The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-11-14
The Navy-Yard Will Soon
Have Good Water.
WORK DONE ON THE MOHICAN
Cruisers May Be Kept on This Coast-fhe
Thetis Dccked - Personal
Notes.
Correspondence OF THE MORNING CALI

satisfaction Monday evening OF last week
that the officials at the navy-yard heard the
news that the citizens Of Vallejo. by more
than two-thirds vote, had decided to issue
bonds In the sum Of $4,000 to build new
water works. When complete a superior
quality OF water will be furnished. and,
without doubt, at much less rates than the
Government is now paying for the same
The water now furnished Is of poor char
acter 1t is stated that with q supply Of
good pure water the boilers In the various
shops will last much longer than other
wise.
The reservoir near the magazines is being
filed with salt water for use in case of fire.
AS soon as the necessary piping is received
at the yard work will be started in laying
the same from a point near the hospital
grounds down 10 the cemetery aud maya
zine reservation. This is want that has
long been needed. not only for house pur-
poses. but as protection from fire, and an
opportunity to beautify and adOrn the little
City of the Dead.
Repairs having been completed on the
keel of the Mexican, she was taken out of
the stone dock on Monday last and hauled
in alongside of the quay wall. Orders hav-
ing been received to proceed with her re-
pairs, mechanics are now at work upon her
boilers and machinery. Five of the boilers
are TO be retubed with iron tubes, il being
impossible to secure enough new compost
ton tubes for the purpose. and the time al
lowed not admitting OF plecing out the old
ones. The necessary repairs outside of
boiler work are but comparatively trit1ing,
being confined mainly to repairing various
cocks ana valves, renewing copper pipes and
putting new feathers in the intermediate
shaft for the after-clutch coupling. The
same accident that caused the injury TO the
y Gal hrpl fUn larn CT mir
and they will be replaced by new ones. All
the repairs will be completed in a short
time, and the Mohican will then be ready
for sea and in as good condition as ever.
All of her tlmbers are OF the best of white
oak and as sound as when put In years ago.
She is credit, for her class, to the navy
and the skill of the mechanics.wh built her
at the Mare Island yard. She will probably
be sent TO Honolulu, should any contin-
gency arise for her presence In those Wa
tiers. II is thought that should the pros
poets of war taking place among the
South American people continue. the ships
now down there-to-w wit, the Baltimore, San
Francisco, Charleston and Y0rktown-will
not 60 east for the present and perhaps,
with the exception Of the Baltimore, not
at all.
1t would not be considered the policy Of
the Government TO leave our coast almost
unprotected. The Boston is at Honolulu,
the Alliance ordered TO Samoa, the Adams
here. There is too much OF stretch OF
country to be left unprotected and the
Pacific squadron at such wide divergence.
The flagship ThetiS was taken in the
stone dock on Wednesday afternoon TO be
scraped and painted and have her new COM
position propeller put on. This ship has
never had copper on her bottom, so that il
will require but short time for her TO be
painted. All the necessary work required
to be done to her will be completed in about
week. She will then be ready for sea.
Her new propeller being OF inner Mitch than
the old one will necessitate higher speed
of her engines in order to retain her Old
speed per hour, and she may be fitted with
independent air and circulating pumps. She
has her complement Of officers and crew on
board. The commander-in-cbiefsf flag will
probably be lowered from her truck in q
very short time and hoisted on the Mohican.
She will then proceed down the coast on
survey duty.
The Fish Commissioners steamer AL
batross is under the large derrick, and has
had her main and auxiliary boilers, smoke
pipe AMI steam drum removed. She is TO
receive two OF the boilers origi ally intended
for the Monadnock. Her machinery is to
receive a much-needed general oyerhauling.
She is 10 be given two new propellers oil
composition In place OF her castlron ones,
| and work on them has already been CON-
meneed in the foundry. The prospects fol
| the employees OF the steam engineering de-
| is quite bright. and employment will be
steady for all during that time at least. and
| then
Duringthe incumbency Of Chief Engineer
| j. W. Moore, u. ;. N, and his predecessor.
| Chief Engineer George +. KutZ. u. s. N,
| cisco, the steam engineering department
! has steadily improved in efficiency. until II
| has reached a condition that compares
most favorably with other institutions OF
! like character. Owing to this condition the
ships of the Asi6tic squadron are no longer
sent around the Horn to Eastern yards fol
repairs. and she ships of the Fish Commits
sion and coast survey have their work done
| here. "Uncle john" as lie Is endearingi,
referred to- meaning Chief Moore, is greatly
| respected by all in the department Of steam
engineering. and notwithstanding the re-
cent cold, chilling, frosty atmosphere o.
| the past few days, even if they are obliged
To seek warmer climes would love TO SET
him remain. Gentlemanly, anable, ap-
| proacha able, he belongs to the old school o.
engineers and naval Officers.
Naval Constructor Taylor, with hi:
charming young bride, will reach the coast
during the present month and take up HI
quarters at the navy-yaTd. Advance re
ports herald him as being well versed II
his profession, and, as the head OF depart
ment, one whom his employees will homo
| and respect.
Work ON the Monadnock Is pushing right
along. The engines could. If necessary. b
completed in few months. The monte
will not, however. owing TO the non-aTrlya
Of material for her armor.
Paymaster j. r. Stanton, paymaster O
the yard, will be relieved on the 30th i1sl
to go to the Monterey.
Paymaster Henry T. Skelcbing will com
as paymaster of the yard, 10 report the BOT
inst. In probably another years time h
will be relieved and Paymaster Henry
Colby, so weil-known and liked at this sta
ton, will be returned to the yard.
Paymaser George w. Beaman, U. S. n
general storekeeper within the nest IL
months, will he ordered East, as will ais
Paymaster j. b. Redfeld of the receiving
ship Independence.
Assistant Paymaster Edwin B. Webster
attached to the navy-yard at Port Orchard
arrived from the north few days ago an
has been undergoing an examination fo
promotion, which was completed Frida
afternoon. Pay Inspector Beaman Wa
president OF the board, and it is said Pa,
master Webster passed very successfI
examination. He is receiving the congratl
lations of his host OF friends at The yaI
and In this city. and will return to his DO
In day or two.
Assistant Engineer Emil Thesis, who hi
, recently been attached TO the Bureau
Steam Engineering, reported for duty
the Union Iron Works during the pa
week.
A fine collection of large photographs
each OF the new ships of the navy arrive
at the yard from the East and will soon
, hung up for display in the constructor
Office
Proposals will be opened at the depar
ment at Washington on November q 4
l another lot of supplies, consisting Of ms
+ leable iron pipe and fittings, fax and cottC
canvas, cooks knives, shipscrspers, bri,
cement, sand, nails, tin, lumber, sheet iro
| | paints and steel plates. The attention
L al I'm I'D danl Z lI.lI
they may have an opportunity 10 bid on q
] furnishing of the goods.
{ The latest reports now have IL that &
Ranger, now undergoing repairs to h
machinery at the yard, will be sent
| Samoa In place of the Alliance, the preyio
nrders N tho Iatfar ship IN On m fhot nj a