New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-04-16
WORK AT THE NAVY YARD.
WAITING FOR THE CRUISERS TO RETURN.
ORDNANCE REQUIREMENTs-HoTEs AND CON
MENTS.


is not conducive 10 the production Of much news
at the Navy Yard. In branches Of the naval
service, indeed. bad weather make, more news than
good weather. as for instance, IN the case OF Vc'NN
at sea during bad weather. when serious result
may follow. But in Navy Yard bad weather re-
suits rather In quoting things than In exciting ''"
The reason for this is that In "A Navy Yard II l.
largely the work OF construction and repair that i
of Importance and interest. and on stormy day II
Is often necessary 20 discontinue much OF this work.
Tl, fact is that IN the Brooklyn Navy Yard. since
Uss departure OF the ships that were congrcga''n
there not long ago. there Is not much OF sp'c'"
interest going or course the regular rou'i"'
work continues on the vessels which are being built,
and there Is much other routine work done In the
yard I'm the administration OF lis affairs. but there Is
nothing startling. The monitor Mantonomoh l. the
only actively commissioned war vessel remain
ing I'm the ward. and II is uncertain how long she
will be there she has been in the drydock for IN"
last few days, having her bottom ce'heu anu
painted her steering Is not yet rcady Tor use
but II probably will be soon, for II VIII take only
three or four days work to complete 1t when the
last part OF II has arrived I'm the yard 1t seems 10
be vet uncertain whether the Mianonomoh VIII 60
to fire a salute AT the raising OF the original John
Paul Jonc,'S flag AT Navesnk. Sls' Will, however
certainly go down the bay to meet u" othcT war
ships when they come up from Hampton hoaoH' anu
80 the Navy Yard will be left without single war
shin I'm commission. But she will not be lett :" IohS
for the rumor is already around that some VeSS'iN
are going there after The review TO be repaired ana
the inference is that they To be repaired 10 80
on foreign cruises: the vessels which, according l"
thc rumor will be so repaired are the san Francisco
The Yorktown and the Bennington: the Baltimore
may also return there to receive something l"r"'r
While the Navy Yard is destitute Of commissioned
vessels which need repairs. the work on the ne"
bns in course of construction is being carried on as
IL
familiar with the work can understand the amount
of troullc and delay caused by the nonarrival OF the
arnor plates any person who IS disposed 10 blame
the Navy Yard for being slow In the construction "i
the vessels there would do well - take THIS mct
;r,o consideration For months the work the
vessels has been delayed by this one thIng. IaA''
for instance the cruiser Cincinnati, vessel when
/, to have only a small amount OF arinor. lie non
arrival e the plating when the vessel Is far enough
advanced TO need it keeps large part Of the npP'I
deck open: this delays work In tha, part OF the
ship and in addition delays work on the deck below
for tho reason that some Of the workmen there BEN
unprotected. cannot work in stormy weather mu'"
of the work that could and should he 'lir'u OH '
connection with other work the ship is kept bach
All this dcfcIs the completion OF the ship. ana 10
Increases the cost and 1t has another effect hu'
further removed according to the rule, each OF tA'
four ships being built in the yard pays certain
percentage Of the clerical work done IN inc 'on
strlction Department there. because large part 81
the clerical work has connection with the sMpN /" p
DELAY in completing them Of course lengthcns the I'm
that they have TO pay LOT cieii'u "'ii~ anu ~
again increases their cost.
The reason why the Navy Yard has I" wait so
long for its arnlor plates j, that. according - ih
contract. ship.buildng firms receive preference III
receiving armor II is turned oat. The arn'"r I'I
the Cincinnati is nOw promised for May bu' even
II it should not IL, received until the hr't "l '"''
the vessel could be made ready TO - I'M" ''-l'h
i, is said by fall and probably in the early part OF IT,
The Ordnance Bureau OF the Navy has c"hlp'''"
the requirements for the Information n inventor
designers and builders who may wish To submit plans
! for the new submarine torpedo boat authorized b.
the last Congress. The general plan j. Tor D'''
OF about l25 tons displacement the motive power
to be either steam or electricity rs The designer NAV
.cIcct The appropriation made for the boat l.
