New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-04-01
NAVY YARD AFFAIRS.
THE MARBLEHEAD TO GO INTO CON-
MISSION TOMORROW.

OTHER ADDITIONS TO THE NORTH ATLANTIC
sorApRoN-oTHER MATTERS OF INTEREST.
The cruiser Marblehead becomes Of age. as 1t
were tomorrow and enters upon her duties as
:, member of the United States Navy To-mor-
,ov the Marblehead will be commissioned and Will
take her place on the active list of the navy to be
ready for all services and all emergencies and all
occasions when her presence may be required. Built
may be hoped that the new cruiser will never be
ob,,ged 70 Use her powers for the destruction Of
ufe and nroperty It may be hoped that her mere
presence without necessity Of showing her
teeth" will be sufficient to secure the mainte-
nance of right principles
After the years of construction; after the ham,
mering and drilling and screwing; after the
severe trials and tests; after the painting and
fitting and furnishing. the Marblehoad is at last
ready for business. Her officers reported 10 her
for duty on the 14th of last month. Tomorrow
they Will take up their residence on board. and
will thcnceforth adminise: the affairs Of the
shin and viii be held responsible for her. The
shin will be put into commission al about 2:S0
o'clock I'm the afternoon. There is little cere-
rnonv at this occasion. All OF the officers are
present in service dress. and they and the crew
are assembled on deck. The captain OF the
ward. or some one else appointed by the COM
1nandant turns the ship over officially INTO the
hands of the officer who is to command her. ana
the captains pennant is hoistcd to the masthead
The construction Of the cruiser was author
ICED on September T. lSSS, and the contract was
signed on November II. 1882 awarding the job
% the City Point Works. Boston The plans
called for vessel 257 feet long at the load
water line. having an extreme breadth of 81 feet
and mean draught of "A feet inches; she was
"a be Of 1000 tons displacement; her engines. to
ha Of the twln-screw. vertical trple-eNpansion
TYNE were TO develop q maximum Indicated
horsepower of 5.4O0. and to carry the vessel
through the water at speed Of at least seven
teen knots an hour The contract price was
,s74o)O The City Point Works sublct the build
ing Of tie engines to the Quintard Company,
and the Navy Department recognized TINS con-
tract When the hull of the cruiser was parity
con1pleted the City Point Works failed the gum
tards then took the vessel to complete her. ana
Of course the mishap and transference caused
delay in her completion After successful trial
trip in which she made a speed Of 1874 knots an
hour. the last work before turning her over to
the Government was begun. and soon she was
sent to the Navy Yard. About that time great
deal was being said about the STABILITY OF the
now ships. and the Stability Board was nara ~
work and although the Marhehoad was IN much
better condition than some Of the ne" ships II
was found that she could be lnuch IHpIoNru 10y
making certain changes in her Consequently
the time Of commissioning her was stlll furtner
DELAYED and for many weeks the CONSTRUCTION
Ilepartment in the Navy Yard has heen nara NJ
work on her making these desirable chaHsts
The new cruiser Columbia IS also to be put INTO
commission tomorrow at Philadelphia, II was
said at The Navy Yard yesterday. \ drdft or
men for her is TO start from the receiving snip
Vermont tomorrow.
While the commissioning os the Marbehead
and the Columbia viii add two entirely new
vessels to The active lis, Il the Navy. this list
Is TO receive another addition tomorrow from
the re-cOmm!ssionnS of an older vessel Inc
cruiser Atlanta. which has been out OF COM
mission at Norfolk while undergoing extensive
list This vessel, which few years ago was
so familiar a sight IN these waters. has been IN
the South Atlantic: and now il will be like see
ing an old friend If she is attached to the North
Atlantic Squadron and remains in the home
waters.
The Naval War College will hold four
months session this summer, and during thls
time such officers are ordc, ed to attend II are
to receive valuable and practical instruction in
1.-The study Of strategy. the conduct Of war. naval
tactics and coast defence, torpedo warfare inter-
national law maritime interests Of the United
States the ram and It's handling. naval history,
naval tactics. marine corps in coast defence, cleo
trictv as applied 10 war, types OF ships diver
sions in defensive war coal and other supplies
required. ration!ng and hygiene. protection for
war vessels tactical work with launches and war
charts
been made in the matters connected with the
new drvdock which is under construction at the
Navy Yard and IL Is thought that the report VIII
be ready 20 send in on Wednesday. The court
martial of Commander Heyerman was finished
at the yard last week and the trial Of Lieuten-
ant c. II. Lyman was begun. The results Of the
trial of Commander Hcyerman VIII be heard
with great interest when the Secretary or the
Navy decides upon the case.