The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-09-12
NEWS FROM MARE ISLAND
The San Francisco Being
OVerhauled.
EXPERT NAVAL GUNNERS.
Big Force of Mechanics at Work-A Bridge
May Be Built to vallojo-Personal
Paragraphs.
EXPERT NAVAL GUNNERS.
Correspondence of THE MORNING CALI.

|
francisco returned from the Sandwich
Islands Wednesday afternoon with the
commander-n-chief of the station, Rear
Admiral George Brown, U. S. N. on board,
Captain J. C. Watson, U. S. N, command.
Ing. and made fast to the farewell buoy
opposite the sectional docks. The ship looks
as trim as when she started on her cruise.
But little work is required to be done on
her machinery. She will 60 in dock to be
scraped and painted.
The ship will probably leave the yard the
last of tue month. as Admiral Bancroft
Gherardps flagship to go around the Horn
or through the strait. on her way East.
The crew are well drilled and make fine
| appearance while on ship or shore. Friday
afternoon a battalion drill was held at the
marine barracks parade ground by the
marines and sailors fr ON the ship in the
| presence of Admiral Irwin and staff. Over
200 were in line, headed by the San Fran
| clscO's band, which is one of the best that
| has been here for some time. The leader,
| Professor Carlo Contrado, will soon resign
from the leadership and assume charge Of
the receivng-ship's band, which has always
maintained its reputation as being one of
| the best On the coast. If there are any idle
musicians in San Francisco they can secure
a situation by application on board Of the
| Independence.
| The Charleston will be hauled alongside
the wharf abreast Of the steam engineering
shops TO better enable the mechanics from
that department to do work on board OF her.
| Owing to the rush OF work for the Charles
Ton and Baltimore, perempt0rY orders hav-
ing been issued that they must be ready for
| sea on the evening OF the oath inst, work
| Tor the past few nights has been continued
| In some of the shops in steam engineering
| until 10 o'clock
The cruiser Baltimore was taken In dock
| TUESDAY and gang OF men were set TO
| work immediately in scraplng her bottom.
| AS soon as this had been completed force
| OIL twenty-five painters took charge in paint
| Ing 1t with a coat Of McGinnls' anti-fOuling
| paint, preparation that is put on as hot as
| possible. This paint is greatly used on
English ships destined more particularly
Tor service in southern waters.
The cruiser was f0ated in the dock yes
terday afternoon for the purpose of what is
known as "heeling tie ship" and also to
shift her few feet forward on the blocks
to enable the gang of painters to complete
painting the keel Of the vessel.
The Secretary of the Navy is In favor1of
givln 6 all privileges to Union veterans that
II Is in his power to bestow. Any member
of post of the Grand Army of the Repub-
lie employed at the nayy-yard may upon
application to the cOmmandant have a
leave OF abseace granted for the purpose of
dttSuuliB INC SIdlu " meet dt
Washington, d. c., during the present
month.
According 10 circular Just received from
the Navy Department showing the eompar-
alive standing OF ships which fired at tar
gets from the main and secondary batteries
during the months Of April, May and June,
the cruiser Charleston makes Tie best show
Ing at stationary practice from these bat
teres over that Of the Baltimore and
Marion. the only two other ships engaged in
such practice. a. q. Anderson was the
best marksman OF the seventeen gunners
sighting the main battery guns, his final
merit being 78, from one Of the eight-inch
rifles. William Peters stood No. l, he firing
one Of the sX-pounders from the secondary
battery, his final merit being 90, with twenty
markSmen TO contend with.
The monitor Comanche has been shifted
up stream quite a distance to make room
for some OF the wooden ships, which are
now in the way OF the cruisers and ferry
plying between this place aud the yard
The buoys will be shifted greater distance
apart to better enable tie ships to swing
while made fast thereto.
The following number of men are borne
on the rolls OF the various departments at
tho present time and unless great ur-
gency arises the number will not be in
creased during the next two months or
until after the November election: Con-
struction and repair, 800; steam engineer
ing 155; yards and docks. 102 equipment
81; supplies and accounts, %; ordnance,
10; medicine and surgery, l; total, ri. The
number of men actually at work is not
more on an average than $40.
A good job is being accomplished by the
extension Of the quay wall on the south
side of the stone drydOck and extending to
and connecting with the granite wall of the
stone dock basin. The extensive wall will
be made OF concrete, capped with largo
granite blocks. When completed it will be
a fine and substantial piece of masonry.
The department has seen the necessity
and importance of having better facilities
for reaching the navy-yard from this city
than are now to be had, and with this pur-
pose III view has ordered board OF officers
10 make plans and estimates for bridge
and also ferry-boat, and submit the same
as early as possible. In the opinion of
many bridge would undoubtedly be much
the cheapest ia the end to the Government
than would ferry-boat The cost of main
tenance would not be as great, the facilities
for reaching the island better, while the
cost of transportation OF heavy material
and supplies could. and undoubtedly would,
be greatly lessened By the railroad company
extending a branch road from the main line
near the Orphans Home crossing ia the
northern part Of town TO the bridge and
over TO the island.
There is some talk of the new steel tug
built for the yard and now In use at the
Boston yard, being sent around here and
AS Ii will cost something like $4,000 or more
TO steam here by way of Magellan Strait
there Is some serious thoughts as TO whether
1t would not be better to expend that
amount of money toward building tug
boat at the Mare Island yard. For the size
of boat required the facilities are said to be
ample, with few exceptions. The hulls,
boilers and engines could be built here as
cheaply as elsewhere.
No work has yet been commenced on the
Albatross' machinery. There is consider
able to do and 1t will be performed at the
yard ii the present calculations are not at
fault.
The three big cruisers, the Baltimore. San
Francisco and Charleston, make quite dis
play at the yard. 1t is hoped the saucy-
looking little Yorktown will be here prior
to the departure of all of them.
The Boston had a man killed few days
prior TO the ships reaching Honolulu, by
falling from off ladder.
Assistant Surgeon Charles +. Stokes, U.
5. n, was examined for promotion during
the past week. Medical Inspector George
w. Wood was the president Of the board Of
examination.
Lieutenant George NJ. Stoney, U. S. N,
having been detached from the Charleston
reported Tor duty at the yard last Tuesday.
A general court-martial, with Commander
Henry Glass, U. 5. N, president, convened
during the week for the trial of an appren-
tice from one of the ships for disobedience
OF orders.
Lieutenant F. NJ Bostwick. u. S. n, has
been detached from the receiving ship and
ordered TO the Thetis.
Ex-Coroner w. +. Taylor OF San Fran
cisco, who came up 10 the island week
ago Saturday for the benefit of his health.
is improving steadily and is able to ride out
each day. His friends here are greatly
pleased at the marked Improvement he has
mazda