New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-12-25

MONUMENT TO THE BOSTON VICTIMS.
the small scrubby growth called chaparra. TIE ILLS
are al rolled smooth by glacial action ana look Ike
the backs of gigantic seals. In winter ana carly spihS
everything looks Ike w-EnslaiI June. in mid
summer the hills a tawny yellow. and later they
turn to dirty brown Tho Island i, trty miles from
san Francisco. II faces Pablo Bay. which is one
OF the snail landockcd bodies Of water that receive
the sacram nto River on It's way 10 the sea Tie
whole island shut of from the fOgs and the tarsh
winds that sweep san Francisco Bay. in fact 1t
IS an ideal place of residence 20 far IS climate ana
surroundings ara concerned. If 4 navG officer Ia,
some bobby which his attention. life at the Navy
Yard cannot be withOu: It's charms bu' nine men
out OF ten neither literary scieniiho time must
hang very heavy their hands for work at the yard
has been a farce for years and most Of the money
that has been spent on fine equipment Of machine
shops and shlp5udins plant might rs well have been
thrown into the waters OF san Pablo Bay.
Mare Island has been the property OF ne Govern
nent for nearly forty years, AID lis early history IS
noteworthy because Commodore FarTacut, then
Young commander. the fist cJmnardant. The
Did log books in the Office contain the frst c'ry in
Fsrragut's own handwriting. II reads q, follow
"Scptembcr L. 1884, Commander Farragut took
charge Of the island ana forthwith ordered all Of the
so,Iatters on-Vara. Gilbert and Antonio Piniro were
their names-weatLcr clear" Trr1gt served four
years when he was succeeded by Rear Admiral Self
ridge The island received il, name from troop OF Wild
days, led By beautiful whit, mare
In improving the island tine Government had to
pay extraordinary prices for materials and Labor. The
officer. houses are built Of brick. and In their ar
ohitccturc remind one strongly Of Philadelphia
residences az that age. The brick was Imported from
the East ut great expense and Tie masOns who laid
It received $40 day The houses were arranged
slong one side Of "a main street. Ae space opposite
being reserved for park Thi, wa planted TO poplar.
oak, maple. cedar and various everereonS. and TIE
trees are now Of large SIC and very beautiful. Each
house IS surrounded - v"ritablc rose garden ana
In the rear N many choice fruit trees sentry
box and a guard pacing up ard down are al That
distinguish this row Of naval officers Houses from "
ouci street in the suburbs of city. Not stones
throw from the quarter, the officers, down gentle
hill one comes 20 the stOrchou,rs, drydOck. machine
shops and other buildings that line the Waterfront
TIL. location is an Ideal one for convenience. HE
largest slips may up 20 the stone quay on all
sides the bay and straits receive much water from
the Napa Evcr that the terrlo cannot i've: the pace
e. easy Of access Francisco at all seasons and
men may work In tie open air every day In the Year
Yet DESPITE these advantages. very lte work has eyer
been done here beyond repairing II few war'hlpS'
The fine shipbulldug plant tlat was laid In over 'lN
years ago ba> been pat 10 any service FOR the
Union Iron Works secured the contract for building
tln, two big cruisers. the Charleston ana the san
Francisco well several smaller vessels ana even
the repairing work at the yard mas proved expensive
to the government because % poorly done. Much OF
this failure due - the faulty plan OF making appFo
pria!ons. ONLY a small part Of the sum needed to do
any piece OF work has been given mt The outset.
and before another appropriation could b. secured
damaging delays followed. Ia This way work In The
stone drydock which ought 10 have been finished In
four years consumed fourteen years. and the strict
ure faulty in many ways. cost S3.OOO.OOO. CT more
than $4,000 In excess OF the estimates.
The object at Mare Island OF greatest interest 10
sb ,ittIda * Ia. H. X
The dock Is built OF concrete faced with granite,
and slough faulty In some features OF construction,
II has done good work for six Years and has saved
the Government large annual expense. rs cruising
IN the tropical waters Of the Pacific requires frequent
cleaning OF the bottoms Of war vessels. II IS DO
feet in extreme length. 100 feet breadth at Il top
and admits a vessel Of seventy nine feet beam and
dralght Of twenty-x feet. The leading Eastern dry
docks have been built In from five 70 seven years
and have cost about onc-thi'd the amount expended
on this Mare Island structure. or course. labor.
materials, cartage and many other Items are far
costler here tran In the East. but the main reason