New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-10-29
AFFAIRS AT THE NAVY YARD.
TIE RlISER NETWORK ORDERED TO BE
MADE READY FOR SERVICE
DEFECTS IN TIE GUNBOAT MACHIAS-AN ODD
CONTR, ELECTROMAGNETIC


-
There was an air Of suppressed knowledge notice
able in parts Of the Navy Yard yesterday
morning which gave the impression that something
important was in the wind This was first noticed
/ on the New-York No information could be OBJ
| tanned the vessel. but the officers seehed 10
smile knowingly and gave dark hints that some
thing might be learned from the proper aithori-
ties" OF course suspicious would Immediately rest
| on the cruiser herself. Indeed, in one place the
I story was heard that the New-Nork mad received
orders to sail in twenty-four hours ana WIS 10 80
to Brazil.
1t was found however. investigation that THIS
rumor was false. The vessel mas no SAILING oi"erS
at ALL but have been received that $40 shaii
be ready for service at any time. This naturally
gives rise to the idea that there Is at least
a possibility of her being sent to BraAil ana that
was evidently what the officers in the Yard thought
Whether she really will be or not Is question
! the answer to which will be awaited with great
deal of interest. Captain Philip, who commands the
vessel. away yesterday. having gone ~ ""H"
ngton and his return may bring some i"rlne'
light on the question The ordnance Work on inc
vessel is well advanced but it is not finished and
will not be until fiteen days after the receipt OF
the rest of the material according TO the estimate
in the report this work. But the Vessei hee'i ho'
wait for the completion of the work. care VIII oc
taken that her hull shall not be left OPEN ana She
could sail on short notice. should il be necessary
IN Long Island Sound the new eunboat Machias
went TO the Navy Yard. where she may now be
seen In regard To the report that the N'sSe l. Top
heavy an officer on her said yesterday that he
would not have the least fear in sonS 10 sea III
her and that she could make voyage around the
world lust as well not He said however 'h'tt
the vessel is somewhat top-heayy. that her meta
centric height is not what 1t should be- lhlS
fault he attributed to the weight Of her tophamper
rs a whole In the frst place. her nasts ana SiarS
are long and heavy: again, she carries Il hei'y
steam launch in the boat cradles ana IN the thru
place she has heavy battery. This makes the
vessel somewhat unsteady. but the officers trust
her perfcctly: they are not afraid to sail In her
hut Of course IL is better that vessel should be "a
nearly perfect possible. ana that thcie s"ou'n
he. no chance Of an NJ II Is thouSh' 'h't tn'
stability Of the vessel can be much helped by
tightening the spars. by removing the steam l"''c'
and putting in its place steam whaleboat "a boat
much better suited to vessel OF the s'zc OF the
Machias and by making a slight change in the
battery At present a finch gun. protected by
heavy shield is mounted on the poop, ana Flinllar
one on the forecastlc II these were to be- changed
for lighter guns the battery probably would rot be
much weakened and the weights on :he snip would
~. much urbtenod Ii Is estimated that the work
would not keep the vessel AZ the navy ward more
than three or four weeks. The defects oi the
Nachias are the fault Of the original plans ana AZ
these plans were approved by the Navy Depart
ment there Is no doubt that The vessel VIII 'e
formally accepted by the Department ana taken
from the contractors She has now been IN com
mission about three months. and he trial which
was held last week was the nnal trial required by
the contract.
An odd contrast can now be seen at the Yard
At one bulkhcad lies the large. graceful steel
cruiser Ncw-York tapcring at both ends and at
another lies he old wooden sailing ship Ports
mouth. with her broad. square stern and her
blunt bow But the Portsmouth has done. and
st is DOING good service. even II she II not the /
most modern vessel in the Navy. She X one oi the
training ships on which boys are taught To- be gooh
sailors and. having finished her summer cruising .
She has come to the Navy Yard to receive some .
repairs to fit her for her winter work The vessel ,
is under orders to be ready for sea ny November /
1 but she probably will not be ready In time as /
the work on her has not been begun as yet \ /
board Of officers surveyed her on Friday TO ma /
The Miantonomoh is sim in the drydock. but |
probably Will come out in few days ana m1Ee /
room for the Machias. The dispatch boat Dolphin /
left the Navy Nard YESTERDAY morning 10 ~" 10 r
Boston to assist at u. t,iaI "i c W. ,rn we
ington that the Columhia's trial had been post .
which had been ordered 10 Boston Tor inc ina.
Rear Admiral Bancroft th'rarN mas ir'h away .
from the Navy Yard during tho we'k taking th" .
remainder of bis vacation. Of which he took only
part IN the summer.
rii,Gelnhia Gnrtain 4 : Harl,or. win try 10 pre-
vent the marine growth on ~" bottom ~ his snip
"l,o, r" - his h. vii employ the hips divers
more than heretofore. and it Is thought that they
VIII be able - keep the ship comparatively clean.
and enable her to retain her efficiency Tor long
time
In his annual report. surrcon-Gcneral Tryon
makes a number Of important recommendations.
nurcs for ' the Navy III. plan is 10 cnly, t%cyc
Dung men. rating baynsn apprentices. who
when hCy ar. amiiaT with thcir d2cs ric, arr
10 be sent To duty on board ship or at hospital He
also recommends tho assignment Of medical officers
as attaches to the American locations in Europ"
ana the placing of naval medical officers on IN"
same basis with regard 10 RANK ana position as
has been given To the army medical officers. he
suggests. as changes In the title ~ the officers
that IA" surg,on-sen raj De called The medical
director general (Which shall be- permanent grade
.ureau of M"i,cin" ana surgery; NAT the medical
inspector b." called fleet surgeon; that the surgeon
reon be surgeon. and that the assistant-sur-
seon be surgeon Of the junior grad" In order
proved. he proposes that medical officer hc de-
tailed under the cogniz,ncc Of both tho Bureau
truction and REPAIRS who shall inspect all vessels
now in consiruo ton and ~ modern vessels in
# Hygiene be moved 10 the old observatory build
There has been more or less talk in the last
few years about the enlisted men 81 the Navy
privileges which they do not have. and various
hings have been done for their comfort and t.
paper has even been started which discusses
questions relating to the enlisted men. and tries
lew movement has been begun. which will
csult in the organization OF the scarncn into "a
body which may hc effective for their good. This
movement is the formation Of club. under the ,
cadcr ship Of iod witch IIoornbrck. Tn" organlz1-
ion has clubhouse at Charles and West Fourth
IT,, New ork. III" officers OF the Navy club
ire expecting large membership ana wish Ia ,
lavc power In Congress. The J. 'slcnt Of the club
9 Charles Brazloton Graves. OF The san Francisco
md the members Of the board are from ships scat
cred All the world. The organization Is ,
,niciallv called the "l'nitod States Navy club
md its objects are the furthcrancc Of the interests
= the enlisted men in the United States Navy: q
he conservation Of the high standard Of patriotism
md devotion 10 duty which has characterized them
n the past: the establishment and maintenance g,
# a clubhouse in the city of New-York which shall
~ a legal residence and home for enlisted men Il
CRYING on board ships Of the United States Navy.
he encouragcm mt Of social intercourse. and the .
roVillng Of for the united action of ne I
ncn OF the Navy In all matters concerning them I
r. their interests: the securing - n reasonable
ctircmcnt law for the men who have grown old
n the service. and the announcement OF Efforts
ending toward The Amrri 'anizatOn Of the United
atcs Navy" The membership ~ IN. club "a
limited to citizens Of the United States. !