New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-11-04
AFFAIRS AT THE NAVY YARD.
p1-syNEss BOOMING IN THE NATIONS BIG
SHIP SHOP

10
po,1T,cs-FITTING VESSELS FOR sEA-To
ASSIST AT THE ERIcssoN's TRIAL
THE NAMES GUNS.
The usual ante-electon rumors in regard to load
-, IN the Rrooklyn Navy Yard with incompetent
md idle workmen for the sake of the votes they
90, cast or control have already been put in crcu-
,,io, II those who start these rumors were ac-
au,,nied with the law under which the departments
q, the Navy Yard re rum they would know that
., nresent const.t uted the force can be neither
=. cod nor decreased within sixty days preceding
a. election. except in case of emergency. A care
-, consideration of this fac. will show that al
..ough the Yard is exceedingly busy at present
.so-e Is no foundation for the rumors of undue
,,crease In the force. or an unwarranted use of
.,.,,g mower by the heads OF the different depart
rents A. matter of fact were 1t not for this
~. the force in the department of mechanical
...,reerng would be increased Immediately and
w. men could be prohtab,y employed by the De-
..,r,ent of Construction and Repairs. At present
49, department of Engineering r. pushing the work
.be new engines for the Chicago with all posi-
81. rapidity. and work in connection with the en-
I,ss of the New-York and Dolphin is also being
e,,sd ahead. Ii asserted at the Yard yester-
~ that the only foundation for the latest rumor
Emo sort alluded TO was the fact that about six
Us ago there was sight lu!l in the work OF
,ha Construction Department, and. with view OF
.,r,mv few men were laid off temporarily with
.ha expectation Of giving them employment again
=. soon as work WEIGH had been outlined could be
-, AZ soon as this action became known to the
stiles a, WASHINGTON attention called to
~, ,,u governing the case. and in compliance with
49,. ,ov the men were provided with work OF an
,,mnortant character sufficient In quantity 10
,n ,hsm employed until there was demand FOR
,henn on other WORK =,
creat deal of interest is manifested 10y an
rho are at all conversant with naval anairs III 'ne
s,,on as 10 who will succeed Admiral Gherarhl'
W. a,iras on the 10th Several prominent OIL
w.. have been mentioned for the place. inciudmg
poor Admiral Walker, Rear-Admiral Meade |om-
odore Montgomery Sicard and captain buhVe'
whether this question has been finally settled %!
~, ou,ars that be is not known; at any rate the
decision has not been made pubic II one mas
hsen arrived at. An opinion was expressed u
che Yard Yesterday, however. that commodore
c,s.r5 uould finally be settled on as the new COM
rn.ndant. with the probability that commodore
phytbian would be placed In charge or the Naval
observatory. However this may De. the suspense
will not last much longer. as Admiral "hera'u'
active career will terminate on the lVth ana nat
ursv his relief will be appointed before that GATE
AZ has been said before. work In the various ue-
rartments in the Yard is rushing. The Construc-
49,, Dsnar,ment after the completion OF few
snor ranairs TO the big steam lighter. to ut her
Gov CARRYING the Names big turret plates, VIII
baen the construction of the one turret lot VIII"
80 arc NOW in the Yard. This will be the after
,urret Of the big battleship, and IL Is eNpec'eu
that about four months will be required 10 COM
pete IT, as it is chllds play to build that enor
mouslv heavy structure. especially when the
mates are not guaranteed to lit. The last TWO OF
the six-inch guns for the battleship arrived TINS
week on the Fern from Washington, anu as the
carriages and circles all ready Tor their recep-
tion the work of putting them in place VIII pegih
as soon as possible. The ten-inch guns are ready
for the tests at Indian Head. on the engines OF
the New-York every one is at work who can he
proftably employed. The engines and boilers, es-
pecially the boilers, of the trim little dlspatch
boat Dolphin are sadly in need OF repairs put
they will only be temporarily hxed in ORDER that
she may go 10 NewLondon on the 9Th ana ini''i
her part at the speed trial OF the torpedo-boat
Ericsson Then she will return to the Yard and
have thorough overhaung. The Castine when
is slated for the South American station. and the
Machias. which is TO go TO China, are both at 'he
Yard, the Castne being in drydock while her ne"
coating of anti-fouling paint is drying. ms WI"
probably be ended by Monday If dry weather con-
tlnues, when the dock will be filled with water.
and the little gunboat ioated and heeled over to
determine her metacentric height. After that Is
settled. changes in the position of her boats sifn-
lar to those recommended by the Inspection Board
for the Machias will be made. and they Will be
moved out of the range of the after gun fire. II
by the latter part of this month. and when the
Castine starts for her trip to the waters where
yellow fever Is king and barnacles and seaweed
flourish the Yard feet will be minus those two
interesting but exceedingly expensive boats.
The San Francisco is being fitted for her trip TO
European waters. to relieve the Chicago and serve
as flagship Of the station. rapidly as possible
The Engineering and Construction departments
will be through with her in about two weeks. and
1t is expected that she will be ready for sea In
three weeks at the furthest. The actual date'
however WILL to a great extent rest in the hands
Of the successor to Admiral GherardL Of the
other boats at the Yard. the Fern. Nina, Fort
une and Iwani will accompany the Dolphin to New
London and serve stakeboats at the Ericsson :
trial. The little tug Narkeesa Will leave the dry
dock the same day, with the Castine, ana re-
pulling and hauling The Montgomery. which left
Monday and will receive draft Of men, Including
some from the now lad aid up in
Then she will start for Mobile where she - 10 De
" on the @ and the
eminent on the vessel at Mobile, on the occasion
Of the presentation to the ship Of silver .ery,ce
the Montgomery will spend a month IN me 1ui \
Of Mexico. testing southern coal and VIII t19c zen
West with Mobile Bay her headquarters J.,
The return Of the cheag9 to this bs sa rss res
port in reference 10 her that only her boilers
needed repairing. but later advices show that she
is in need OF extensive repairs TO her machinery,
and the plans which have been adopted. and on
which the new machinery Is being built are such
that the new engines can be placed In the Vessel
without cutting or removing the protective deck
or any Of the principal framing. As much OF the
present fitting in the way Of pumps. blowers ana
shsftng as can be utilized will be saved. thereby
decreasing the cost OF manufacture and installa.
ton. The new engines are to be OF the horizontal
trple-ex pansion. direct-acng type. and VIII give
obtained from Scotch or cylindrical boilers. made
sngle-ended. that they can be lowered through
the present openings for uptakes. and the other
half from tubular or pipe-boilers. AS the new ma
chinery will occupy considerably less space tnan
spondingly Increased
. The equipment Of the San Francisco VIII PROVIDE
Tor stay Of three years on the station to be va,
Gated by the Chicago 1t is the short-term enlisted
men OF the San Francisco who Will form the draft
20 be placed on board the Montgomery and men
having three years to serve will be ordered to the