The morning call., 1893-03-27
IN TIME OF PEACE.
Fitting War Vessels Ready
for Use.
WORK AT THE MAYNARD.
What VIII Be Done When the New
Appropriation Becomes Avail
able.
AT THE MAYNARD.
Correspondence of THE MORNING CALL

VALLEJO, March 26-The old sectional
drydocks nave been disposed of to an Oak
land firm for little over s5OOO They will
be tnwed over from the navy-yard in a
week or so and hauled up on the beach to
be broken up for frewood and the old
| metal that is in them. The company will
probably net several thousand dollars from
the purchase.
1t is singular coincidence that the old
| receiving ship Independence was the first
ship to be put on them in 1854; then when
the magnificent new stone drydock was
tested for the first time. thrty-odd years
later, the Independence was the first ship
to float through its gates. At pres ent. for
the first time in many weeks, the dock is idle.
On Monday the monitor Monadnock will
be hauled up under the 100-tOn shears,
where she viii, lie for a while for the pur-
pose Of having her boilers put in. The
boilers have been hauled down from the
boller-shop and present fine-looking
appearance. Those who have inspected
them pronounce them to be the finest piece
OF work that has been turned out from the
shops. The military mast is lying on the
forward part OF the deck of the monitor and
VIII also be placed in position.
A portion of the teak wood which has
been so long and anXiously waited for is
now at the yard, ana is being put on the
sides Of the monitor This wood is used as
backing for the heavy aTmor plates which
Will be bolted to 1t. The various apart
ments or staterooms in the superstructure
are nearing completion.
The steam launch and two other boats
nave already been ordered and their lines
laid down. An additional force of five
boat-bullders were set to work on them
during the past week, so that they NAV be
completed without delay.
Inc railroad track is being extended along
the waterfront. Owing to the nOn-appru-
priatlng of funds by Congress the track
VIII not this year be extended TO all of the
shops as was hoped for. During the next
fiscal year several improvements will be
made at the yard for which the following
sums were Appropriated:
For dredging along the water front. $4,000.
For building new Smead dry-air closet for
use of employees, $4,000.
For new, earIlase-house and dirt stalls for
the yard stables, $1,000.
For needed changes in steam engineering de.
partment, S4797.
For building brick eugiue-house over the
Corlls engine that is used In running the ma
chinery In construction, and repair blacksmith,
machine and iron plating shops S347O.
FOR buNding shed OYER The new bending
slabs ana angle and plate furnaces, SG3Sl.
Tie shed will be erected between the two
wings OF lle construction buildings and are
for the purpose of protecting Tie furnace
ana slabs from the weather. The large
hydraulic keel-plate bender now at the
yard Will be here located in connection
with the plate furnace. The bending slabs
and angle and plate furnaces are neces-
sity IN building modern vessels.
The Bew locomotive for use in the yard
was landed on the wharf Thursday after
noon ana attracted much attention. 1t has
been housed for the present.
The yard tug Lively has force OF men
repairing her and before they are through
she will be given q general Oyerhauling.
Inc machinery will also receive its share of
attention in tile way of repair.
Rear Admiral John Irwin, U. S. N, COM
mandant of the yard, who will be detached
on the oh of May, will take the steamer
on the 18th to relieve Rear Admiral Har-
mony, who. at his own request, will he de-
tached on the arrival of his relief Admiral
Irwin will 20 direct to China, taking with
him Lieutenant c. a. Adams, now OF the
United States ship Adams, and Ensign
Parmenter of the Monterey. The Asiatic
squadron at present consists of the Ian
caster (iagship), the Alert, Mouocacy. Ma
rion and Petrol The feet will probably be
augmented by the Machas ana, it is ex-
pected, Others of the new cruisers.
Gunner William Halford, so long a resi-
dent Of our city, has been detached from
lh' San Francisco and ordered TO the
Monterey.
Commander F. A Cook, now on duty at