The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-02-27
FROM MARE ISLAND
What is Going On at the
Navy-Yard.
The Monterey's Powerful Search
Lights-Exilibit for the Worlds
Fair-Notes.
Correspondence of THE MORNING CALL.

VALLEJO, FEB. 26.-The selection by
President-elect Cleveland of III. A. Her
bert as Secretary of the Navy in the
coming administration is considered by the
officers of the navy and the employees of the
Mare Island station pronounced in the
interests of building up new navy, a
wise move. By his long ana ripe experience
as member and chairman of the Home
Naval Committee he has identified himself
with this particular branch of the service.
Those acquainted with Mr.. Herbert give
him the credit of being just anu upright
man, thorough believer in the present
system of employment at navy-yards and
also in favor of having ships. when con-
structed, built. II possible, In Government
establishments. Considering these facts. it
is to be hoped that few. II any, changes will
be made at the Mare Island yard.
The Albatross will come out OF the dry
dock In day or two, The finishing cuts
are being taken from the erank-shaft
brasses. After coming out Of the dock she
will be hauled up alongside the dock and
have the remainder of the repairs done
while there.
The Patterson will probably &C to the
Union Iron Works at San Francisco about
the 1st of March to have one Of her cylin-
ders bored out. Repairs on her launch ma
chinery ale being completed under the i'm
mediate supervision of her very faithful,
competent and courteous chief engineer,
Mr.. Carter
Orders have been received TO raise the
rail that surrounds the upper deck OF the
Corwin. The top of the present rail stands
but little higher than ones knee, and it is
said an officer was recently thrown over 1t
While the ship was In rough sea.
Naval Constructor Taylor is greatly
pleased at the manner In which he finds the
various classes of work performed here at
the navy-yard in contrast to that turned out
by contract. He is doing all he can in tho
way of improvements in his department.
and the employees under him show by their
zeal and attention TO duty that they are in
accord with all his views. His men are
pushing right along with their work on the
various ships under repair. as wei, as the
Monadn0cs. 1t has been decided that the
sectional docks will be disposed OF as a
whole and not, as the advertisement has
stated, in various parts. The highest bid
der by sealed proposals, will take the seven
sections al they are On the 10Th OF the CON-
ing month. Already quite an interest Is
being taken In them by prospective bidders.
They will have TO be removed within twenty
days, then O straight water front will be
had, and something that will be found
great advantage IN the way Of keeping the
mud clear from the front of the eaisson of
the stone dock.
Before the Albatross can be hoated ont Il
will be necessary 10 dredge from In front of
| the dock. The sand aeeuBln,a.ss very fast
| at present, but with the removal OF The old
| docks this trouble and expense will be
saved.
The eommandant's barge has been
| hauled to the machine shop, and during the
coming week the men will commence put
! ting her boiler and engines in place.
| The yard tug Lively is hauled up on tie
ways, with number Of her planks stripped
| off.
1t is reported that the Alliance is In quite
bad condition since her recent encounter
with hurricane at Samoa. AS soon as she
| can be spared TO leave after her arrival at
/ Honolulu she will come directly to the
| hayward and. without doubt, be put out
| Of commission and condemned. 1t VIII be
| impossible 10 repair her within the 10 per
cent limit 1t has been printed that she
may be turned over TO the State of Califor-
MIA, If desired, for a sehoolship She will
answer very we'll for this purpose. A re-
| guest has been made that the rigging belong
| ing TO the Iroquois be given her. as well as
a set Of sails, to enable her to sail up to
| Puget Sound.
| The searchlights on the Monterey we're
| tried the other night for the first time
| They are much more powerful than those
shown from either Of the cruisers heretofore
| at the yard.
| Mr. George p. Montague, the first clerk to
| the commandant, lett for the East Satur-
| day afternoon on months visit. This Is
! q well-merted recreation.
A general court-martial was convened at
| the yard Saturday last for the purpose of
| trying sailor for disobedience of orders.
! Commander Thomas Nelson, IT, s. N. OF
| the Adams Is president Of the board.
Lieutenant W. F. Ray, U. S. n. of the
| coast survey steamer Hassler, now living in
| Oakland Creek, visited the navy-yard
| Saturday for the first time In many weeks.
Sixteen or eighteen boxes containing ord
nance stores were shipped Friday, destined
| to the Words Columbian Exposition. 10 be
| placed among the naval exhibits
Surgeon George 4. Winslow, u. S. N. re-
| ported for duty on board the Monterey the
| latter part of the week. With The exeen-
ton of one watch officer the officers have
all arrived.
The crew belonging to the new monitor
are still living en- board OF the receiving
ship.
The badge of mourning that has been
worn for the past thirty days In memory Of
ex-President Hayes was removed the 9th
inst. from the sword hits and arms of the
officers.
No fresh orders for either OF the ships In
port have arrived during the past week. It
Is becoming monoton0us to some of the
officers.
Blank copies of proposals for the mr..
chase of the sectional drydocks may be had
on application to the paymaster of the Mare
Island Navy-yard. Bids are to be opened
at the yard and not at the navy pay-office