New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-05-20
AFFAIRS AT THE NAVY YARD
MUCH INTEREST IN THE WORK ON THE
CASTINE AND MACHIAS.
DISCUSSING THE MEYER BILL OK THE PER-
SONNET OF THE NAvY-HOW IT AFFECTS
TIVE SERVICE

SONNET OF THE NAvY-HOw IT AFFECTS
THE SERVICE
The Navy Yard is at present a more interesting
place than usual from the novel piece OF work that
is being done there. Those who visit the place In
the next few weeks will find instruction in visit
ing the timber drydock. and investigating the work
of lengthening two vessels which had been
nearly finished. and OF which one had been in COM
mission.
Both the Machias and the Castne were put into
dock last Tuesday. There is dilly-dalying in
the work at this stage In thirty-nve and one-half
hours work after they had been put into dock.
both vessels were cut in two and were pulled apart.
No of them pulled far enough
apart than the work of building the two parts
together was begun. The frames and plates. ard
other necessary things. had been prepared before
hand and those which not finished Will be,
soon. 1t is thought that in about five or six weeks
the vessels will be built together and in a condition
to be removed from the Dock then there Will still
be some inside work to be done. but by the middle
OF July. it is said. they will be finished
The wisdom OF improving the ships in this par
ticular manner has been questioned by some Off
GERS. and is still questioned. They will still be fitted
TO do river duty, for their draught will he about
the same. and they will not lose this advantage
OF the smaller ships.
Both vessels are in the same dock and the
about them IS of great interest They are not
cut in two straight up and down. as If great
had been used; but the bolts have been pulled
out of the plates. so that the edges where the
separation is made all ragged: big indentaton
is where plate from the other side was
fastened. and just below plate sticks out in the
air, etc. Shores and beams and ropes. lying here
and there make the scene more confused and
picturesque.
The work on the Cincinnati Maine and other yes
se.s in of construction IS far advanced. No
orders have been received within the last week
in regard to putting the Cincinnati into commission
1t is interesting question TO just what Will
be done with these vessels. which now near com
pletion. II the naval appropriation, when finally
pa ssed, is small 1t promises to be- 1t
seems Likely that the work the vessels Will be
permitted 10 so on slowly. and will not be hurried
When there is a good force OF workmen employed
In a yard the officers do not want 10 lose them
The men that discharged in slack time are
Of course. the poorest workmen under the present
rules. and this being the case the men that are
finally left the best of the force, II these men
are discharged 1t will be hard. and perhaps I'M
possible TO get them back when gang or work
is needed for special jon. which might
arise by ships coming IN for repairs by rus'.ihs
through the work on hand, when the appropriation
short t" tme Then they t would have to kay on the
workmen good as well as poor lot the aPPropriia-
keeping a small force OF the best workmen there
Will always be good men on hand for an enersenCy,
the various Jobs VII it Is true be CARED ,55 tho on nG5e
may be hurried 10 completion after her triai Tip
ana be put into commission before ne slmmrT j.
over From the fact that there y apparently
no haste to commission the Cincinnati, however II
does not seem probable hat tnerc WI De any s'aI,
ling hurry in the case Of the Maine un.esS some
new scare should arise
OF the many bills introduced IN Congress supposed
to benefit the Navy. few have been more seneIa.y
talked about than the one INTRODUCE ~ i.' pr
the one who introduced the resolution whi-n re-
suited in the appointment OF the JOINT committee
H feTce and his nc:ades the petty officers and
the warrant officers II mas e'eren s|St1ms' am mn
each is being thoroughly discussed Dy th'se
officers who have been able to get copies Of ne bill
one feature OF the measure Is that u Is made pos
obtain officers commissions. The special recruits
class is new departure in the Navy, ana IS ee-
four years OF who shall be enlisted IN grades
not higher than ha OF n, sea s1. Gs months s ,ne
headquarters Of naval training stations or sch@os
The present apprentice system permits me pro -
motion Of such may prove efficient 70 me gIaleN
Of boatswain and gunner. who are warrant oihce.s
but not 70 any position in the ine OF y e
bll aboshes the grades OF boa,swan. salmaker
the apprentices system. prior to the seventies. the
apprentices were eligible 10 promotion; that is 70
transfer 70 the Naval Academy. ana mere were
many who finally got comms 49, IN Hht W.
Those now on the active list A. officers who en-.
.ars4 me Navy as apprentice boys ar Lieutenant
~ H. H. SOutherlanI. wnD - a hfIlfht oIl.'.
samuel seabury. who has attained promineaSSe As
inventor OF several things "gIcoDe 10 ln
F.chbohm Charles +. Nreeand joan T. ko"'r ana
william =. Day.
section Of the bM provides that any Of the AZ
polniees Of tho elder class Of recruits who may
successfully win their promotion through al ~ me
non-commissionel ranks 20 NE graz or "aIraht
special branch 20 which they may be.onS ana
school Of application IS provided wher1 hey may
m themselves for promotion. Under this system II
Is made possible for apprentice 20 retcn com.
m.ssiOn by the age OF twenty-sN years ana "h' ~
nc oder recruits at the age OF thirty years -
The coast Of The United states Is 10 nG d'viie'
info six divisions 70 each Of wncn shall be -
signed a division of ships whose home ports shall
be within the limits 81 the district. To each nag
warrant of.ccs. Gai two master warrant onlcnrs
viii be assigned 10 each of the six naval battaA'hS
as instructors in their specld!ties