The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-03-06
FROM MARE ISLAND
The Adams Afloat in the
Stream.
WORK IN THE MAYNARD.
The Drydock to Be mproved-Condi-
ton of the AIbatross-Per-
sonal Topics.
WORK IN THE MAYNARD.
Correspondence of THE MORNING CALL.

OF warships during the last few weeks was
made by the Adams being hauled Friday
afternoon from the quaywall out into the
stream. The ship made fastto the buoy op-
poste the sectional docks. The lines gave way
- owing TO the swftness Of the tide, causing
the ship TO drift rapidly down stream. An
anchor was let go, which struck directly on
the top Of the water-pipe, which has so often
been broken by tits means. Fortunately
the pine did not break this time, otherwise
qnite an expense would have been incurred Z.
To save SINH lar accidents chart has been
prepared sho wing the line of the gas and
water pipes W hich are sent to commanding
officers Of ships arriving, and with implicit
orders that they must not anchor within the
boundary lines d eslgnated.
Now that the Adams Is In the stream the
utmost care is TO be exercised that the men
do not desert the ship. For some reason, at
present unknown, this ship has had more
deserters than either one of the many ships
that have come into the harbOr Deserti0ns
have been more than usual among the marine
corps. there having been some twelve or
fifteen since the Adams has been here. 1t
is stated that the occasion arises from the
fact that there is no commissioned officer on
board.
The Monterey was hauled from her berth
under the sheaves lower down toward the
gate to give the new locomotive a chance to
be hOisted when il arrives from South Va
lleiO on the crane sc0w to the wharf. For
the present tue Iamalpais will be run into
building No. Al and there housed until
suitable house can be erected for its use
Quite force OF men are at work laying
track. As fast as money is appropriated
the track will be extended to every portion
of the woIking-shops in the yard.
A large lot Of iron piping has been re-
ceived during the past week for use on
various objects. The greater portion re-
celyed is being hauled down by the stone
GTydOck, where system Is TO be introduced
for the purpose Of washing down the affairs
and bottom II the dock as soon as a ship
comes in or goes out of dock. Heretofore
the dock has been cleaned out by gang of
men going down with hose and brOoms.
With the new system this will be done away
with, as the force of water that will be
driven through the pipes by means OF tn g
big pumping engines will be sufficient.
AS soon as the Abatross cOues out OF
dock a new rubber gasket VIII be put on
Ihs ends et the caisson To replace the one
originally put on by the Union iron Works
people at the time the gate was nrst built.
It is quite necessary that spare caisson
should be built and kept at hand in case of
accident to the present one. Several times
requests have been made. bat so far Con-
gLess has failed 10 make the necessary ap-
preparation, a. the cost would be from
S40.OO TO $4,000 for 4 new one, which is
considered quite an expense In itself. The
boiler-shop could turn out equally as good
csisson as the present one, and IL is hoped
. if in the future one IS ordered 1t will be
built at the yard.
The Albatross is fast nearing completion.
The work done on her is commended by all
her officers. During the past month OF
February the sum Of $500 was expended on
her by tho mechanics of the construction
and steam engineering departments. The
ship has been nicely painted outside and in,
the latter portion being mostly done by the
force from the ship The yard gang will
put on the finishing touches.
The Hassler left the yard last week for
San Francisco, but little money having
been expended on her.
1t was thought that considerable work
would be done on the revenue cutter Cor
win, but after two or three hundred dollars
being spent she. too. left tie yard Saturday
for San Francisco there to have her repairs
made. 1t has been intimated that the rea-
son for the change from here to there is
that the officers would much rather prefer
Ito be at the bay city than to be here under
the restraints of the Island and authorities
No matter what the reason may be, the
workmen regret much 10 see the work taken
from here, where every convenience is at
hand and the work could and would be
better done than in an outside establish
ment.
The ships that have been repaired have
satisfactory manner.
Considerable progress is being made in
painting the outside of the officers quarters,
which for a long time past have been sadly
in need of repairs.
Another good improvement Is being made
in tile plumbing and sanitary condition of
the quarters.
What is most needed is a good system Of
sewerage. The surgeon Of the yard is CIV
ing considerable attention to this matter
and is ably seconded by the cOmmandsnt
and the civil engineer.
The briekmasons have completed their
work on the new olhnuse; the joiners, IN
der Quartermaster Pressey. will soon COM
.mence on their part OF the work, so that
Within a few weeks the building will be
= ready for occupancy.
The next work to be undertaken will be
the new dry-air closet for the marine bar
racks guard, aud the flling-house at the
magazine.
The long wharf, at the upper end of the
wharf, has been newly planked. so that now
il Is as good as new, and Will last for some
: time to come.
: The rock-crusher is being put in order.
and next week a gang of laborers will be
set to work getting cut rock from the lower
end Of the point This Will be thrown into
-. the mud-scOw and hauled uD to the basin,
landed and hauled to the crusher, there to
be broken up and used for concrete to be
put into The new piece of quaywall. Some
twenty odd laborers will be put on Monday
coming for this purpose.
MI. j. d. Connolly, bOokkeeper In the
general stOrekeepeI's Office, is on his wayto
Washington for a short visit
=. Medical Director William T. Herd. U. S.
N, late president of the Medical Examin-
ing Board at Washington, was placed on the
: retired list Friday. and Medical Director
Newton L. Bates, U. 5. n, so well known
here in charge of the Naval Hospital prior
TO the efficient ncum bent Medical Inspec-
, tor George w. Woods, U. S. N, has been
assigned TO fiji the vacancy. 1t is we'll
merHed promotion and one which will be
:. appreciated by the friends of Dr. Bates.
Paymaster j. Q. Barton, U. S. N, so long
at the yard. has been granted two months
leave uf absence from the Miantonoma.
- Mrs. Lieutenant U. B. Harris gave very
:: pleasant card party Tuesday afternoon to
. Miss Alice Cults at their pretty residence,
at Annapolis, Md.
Miss Bessie McDougal will remain East
for the present. she having been assigned
to very pleasant duty in connection with
the lighthouse department.
Captain J. w. Phillip. U. S. N, will CON-
mand the New York during the naval re-
view. Lieutenant I. B. NJ. Mason, U. S.
N, will be his executive officer, and Paw
master George w. Beaman, u. : N, his
" paymaster. Each of tile three filters ID
well known aud highly esteemed by the
officers and residents on this coast.
Lieutenant Colonel Mclean Tilton,
United States Marine Corps. had command
Of tie battalion Of marines at the inaugural
parade Saturday. Commander g. NJ. Book,
United States navy, has been detached from
the New York navy-yard and will come out
here to take the steamer OF the 14th inst.
Tor China, to assume command of the Alert.
This will be the first sea duty that Com
mander Book has had since he was IN COM
mand of the Pnta up north, aud left for
Washington to see about certain repairs re-
quired 10 be made to his ship. While there
he was ordered to remain, and eventually
assigned to shore duty.
=. The gunbOat Machias now being COM
-pleted at the Bath iron works, it is said,
after the naval review will be SEM to China.
The little gunboat Petrol is the only modern
vessel In Asiatic waters that is capable of
going up the rivers.
The chiefs Of the various bureaus and
other officers in the department are highly
pleased at the appointment of Secretary
Herbert shead of the Navy Department.
as by his long service at the head of the
naval committee they have had extensive
and pleasant acquaintance with him.
Assistant Secretary j. r. Solely will prob