Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-11-17
NAVY YARDS AND DOCKS.
Commodore Farquhar's Report-Improve-
ments ut the Washington Yard.


Commod ore Farquhar. chief of the bureau of
yards and docks, in his annual report TO the
Secretary of the Navy. recommends a new dry
dock on the New England coast. He says:
If we should set in serious trouble with
some European power and an engagement
should take place of the New England coast,
any OF our larger vessels which required dock
age would be impelled 10 steam hundreds of
miles down the coast 20 New York in order to
have the repairs attended TO. We ought to have
as large dock on that coast as We will soon
have on the south Atlantic The same could be
said of the necessityof dry dock on the gulf
coast. AT the Portsmouth. Nh, navy yard
the channel between the main island aad
Seaveys Island could be utilized At the Bos-
ton yard another dock parallel to the present
one should be constructed so that the same
pumping plant could serve for both.
THE CIVIL ENGINEERS.
He recommends an increase in the corps of
civil engineers OF the navy. The number now
comprising the corps, he says, is quite made
quate for this purpose. there being a present
need of two more for regular ward detail and q
further demand in prospect should dry dock
be built on the Gulf of Mexico. In addition to
this there are frequent occasions requiring the
services OF civil engineers for special duty upon
boards, inspections at private establishments,
planning and superintendent of works for
other bureaus and the marine corps. &C.. for
which the civil engineers attached to the yards
and stations cannot always be spared
There IL also pressing need for a grade of as
sistant civil engineers to supply intelligent pro-
fessional assistance to the civil engineers on yard
duty. such assistants being commissioned Off
GERS would have the requisite authority and
status TO perform any duty assigned to them in
connection with the public works and take
chs nj he III
giueer of the yard in his absence The need OF
them is constant and IL only partially and in an
imperfect way met by the EMPLOYMENT of
young civil engineers at many of the yards
under various ratings and paid for from regu-
lar appropriations and appropriations for pub
lie works. There would be the manifest adj
vantage of having young officers in training,
III this subordinate grade. in the line of public
works under cognizance of this bureau, to fit
them in an especial degree for the vacancies
occurring IN the grade of civil engineers.
He recommends the necessary legislation by
Congress 10 increase the corps to twenty
twelve civil engineers and eight assistant civil
enginecrs-the assistants to be selected from
graduates of the Naval Academy showing an
aptitude for civil engineering and given
course III some civil engineering school.
Vacancies in the grade of civil engineers to be
filed by promotion from the grade OF assist
ants after examination.
THE WASHINGTON YARD.
Commodore Farquhar reduces the estimates
OF appropriations for improvements for 1894,
as submitted by the commandGnts of the vari-
Gus yards, from 6.505. 100 to S2,257. 92s
The Washington yard fares better than many
of the others, the reduction on the estimates
being only siC.Jl5. for the reconstruction of n
storehouse. The improvements recommended
by Commodore Fsrquhar are as follows:
For extension of navy yard wall through
marsh Observation-Disclosures. :4. 693
For new timber shed for ordnance pur-
poses. ....................... $500
For conversion OF mold loft building
into forge shop ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, 5000
For reconstruction of forge shop with
foundation for crane column. .... 10000
For one wrecking car with 15-ton crane
attachment Observation-Disclosures. $500
For installation OF electric lights in
breech mechanism shop ......... $500
Total. $50. 1913