New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-04-30
NAVY YARD AFFAIRS.
GOSSIP AND COMMENT ABOUT THE BIG
AND LITTLE SHIPS.
WORK on THE CAsTINE AND MAcHIAs TO
DRYDocK TO MORROW OTHER
MATTERS or INTEREST

DRYDOCK TOMORROW - OTHER
MATTERS or INTEREST
wthn,a few days the work the gunboa's
Machias and Castlne is 10 be begun at the Navy
Yard IL Is said DELAYS have already been expert
enced in the work of lengthenng these two vessels.
Witch only goes show the great difficulty IN do
ing a piece Of work strictly on time The hrst re-
ports these vessels were encouraging; II was NOT
to be- great Job: the material would soon be ready.
and then the actual work would only take short
time. But the contractor could not furnish the
material as soon az was AT first supposed. and So
vessels still of dock Instead OF being now
almost ready for BIT now the material ma.
come. and be prepared for use. So when the
cruiser Cincinnati vacates the timber drydock me
gunboats 10 be put In. and then the work upon
them IL 10 be begun.
A report was In circulation a few days ago that
the Machias and the Castlne to be put INFO
commission and going to Bluetelds. While II
desirable that there should be Hight draught vessel
In those waters II is possible that either the Dolphin
the Vesuvius Will be sent. and the report about
the two gunboats denied This brings up again
the question OF the mode OF improving these vessels
An officer. in commenting the present state IT
affairs In connection with them. says Had the rec
ommendation OF the Board Of Bureau Chiefs been
carried out they would have been finished month
or two ago and be ready for duty As II Is. their
crews have been sent to other ships. and the De-
draugh vessels TO send 70 Behring Sea and 70 Blue
fields The lengthening Of these vessels seems TO be-
solely for the purpose Of enabling them TO carry bat
teries much heavier than anything OF their class In
foreign n3yy-it cannot possibly Improve their
stability You might as well talk OF improving the sta
bility OF log by making IL longer. While this long
walt Is going the country Is losing the service
Of these vessels and when completed they Will not
be bit better OF than II they had been finished
"a recommended by the Board OF Bureau Chiefs.
The expensr will be about ten times as great
The Marb.eheadleft the Navy Yard on SATURDAY
morning and started ont for her experience a.
sea. she down the Bay to swing ship and
test compasses." after which she will 90 TO the
NOrth River The Board Of Inspection, Of when
Commodore T. .. Selfrlge "a president is TO join
her there and to inspect her thoroughly to ascer-
tain her exact condition before she is accepted by
the Government. The board in addition to inspect
Ing her. will take her out for the forty-eisht hours
trial at sea. which Is her final acceptance trial,
| coming within four months II the previous trial
by the changes OF rigging and fittings that have
been made she has been put In good condition
After the trial the vessel Is expected 10 return
to the yard - have her electrical work finished
and TO have some other work done. She VIII prob
ably be attached 10 the North Atlantic squadron
for her first duty; 1t is reported that she Is to at
tend a celebration On the Fourth Of July az Marble
! head Mass AMI mat on that occasion she Is to
receive some c0ors from the citizens Of the place
! II IL likely that the Marbehead will b. the re-
| cpient Of anywhere near many gifts as was the
| New York. but Il will be pleasant 10 have some
! mark ~ affection Of loyal citizens AMI Of their
OF honor - their place that II should give
its name To new vessel OF the United States Navy
! Tho cruiser Cincinnati will be the next large YES
| sci to be- put In the drydock. and she is to be
put I'm this morning The Cincinnati Is to have
! her bottom cleaned and painted and some otner
| work done on her. Probably she Will be able 10
leave the dock I'm the latter part OF the week, and
/ then the Machias and Castne can 20 In.
The modern cruiser IL truly marvellous thing.
In ways too numerous to specify. sh" Is nted with
conyeriencrs which are necessities ana with appii-
anccs for comfort strength speed power anu en-
esncy as a nshier which wGuii surprise ISL, any one
them. As regards her lighting appliances, she -
nOt only fitted with guns OF all sizes ana styles.
/ from small arms to l3-inch rifles but sh" ais mas
| torpedo tubes placed In various positions IN NJ!
stem and stern and on her sides And. not content
some small torpedo boats which may leave the
big ship and go out alone on their errand Of death
cruiser Maine I'm the Navy Yard These boats are
to be q feet long ana VIII be carried on OcTh tnr
gin.s for the boats are nearly finished. Although
! thcy have an imposing name they are quadrupe
! expansion engines for single screws-they are
dainty. delicate little affairs. and look as II they
might be- intended for toys. but they VIII not sem
10 b" toys when they get IN some OF their me
work the tOrpedO-boats.
si,n at cramps shipyarI Last Monday She is to
receive her supplies gnd w1ateyer elsr ~ nrrdgi
dcrs As she went to thai Yard to be finished;
! New Workers did not get IA chance to see her ana
| some New Workers take much pleasure in seeing
! the new VESSELS OF the Navy Probably. however.
sh" viii b. at New York time before the sum
mrr * over. II Is reported That ne cruiser Gan
/ Francisco IS 70 come to the Navy Yard 10 b" re-
paired after her long cruise. but II Is not known
| lust when she Is coming The San Francisco Is one
! Of the finest ships OF the Navy ana she "ouII
make excellent vessel 10 s"ud 10 Europe dS ''
/ Commander Z,rl L. Tanner has been detached
/ 70 The FISH COMMISSION. Commander Tanner has
been In command Of the AlbatrOss for lively" yefS'
! and now he Is detached on his own request lie
had an attack OF the grip last ran, ana ne l''ON
! cred slowly that his physician advised MN 10
give 10 his command AMI take rest, the ConllnS-
siourr of Fisheries wished him not 10 give up ms
| command until e should be- shown by time whether
! or not he would be- abe u do sealing work TINS
season bu, not long Commander Tanner mad,
4 request FOR detachment and leave Of absence. ana
/ / Drake will succeed him in the command OF the
| AibltrOss. H., -
! the Navy Department seems 10 be In state
which some people would characterize as hard
up" In the Navy Yard men have been discharged
bccaus, there was not sufficient money -
to be affected by the want Of money. For
instance 1t Il said that hardly any work IS b'ns
! Mare Island Navy Yarl for repairs. and That shr
VIII not be prepared for sea until the appropriation
for the next fiscal year becomes available. When
! The Marion arrives AT the Mare Island Yard, work
/, il not however thought that IL Will be poss pc
10 repair her In time for her 70 DO any duty In the
! IBehring Sea fleet this season
yOnFy ~ TIE ROLE or NEGRO MINSTRELS.
| The Young Ladies' Charitable Society made rs
! third public appearance Saturday evening before
an audience wifi ked thu Lexington Avenue Opera
House from pit 10 dome. \ minstrel performance.
vaudeville and reception were given to raise funds