The morning call., 1893-04-20
Some BetterArrangements
Required.
A BOARD OF INVESTIGATION.
The Monterey Will Probably Be Given
Final Trial Before the
Members Leave.

the navy-yardS, the works of Government
contractors and vessels in the course of
construction thoroughly inspected and re-
ported upon by board OF competent naval
and engineering authorities
Captain Williams, U. S. N, Naval Con-
structor Taylor and Chief Engineer Palmer
have been buSly peering into the con diiion
of affairs at Mare Island during the past
week. and some uncertainty prevails as TO
what they will report.
The prevalent opinion is that they are to
examine into the possibilities of the yard
as regards the construction of ships of war,
and the oft-mooted question of the Monte
rey's boilers is said to be occupying a con-
siderable share of their attention. This, at
most, will only be a matter of form. as it
has been a>certaIned long since that the
boilers OF the new eoast-defense vessel are
beyond suspicion.
The rejection of large quantities of stores
during late years will. undoubtedly, be
closely looked into, and such an investiga-
ton will meet with the unqualified ap-
prevail of the regular inspection officers, as
owing TO the conscientious manner in which
they have discharged their duties, it has
been made ali but impossible for dishonest
contractors to defraud the Government by
palming off stores which do not come up to
the specifications.
Rumors have gained circulation that some
of the persons interested in bringing about
the downfall and removal of the present in
spection officers. have written damaging
statements concerning them and their
methods, and that these charges will be in
vestigated
10 the eyes of competent men, such as the
board Of investigation consists of, the I'M
suitability and bad arrangements of the
yard cannot fail to be apparent 1t would
almost seem that the buildings had been
arranged by a naval constructor, who
wished 10 put every possible obstacle in the
path of the engineers force, as all the con-
struction buildings are arrayed near the
drydock, while the steam engineering
shops are at the north end of the island,
nearly mile from the.drvdnck.
A great deal of the repairs are done upon
vessels while they are in the drydock. and
the loss of time in traversing the long dis
lance between the ship and the workshop
where the machinery has TO be repaired
means a large and unnecessary outlay to
the Government. This will probably be
looked into by the board. The erection of
new shops nearer the dock would. OF course.
entail some considerable expense, but If
much work is to be performed there the
outlay would be more than rec0mDensed in
very short time. Some OF the present
construction buildings could be utilized for
the purpose and new ones on approved
modern plans erected to make up the COM
excellent location but faulty III many par
ticulars, notably in the facilities for hand
Ing heavy work, there not being single
hydraulic hoist of any kind about the place.
This is also true Of the steam-engineeri0g
shops, and cannot be but regarded as a
great imperfection in equipment. Then,
again, the necessity for tracks with turn
tables atcOnYenient points is very apparent.
the construction, iran-plating and smithy
shops are situated far above the grade of
4 1T.
penSe are necessary TO overcome this,
although with the new locomotive much of
this labor will be saved. The construction.
shop is supplied with a Corliss engine of
about 800 horsepower, enough to run all the
shops now in the yard. or that are ever
likely to be there 1t is compound con-
densing engine, and is at present running
all the machinery of the IRON pating and
smithy shops, with the II. Z. cylinder only.
and that working at about one-tenth of its
full capacity. This indicates one of the
most glaring imperfeciIons in the arrange
ments of the yard, looked at IN an economi-
cal standpoint.
On account of the want of foreth0ught
displayed IN the location of the shops, a
number of them all doing the same class oil
work, and requiring similar machinery,
have each an independent organization and
motive power.
In the opinion of an expert 1t would be
much better to have the shops so grouped
and organized as to be run from one engine,
and each calling having foreman. aud the
entire group a superintendent who would
be directly responsible 10 the Government
officials. Each shop could have small in-
dependent engine to be used only when
working overtime.
In this way, the now curious and wasteful
condition of two patterns shops, two foun-
dries, two Observation-Disclosures, three ma
chlne-ShopS, ETC., would be done away with
The necessity for civilian superinten-
dent, or rather two of them one to have
supervision of construction work, the other
of all work connected with the machinery
of the shop. and the IRON working shop will
be understood, when II is known that the
officers in charge of the departments rarely
remain more than three years in one place,
and their assistants are changed even more
frequently.
A civilian superintendent under prevail
ing civil service rules would retain his place
during good behavior and grow more and
more useful as time passed by. tie would
need to have a backbone of steel for while,
and be known as very bad man, but would
consequently be of great service to the Gov
eminent
Many new tools are needed in the various
shops. In the steam-engineering machine
shop there are number of tools that were
secondhand when purchased by the Gov
eminent, and others that ought to be replaced
by more modern ones. There is also an ut
ter absence of modern lifting appliances in
this shop.
In the foundry the immense wood cranes,
that must by this time be afflicted with dry
rot, should be replaced by travelling and
lron-pillar cranes set at convenient points
for smaller work.
The boiler-shop facilities are fairly good,
out the arrangement of tools and facilities
for handling heavy work are very poor in
deed. as the machines used In the various
operations are too far separated. Between
some there is wall and a difference Of as
much as three feet in floor height.
These are very important features in the
shop economy, and, as above stated, these
conditions exist 10 both departments
Thoroughly competent men of practical
turn should be secured 10 draw up plans for
new arrangement of buildings, utilizing
such of those now built as would suit the
purpose. The object should be to ascertain
just what is absolutely necessary for a COM
plete plant OF modern shops, Offices, tools,
transportation facilities and general man
agement, and then gradually to work to the
end OF securing such plant With this
once established 1t will be for all time.
Another drydock and the extension
of the. quay wall along the entire
water front would also add to the
facilities of the yard. No doubt these
many imperfectons have not escaped
the members OF the investigating board, who
have been busy at the nayy-yard for the last
week.
On Monday they made thorough inspec-
ton Of the Union Iron Works and its facill
ties for turning out Government work. The
new war vessels Olympia and Oregon were
critically examined in their unfinished stage.
and 1t Is thought that the board saw nothing
but satisfied them.
me coast-defeDse vessel Monterey has
according to the terms of the contract to
make conclusive trial within four months
OF her being handed over to the Govern
ment, preparatory to her final acceptance
by the Navy Department. The builders be-
lleVe that this trial trip will be IN AIDE before
the investigating board leaves San Fran
ciscn nd III at tho har IL -