report that the Lancaster. now being
repaired at the Portsmouth Navy Yard, may be
ordered 10 relieve the Omaha, got much credcnce
The Lancaster was being fitted out aS a gunncry
ship for the special training of enlisted men in
the handling of modern guns. Congress having
made a special appropriation for that purpose
\ special battery has been constructed for the
guuncrX practicc-Shp at the Washington Navy
Yard. Commander Collry VI. Chester, who had
bcen practically determined upon as her
mandcr. and the other officers selected because
of their fitness special instructors, naturally
anxious 10 know whether they will have to make
three years cruise in China and Japan waters
instead.
Secretary Tracy has informed Mayor Chaplin that
the lty OF brooklyn may purchase the Navy ard
and Naval Hospital lands as described by the Act
OF congress approved July .. 1890 at the price
fixed by the Board Of Appraisers, and that deed
conveying the property in question will he made
out nj rs early date may be practicable. The
area of tins land includes about 10 city lots, Of
which tho appraised value is about two millions
Of dollars The brooklyn people have TO thank
Congressman Wallace. whose reelection they de
icaicd IN November and sent n Free Trader IN
stead. for securing this tract of twenty acres of
l|rookIynS market facilities. and that city prom
lScS soon 10 have Wcllcquippcd market on the
Navy ard waste lands, giving the people access
plies carried in boats. The Government purchased
this land about forty years ago Tor less
than S2o.0o0. but in that time the value Of the
property has been enhanced through the pros
pcrIiy and industry OF the city that has grown up
around the Navy Yard By reason Of the Govern
mcnt employing 50 many mechanics and laborcrs
Passed Assistant Engineer IIcTschcl Main. who
week ago was detached from the dynamite
cruiser N.suviu> and ordered as a member of the
Experimental Board Of Engineers. has been az lin
SSiIni Engineer W D. Weaver, who goes 10 the
Experimental Board Lieutenant Albert Merit
his been detached from the Minnesota and or
dcrcd 10 the (autic.