Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-08-18
THE BROOKLYN NAVY YARD.
Il II Gradually Becoming the Most Import
ant In the Country.

PROGRESS OF THE WORK on THE CRUISERS
MAINE AND CINCINNATI AND THE MONITORS
Puritan AND TERRoR--cHANaEs SUGGESTED
FOR TIE BENEFIT OF THE JUNIOR OFFICES.
| Correspondence Of The Evening stag.
NAVY YAnD. NEW YonK, Aug. Is, 1892
This navy yard ID gradually becoming the
most important one in the country, and the
large sums Of money expended in late years 10
fit it completely with all the machinery for iron
ship building are being returned by the good
work done both on the new ships building and
in repairs on the older ships. OF the ships I'M
der construction the much-taiked-of armored
cruiser Maine is the nearest to completion.
She is at present lying in the big stone dry dock
for changes in the brackets for the shafting
One thing I noticed that is not an improve
ment on the 'old navy" as surely everything
in these new ships should be. While the ward
room will be large and roomy, with ample room
for everybody fortunate enough to be stationed
on the ship, the junior officers quarters will be
on the same old plan--one room with sleeping
hunks for three OF four officers and few cup.
boards or lockers for slowing their apparel
Into these limited quarters about fourteen
young officers, junior ensigns and naval cadets
will be packed-the four Of highest rank will
have the hunks, while the others will sleep in
hammocks.
RELIC OF THE PAST.
The junior officers quarters, or IS it il gener-
ally spoken Of, the 'steerage," is a relic of the
days when midshipmen were mere boys sent to
sea under o schoolmaster to learn o smnttering
OF gunnery and seamanship and navigation,
but in modern days, when the young officers
have finished the schooling period at the Naval
Academy before cruising in sea-going ships, it
seems that some better apartments should be
furnished them. Crowded together in this rtyle
| the young officers are expected to continue
their studies and stand watch at the same time
SO that it sometimes seems strange that the
''midshipmen" still keep in good spirits and
health, yet they do. There are many old Off
GERS in the service who advocate the aboli-
ton OF the "steerage" as a relic Of bygone
days. They say that the young men In the serv-
ice should be associated with the older officers,
for II there Is anything to be gained by expe-
rience they could certainly gain more by asso-
| citation with older and trained officers than bv
living exclusively to themselves in crowded
quarters, and the time should not be far distant
when every Oficer will have a state room. A
prominent feature Of the Maine will be u sixty
foot torpedo boat carried on board In action
she VIII be lowered and stationed under cover
OF the ship until a favorable opportunity is pre-
sented to rush out and discharge an automobile
such craft, the demoralizing effect on the
enemy OF its presence will be an important
| factor In a naval engagement.
THE CRUISER CINCINNATI.
The cruiser Cincinnati is receiving the finish
ing strokes before launching. and will probably
be ready to slide from her ways in October
Among those whose names have
heard mentioned as probable to be
given the honor Of christening her are
Mrs. Telford Groesbeck of Cincinnati. who
| is considered one of the most beautiful women
| OF the west, and Miss Butterwor:h, who is so
well known to many Washington people.
believe there has not been a naval vessel to bear
the name Of the queen city since 1862, when one
/ OF Commodore Foote'S river gunboats had the
honor.
The monitors Puritan and Terror are ready
| for their side armor, which is being delayed by
! the Homestead strike. They are both double
turreted. with a light central superstructure
! extending from turret to turret. One of the
strongest objections urged by officers against
| duty on the old monitors was the discomfort of
| the living quarters. which were all below the
water line, poorly lighted and ventilated. This
has been overcome to some extent in the
Puritan and Terror by placing some of the
officers quarters in the superstructure
| For many years the city of Brooklyn has
been trying to buy part of the navy yard,
which the civil authorities claim is of no use to
the government but the naval officers on duty
ut the yard have always opposed it. claiming
/ tA.!s iouSu tie kTOuHu IL HOl all useu Al
present it may be needed in the future and tina,
1t is much better to keep it in for future
| emergencies than to sell il now only to fluid out
| the error later, when it could not be recovered
| The ground in question comprises twenty-six
acres. for which the city proposes to give a. l0(
an acre and it is probable that the sale will soon
be arranged. In case it is most of the officers
here think that the money shonld go to the i'm
| provenent OF the navy yard. which needs many
Improvements. as many of the buildings are old
and dilapidated and ill-suited- to the modern
naval requirements. 80
AN EFFICIENT sgIP-BCILpISa PLANT.
The ship-building plant, however. is very eff
Gent and the work turned out 10 equal to any in
the country. Many persons think that one of the
ships authorized by the late Congress should be
built a: this yard for after the completion of the
Maine aud Cincinnati and the two mont
tors the plant will be idle unless more ships are
| built by the government instead of giving out
contracts to private firms. 1t is probable that
| the ships OF the North Atlantic squadron will be
sent to this yard for minor repairs during the
| fall. The Concord is to have her dynamo plant
renewed. as the present one has never been ac-
cepted and after long trial fails to come up to
the requirements; the Miantonomoh is to be
| fitted with ventilating system devised
| by her medical officers and the Philadelphia
has the usual minor repairs resulting from q
| few months cruise. SO that the ward will soon
be filled and large force probably employed.
| Tonight. at the Fourteenth Street Thea ter.
| The White Squadron" was presented for the
first time to large house. 1t il piece of many
strong points, and in the technical parts was
well done. Many strong situations in it are
calculated to appeal to the patriotism of the au-
dience. Twenty-four apprentice boys from the
Atlanta took the part of the crew and acquitted
themselves with credit. Alarge number of officers
| occupied the boxes. One Of the leading char
| acters played the role of admiral Waller but
| 1t seems strange that the handsome old admiral
should have been represented with red side
whiskers instead of the fine gray beard 80
familiar to all who know the admiral.
REPAIRS TO THE CHICAGO.
The Chicago came into the yard today and
repairs will be begun at once on her engines
and boilers. which will probably occupy thirty
days. when che will be in readiness to take part
| in the New York Columbian celebration here
next month. Admiral Walker will take COM
mand Of the yarth Atlantic squadron on Sep
TENDER when Admiral Ghirardi Is detached to
take command of the ships in the Pacific and
bring them ''arOund the horn" to be in readi-
ness for the grand international naval review in
April. The Chicago and Atlanta will probably
be attached to the North Atlantic squadron.
d. w.