The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1894-09-12
WORK AT MARE ISLAND.
THE REPAIRS ON GOVERSMENT
VESSELS.
The Monadnock Soon to he Finished
The 4. :. :. Adams win he Con
signed to Rotten Row.

VALLEJO, August 20.-Nevcr during
the last twenty years have the prospects
OF the Mare Island Navy Yard been a,
promising as they are to-day, or ha,
there been such an abundance Of worl
as at present. The entire quay wal
from the mouth OF the dry dock to tn,
steam engineering shops is dotted will
ships-of-war either under construction
or undergoing repair, while the cruiser
Philadelphia is in the dry dock and il
the hands OF mechanics.
No longer can the mechanics of the
navy yard town protest at the scarcity
OF work or lack of appropriations
Along the quay wall are the gunboat
Bennington, survey steamer Thetis, ship
Marion and the cruiser Boston, all
undergoing extensive repairs, while just
south OF the navy yard gate is the mon
itor Monadnock, which is nearing COM
plction.
The amount of money TO he ex-
pended for labor alone on these ships of
war during the current fiscal year
amounts to nearly 100000, not to
speak of a similar sum for material.
Then comes the good old Hartford with
an especial appropriation of nearly a
quarter of Il million.
At present the force of mechanics
and others employed at the navy yard
numbers fully 1000. To pay this force
requires monthly outlay of over So
600. The force now employed is divided
principally between the departments of
steam engineering and construction and
repairs, the former under Chief Engi-
neer Kutz and the latter under Naval
Constructors Armistead and Snow.
/ TheBennington, which has been towed
to the steam engineering wharf, viii
have new low pressure cylinder IN
place of the one which was broken on
the trip from Callao to Mare Island last
spring. Besides the new cylinder, her
machinery will be overhauled, boilers
attended to and many repairs made to
| the interior.
The Thetis has about passed from the
hands of the repairers, who have put
nearly ST. 600 in work on her since she
arrived at the navy yard. Her rigging
has been thoroughly overhauled, en-
eines removed, new bearings put in.
boilers attended to, decks repaired and
Z l,,n 4
painted.
On the Marion, which is the third
ship in line, the extensive repairs are
fast nearing completion, and in all
probability she will be ready for COM
missioning by September 18th or Goth.
On the repairs of the Marion fully $780,
600 Will have been expended before her
commission pennant is cast loose at the
masthead. Yet fully $4,000 more
could have been spent in properly
repairing this ship, as it is no hidden
secret that there is much rotten wood
left in her hull, and this fact is matter
of much comment among the work men
The repairs to the Marion have been the
extension of her forcastle deck, new
bridge and pilot house, engines and
boilers overhauled, decks repaired and
patched up, some rotten knees and
timbers removed and several improve
ments in the masts, cabins renovated
and reprinted, exterior hull and decks
recalked and coal carrying capacity in
creased several tons.
A great deal might be said of tn,
Marion ii the words of the mechanic,
are to be believed. The fact that tn,
authorities positively forbid any othei
than navy yard attaches to go on boarc
OF her has its significance, but whethe
or not this secrecy is maintained t,
; shield defective work or "for the goo,
OF the service" is not known. No on
can go on board, however, to verify o
contradict the assertions OF the me
chanics.
The cruiser Boston, which is moore,
directly in front of the construction an,
repair shops, is undergoing most rgi
and thorough overhauling She ha
been stripped of her decks, machiner
, and battery When the Boston is agail
commissioned she will be in better con
dition than when first turned over t
i, the Government. A new electric plan
' is being installed and a new deck !
taking the place of the old. Improve
ments are being made to her magazine
and ammunition hoists. Many defect
which have been discovered since he
< construction are being remedied. He
machinery is being cared for, man
= important alterations and improve
ments made, her berthing facilities in
proved and the cabins and wardroon
renewed.
1 The monitor Monadnock, which he
been the standby of the navy yard i
> dun times, must soon be among the con
missioned vessels of the new navy. n
longer can she serve as reserve, for I'll
Navy department is now urging h,
completion. Already she is in the hant
of the electricians, who are installir
n her electric plant and nearly all of Il
d machinery is in place Her interior dec
is laid, and joiners are now engag,
- doing their work. Her armor is on, IN
is being calked. The smokestack al
!, mast, as well as boat davits and cradl,
are in place, and she is now almc
ready for her dock trial.
Out in the stream, moored to buoy
are the Hartford and Swantara, 10th
which will be shortly towed to berths
the quay wall. The Hartford will
" practically rebuilt, while II Is said tn