The morning call., 1893-07-10
AT MARE ISLAND.
A Wedding on the Deck
of the Hartford.
WORK ON THE MONADNOCK
The Entire Water Front to Be
Dredged = Utilizing Old War
VesseIs-PersOnal Notes.
Correspondence of THE MORNING CALL.

VALLEJO, July 9.-Asother of the old
hulks. the Omaha. was towed away from
the yard last week. She is to do duty for
the rest of ner days as a quarantine ship,
lying off Angel Island. This now leaves
of the old timers the Hartford, Pensacola
and Swatara. 1t appears to be the plan of
the department to get rid of the old
wooden ships as fast as possible. The
using them for quarantine vessels is a
much better idea than selling them for
few thousand dollars each.
If the Pensacola should, as is expected,
be hauled in alongside the dock for fit ing
out for training purposes, a summers and
winters work for the shiDwrights yard
would be in store for them. She is Il fine
ship, and II OF too large, is we'll adapted
for the purpose.
The old flagship, Hartford. was made to
perform duty few days ago. A romantic
ally inclined young couple were married on
board. standing In the aame spot where
the great American admiral. Farragut,
was won't to stand, and while the ships
bell pealed out the ceremony was per-
formed.
The tug Lively is still lying up by the
steam engineering shops, undergoing re-
pairs to her machinery.
But little work is being done in the
boiler shop, outside of a launch engine
boiler of the Towne pattern.
Although there are few over six num-
dred men in the yard, there may be said to
be but little new work going on, outside
that of the M0nadnock. on which at the
present time 260 of the force are en-
ploved.
no III for ho ic
being put on as fast as is consistent with
frst-class work. A force is employed in
laying the superstructure deck. and as
soon as this is completed they will COM
mence on the berth deck. Joiners are at
work on tie berth-deck fittings and furni-
ture to be allotted to her. Constructor
Taylor has his force so employed that a
good showing is being made at all times,
whether in shop or on board of ship.
4 couple of tiatcars for use in c0nnec-
ton with the Mare Island Railroad have
just been com pleted in the cons ructi0n-
shops.
The old machine-shop belonging to this
department has been rearraDged into
Offices, and in time tie draughtsman and
others directly interested in the cOnstruc-
ton Of ships will have their offices located
therein.
A large lot of building and fire brick
were received at the yard during the
week for use in building the furnaces soon
to be erected.
Tue old turrets formerly in use in the
original monitor Monadnock. and which
still bear the dents of the caunon-balls
hit during the Civil War, are TO be taken
apart and the plates used to make oiltanks
for storing oil in the new OilhOuse. A
force of men are already engaged in dis
mantling and taxing them apart.
In a short time the old buildings and
sheds located between the drydock and
sectiopal-dock basin will be torn down,
cleared away, and the place graded and
macadamiZed. This will be the means of
making the water front have a much more
presentable appearance. as well as give
much more room TO work about the dock.
Every indication points to the pros pect
of there being considerable work during
the next year. The Congressional delega-
ton from California have made several
visits to the yard recently, with the view
of ascertainng exactly what is required
and to fully understand the requirements,
so that when they go to Washington they
will be In a position to explain what is
needed. The various officers in charge of
Departments have accorded the delegation
a.! the in formation possible.
Past Assistant Engineer Ira y, Hollis,
I. S. n. who was stationed here for some
time, has asked that his resignation from
the inavy be accepted within three months
time for the purpose of accepting charge of
the steam engineering department at the
Lawrence Scientific School at Harvard
University. This is the first time a naval
officer has been asked to accept position
in the university, and it may consider it.
self fortunate in securing the services of
such an able gentleman as Engineer Hollis.
Lieutenant a. b. Wyckotf, L. S. n. here
not long ago and stationed at the Puget
Sound Naval Station as its first COM
mandauf, will soon be ordered before a
retiring board on account of physical dis
ability.
1t is expected that general court-mar
tial will be held during the coming week,
the detail of the court being already on the
way from Washington.
The equipment force is busy at work on
the canvas fittings for the battle-ship
Olympia. 1t will require two months
time TO get everything ready for her in the
shape OF awnings, hammocks, etc.
acquisitions are out to be opened the
coal and other fuel, for use during the
coming year.
The entire water front will be dredged
with the next few months. Twenty
thousand dollars will be expended for this
purpose. A mud-dTedger Is badly needed
al the island and in the course of a very
few years would be made to pay for itself
besides being available at all times.
Since the removal of the sectional docks
it is noticeable that there is not nearly so
much shoaling as heretofore. 1t seems
hardly plausible. but there is prospects of
a bulkhead being extended as far down as
the Independence, and back of it filled
in with earth. Good coaling-sheds could
be built along the water front and the
space used lii more valuable ways than
one.
Universal satisfaction is expressed at the
station over the probable retention of Cap
tain HowisOn as commandant Of the yard.
Monday noon the yard employees will re-
ceive their pay for the last half Of June.