The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-04-09
CRUISER BOSTON.
The Work of Repair Is
Being Pushed Ahead.
Notes From the Navy-Yard at Mare
IsIand-The Monterey Is to
Go South.

| VALLEJO April 8.-All the available
| force in the department of steam engIn-
| eeripg have been set to work on the boil
| ers and machinery of the cruiser Boston TO
! push her repairs along. A force OF twelve
| electricians and wire men are at work re-
moving the old electric wires. They hav.
| ing been in the ship since she went In
| commission it was thought best to renew
| hem.
| Agreeable to announcement the United
| States ship Alert was commissioned Mon
day last. The little craft looks well and
| in her fresh coat of white raiDt presents a
fine appearance. Her machinery is pro-
nounced by the officers to be in frst-class
condition. At present tie crew is quar-
| tered on board of the receiving-shlp lnoe-
pendence. The battery is all in place. but
so far the remainder Of her ord ance
stores are still in the buildings. 1t Is ex-
expected that by the latter end OF the
mon h she will be away for the islands.
The Patterson has left the yard and
steamed down to San Francisco, and from
there she will 60 to Port Townsend.
The Monterey went away asst Tuesday
for urlp outside for inspection Of her
machinery and turrets. A board of officers
appointed from the yard. consisting Of
Chief Engineer George KutZ, Naval Con-
structor d. w. Taylor and Paymaster Il.
T. Shielding, were on board. She returned
in couple of days. The crew were exer-
cised at the guns and also put through
| all manner of drills peculiar TO man-of-
war. AS far as learned the board was
entirely satisfied with all her workings,
and will so report TO the Secretary OF the
| Navy.
Secretary Herbert is expected to come
| out to the Mare Island yard about the LIST
of May. 1t is expected that this visit will
rebound to the good of the yard. 1t will
| also give him an opportunity OF seeing
the facilities for shiDbuilding. and may
result IN his ordering The much-talked-of
tug. or even one of the torpedo-boats. to
be built here.
| There is large ship at the yard dis
CHARGING coal at the wharf. Chief En-
| gineer George Burnap, U. S. n. recently
went up to British COlum bia to m Ike
test of the Comox coal to see IL 1t is in all
respects suitable for issue to the Boring
| Sea feet.
The Monadnock has still quite force
of men on her. The ship oiners are now
| at work on her woodwork. The shuttle
plates have not yet arrived. but are ex-
pected along almost any time. As soon as
they reach the yard the monitor will go In
dock and they will be placed in position.
| The Albatross will soon be ready for
sea, as but little is required to be done on
| her.
1t is announced that Commander limo
thy A. Lyons, u. S. n. will be ordered as
| ordnance officer a the yard. The position
has been left vacant ever since the detach-
ment Of Commander Charles L. Clark, U.
,. NJ, now In command OF the Mohican,
and also the commanding officer OF Boring
Sea fleet
Commander Thomas Nelson was at the
yard few days ago, having recently
retC ned from Honolulu and the command
of the United States ship Adams. Com
mander Nelson will go East and remain
there for time.
Assistant Engineer John Arnold, u. S.
N, has been ordered before an examining
board for promotion. He is about to erect
fine residence here.
The friends of ex-Surgeon W. E. Taylor
of San Francisco were surprised to learn
of his recent marriage. he is rendered
hearty congratulations. For number of
years he was at the hospital as its head
and as surgeon of the yard.
A general cOurt-martial has been in ses-
sion the past week for the trial OF a sea-
man who. short time ago, struck Ensgn
Harry George In the face. Without much
doubt the man will be found guilty of the
charge and receive sentence of from
three to i've years in the naval prison at
Mare Island, the offense being one OF the
most serious in all the crimes in the navy.
1t is ndeIstood there is plan on foot
TO try to dispose of the old Vallejo wat-r
works TO the Government; whether this
| will be accomplished or not remains to be
seen. The surgeon, the medical inspector
and the chemist of the yard have been in
structed to make tests of the water from
the lake sought to be sold 10 the Govern
ment-and that of Green Valley wafer
recently introduced In Vallejo, and which
is owned by The town. These tests will be
kept up until along about the end of the
fiscal year, in June, and before another
contract is made. Should the plant be
purchased by the Government it would
possibly be to the benefit of the yard in
this. thatthere would always be sufficient
supply in case of any extensive work be-
ing carried on. a flltering machine could
and would probably be put in. This then
would assure the authorities of clear water
all the year around, even IL it Is not as
good or healthy as is now supplied by the
CITY of Vallejo.
Four pieces of the Monadnock's barbette
steel armor have arrived at the yard. Each
piece weighs almost 41,000 pounds. They
will be put on board at once.
The Monterey leaves for Rocondo, Santa
Barbara or San Diego the first of next
week. She will be locked first and re-
| Quires 1t, not having been ont of the water
for seven months. The Orders over the
| new anHealing furnaces are being set up.
! While at work last week on these a ma
chinist fell and broke his collarbone and
several ribs.
The board of labor employment office is
to be changed to the Navigation building.
A new system of keeping the registration
will be inaugurated the first of May. A
number of discharges will soon be made
| owing TO misinterpretation of one Of the
late orders regarding re-registering.
The YORKTOWN is cruising about Puget
Sound engaged in testing coal.
Passed Assistant Surgeon George P.
Lumsden reported Saturday for duty on
| the Yorktown and had his orders changed
TO meet the vessel at Port Townsend.
There will be no change in the pay OF
/ tile durinu the nrpaanf