New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-12-10
AFFAIRS AT THE NAVY YARD
ORDERS RECEIVED FOR THE NETWORKS
FINAL TEST
ING DOWN THE OLD SHIPHOUSE-THE
NEW EIECTIIC LArNCM-XAcAN-

ING DOWN THE OLD sHPnorsE-TnE
NEW ELECTRIC LArNcH-vAcAX
CIEs IN THE MEDICAL CORPS.
There has been a good deal OF backing and I'LL
ing" in the matter Of the final acceptance trial
Of the cruiser New-York. which. under the terms
OF the contract must take place within six months
after the 'preliminary' or condition trial. the
fixing and changing OF dates for this trial cannot be
attributed to the INSTABILITY" OF the Navy Depart
ment nor can Il be attributed to apprehensions on
account Of the recently published reports OF the
''nstaly' of the vessel on the contrary the
changes of dates have been advisable because OF
certain changes that were found to be necessary
in the fittings of the ship. as, for instance In the
ammunition holsts and other things CONNECTED
with the armament The ordnance work on the
ship was completed when she came to the fari'
and this accounts in part for the large amount
Of that work which IT has been necessary 10 90
The alterations have been going on. and the vessel
was not before ready TO go to sea even Tor the
trial: therefore this final or acceptance. trial has
been postponed until the vessel should be In her best
trim This was especially necessary. because the
contract requires that this trial the vessel must
fulfil every condition that she would H. expected
to meet In actual naval service
The time for the final trial expires next SUNDAY
but until the trial has been made. and the vesSei
has been proved In all respects satisfactory she
cannot be legally accepted by the Government
and not until she has been legally accepted by the
Government can the contractors receive the $o""
reserved from the previous payments for bnlldlhs
her The writer who said that the vessel had
received sailing orders TO go 10 Rio Janeiro al
once either did not know did not recall the clause
in the contract which provides that final tral
has to he made before the vessel can really De
come Government property. But at last the order
has come. and the New-York IL now to go TO sea
for a forty-clght hours run. on the showing OF
v.aI fulte
on official report thereon will determine whether
her ea-going qualities and her structural strength
conform In all respects to the contract require
ments Hardly n better month than this coud
be selected for testing vessels structural quail
ties on the ocean for In December the seas may
be expected 10 be Of that kind which MAKES tiinr
stomach feel uneasy and turn topsy -turvy IL
might be considered. since the orders have been
issued for the trial. that the officers OF the shp
were q lltte reckless In accepting the nu'y WIFI
out murmur for. assuming the recent reports
concerning her topheaviness 10 be c0rrest' GONG
to sea is challenge Of fate, since me snip
must 20 prove the prophets correct turn turtle
and no,t with her masts where ner keel should
be- But mariners not cOwaris Neither are
they ovcrcreduous OF reports that nav" 20 niue
basis Of fact They Will however. be likely 10 meet
weather which VIII settle this question OF the
vessels s;abi ty-whether her centre Of gravity Is
too near the water-ne for safety. The battery OF
~. fired with a full charge. To test her qualities
az a floating gun platform. and TO determine whether
she is sufficiently strong ana steady '"r an re-
ouIrements The turrets are to be turheJ ana
worked also. The propelers are to b. ran III
various ways Horsepower Is TO be developed.
The small boats are to be taken out ana trl'd
In every way. In fact. the vessel H. to receive IA
fair test After the ships return-assuming o.
course that she will return-another OF the SEN
sational stories put nfoat few weeks ago IL 10 DE-
confirmed or proved false; this Is the Story tHal
there is not "A drydock In this country capable ot
taking In the New York She is to be put INTO
the timber drydock In the Navy Yard and there
have the submerged portion Of her hui scrdped
and given n thorough coat Of anii-foulng and anti
corrosive paint The officers OF the snip as wei
as the naval constructors IN the yard. feel conf
dent that the vessel be locked. provided that
II "a high tide and that she Is not SUNK IN the
water by being full OF coal There VIII also be- II
is said some work to be done on her which VIII
consuue two or three weeks. and then she VIII
be ready for duty wherever she IL needed II S"'
be ordered 10 Brazil. she Will 80; but Il mas D'eh
suggested that the san Francisco could easily D.
sent there as she IS now In The West Indies anu
that the New-York should then be made idSs'"p VI
the North Atlantic Squadron.
Two letters have been received by The Tribune
from zone Who Appreciates Your Navy column
and "A Devoted Reader OF The Tribune one ask
Ing several questions and the other asking to be III
formed upon three points All Of these can he an
severed sufficiently In brief. An act Of Congress OF
March g. 1885, provides that in time Of peace the
President may in his discretion. ana under such
rules he may prescribe permit any enlisted man
TO purchase his discharge from the Navy OF Marine
Corps" The conditions recently promuigateun
by he Secretary Of the Nay are that no e man he
Government. until he has served NJ east mr.
months Of his by br rS" re GIVEN
length but they apply to form they 90 nov hes S
I 10 be quoted. The price OF discharge during ule
fourth month of enlistment for petty officers, sea
men fremen or landsmen. will be- p per cent OF ,e
yearly pay Of the applicant during the iiIth month
per cent a month until the fourteenth month wn. |,
month the pric, viii be Is per cent OF the maximum
price in the sixteenth month ~ per cent ana 40 40
down scale. decreasing per cent month UNIV
the thirty fourth month, when he may Apply Ior
discharge without pSymen The price ., msDth S
first enlistment, and thereafter until me expifa'on
OF TWO years from date OF enlistment per cent Il
month OF the total yearly pay oi me applcan' III
addition 70 the $50 mentioned beginning with the
hr year Of s Se p@ can
the total yearly pay unt four years OF the enlist,
rcmain the same until the expiration OF the enlist
mcnt The price of discharge In the hrst re-enilst-
Ir,nen, The rules for discharge OF apprentice
boys the same as for enlisted e' ,b Du. whole
amount OF pay from date OF enlistment during tne
fourth month 25 per cent OF one year pay , Gnu zach IN
/ month until the eighteenth month, wheh the price
WIZ rhe % pay Of third class apprentices is 50 month
nj second class S5 IL month. OF first class vi u
| month The instruction training SHIPS embraces
! snottinr and splicing hemp and wire. snilmhklhg;
heaVing lead and log. exercising with machlre anu
hroadsid. guns small arms and broadsword', SIG
Ealing with flags and lights stetr ring and using the
cor,,,nss boxing swimming and sewing. The pay
~ ipahirIstg is so a month OF boilermaters $50 of
| copp@rsrniths and blacksmiths $50 OF plumbers ana
S,,Irs az az seamen S24 of ordinary seamen $l9 or
nsr,ep SIs OF bremen S35 and $50 OF coal passers
co. and OF petty officers. other than those mem
IT,, iii landmark OF the Navy Yard the big
ebiuhouse IS now being torn down: This immense
| III 81 a house or she'd II might appropriately
~ rroIie,l was erected In the days when wooden
| sh,ps we're stu built in the Navy Yard; II IS bui nt
have often been confronted by this ungainly bulk
MI Doubtless feel great pleasure and RELIEF al
WI, r. 90 Within the last few years II has
ivnn Its last important service. for II was under
| r. a,tio,,c and weather-sained timbers or THIS
',r that the cruiser Maine constructed
ANY one who has been familiar with the ,,o Nay, y,
,his sbinhouse which stood near the commandant :