500 900 but Of this 10000 must he reserved Tor
cxnorimontin. with the ban, after she i, completed
| There will be- no stipulation, as TO IN" sp'N ''''
fine vessel must maintain. either al u" surface ~
submerged. The principal feature of Ia" arn"h'''I'
will bc two torpedo tubes in the bow, ana II l. DE-
licvcd that these will supply all Ia" offensive pl'
tic, necessary for successful operations. TIL" drcnl'i
of requirements insists that tn" boat shall Il" capdD'
Of entire submcrsion and Instant disappearance WIZ"
required.
| The approachnc rctircm"n, Of surgeon Genera
I6bn MIN, Erown" on May TO- /, recalled 10y N''
contest Of the available, for tn" Office. There are
nearly a score Of canldatcS or rather aspr"h'' ana
each believe, be- has excellent chance OF 4"''h-
there 4 well founded report comes from Washing
ION that Secretary Herbert la, decided TO recommend
thai the office shall go TO the next officer In rank
Medical rirccto Albert l.. Glhon and That u" ITO
dont /, agreeable TO tn" -uGSr ION surg 'h-'"H'i'
rrov.uo l. now The senior officer IN his corps. Med
| oal Director Hand retired on March - ana pr'
,jbon who /, now on special duty IN Ncwlork l.
IN Than lr1stt lf
retiring age on september -. l-3J h" would u"
ONLY receive th. honprs which his rank l. supposed
10 cntitl, him. but would retire with the rank OF
commodore. and give the President an opportunity
Of promoting another to the position during his term
Medical Director Richard G. Dean /, another Of the
corps prominently mcntion";, and Is n"Nt IN RANK
below Dr. Gihon. lie i, exceedingly popular III the
Navy and will he retired four months b"ior" Dr.
| Gihon Medical Director Dcavan EloOdgOOl. ~ tn
head Of the Naval Laboratory. has been prominently
| mentioned but ~ he will reach the rtilrlng age on
august 30 he lays aside all claims for Preference.
Medical Inspector J. Rufus Tryon. now on the
Chicago and perhaps one Of III" most popular olhccf
in the Navy. Is also We'll In front with the Su1rs
/ Of candidates; aud II h" should be- promoted 10 NE
leading Office there would be- an administration sucli
as would make the influence Of III, department. 1'ros
In medical science and medical work. M'hl'II
/ director A. e. Gorca, IS another Of the leader III
/ the Office Of his corps Medical Inspector j. X.
Van Reypcn. who WI, for many y"hr1 On dnly -,
supporters who are doing what they can 10 secure
bis promotion to the head Of The liur"an.
Tie report comes from Washington that tue
valuable annual Publication Of the Iurcdu OF Naval
Intelligence may he POSTPONED this year. TIA" delay
| Of such "A valuable work would lie looked upon ~
| unfortunate to the Navy. but II T. probable that Il
! smaller report than usual will j." issued The reason
given for this change Is that many 81 "a" officers
! on duty al the bureau Will have 10 give month
or two at the Chicago Exposition, ana wh Therefore
/ NOT have time give 10 the necessary work IN
| getting a book This year.
/ several Of the medals resented 10y the King o
sweden 10 the officers and crew 81 ia" Ialtimor" as
n compliment 10 the United States In return Tor TIE
| trausp1 ration Of the body Of the late Captain
Ericsson his native cOrrN are yet undclNcr"d ana
/ tIcy have been returned To the Navy Department
I The medals will Ice retained m,ti applications have
been made TO the secretary Of the Navy hy th'
men who are entitled 10 them.
Lieutenant John F. Parker, relative Of the late
Mrs Harrison and naval aid 10 President Ilarri -or
from January 1881 until the close Of lis AdminStr;,
lion Is temporarily duty nj the Bur"an OF NaNi
cation at Washington. hut VIII soon he ordered Il
duty on the armored cruiser New York.
! Commodore r. ID. Wilson. Chief OF III" Bureau %
Construction, at Washington. Is back at his desk, en-
] U..i,