The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-11-26


mand of the receiving-snip Independence. He
has an excellent war record, having been with
Admiral Farragut on the flagship Hartford
during her many memorable ehgagements. AS
she will require several hundred men, and
they not being on the coast TO spare, some VIII
com from The East.
The Mohican is having new galley placed
on board and a number of small repairs done
to various parts of the ship. The rumor that
was circulated some weeks ago about tie
probability OF her being made The temporary
flagship OF The sqadrOn ana go TO he Hawaiian
Islands Is again IN circulation, Dut not from
authentic sources. She Is still In the stone Dry
dock and as soon as she comes out, whlch VIII
De during the coming week, ither The Ranger
or Alert Will go in for the purpose OF D ing
painted. SO far there has been no talk OF The
destination of the Ranger, or even of that OF the
BenGingj on, which is ready for sea.
The crew of the Bennington have just had
erected III the naval cemetery at the navy-yard
SWANS Mate Alexander VIII. who was
drowned about the 9th of September. ana his
body afterWard recovered in Napa Greek. The
liz ie cemetery is dotted all over with head
stones and monuments, erected by ships COM
panles, III memory OF their deceased ship
mates. This Is one thing that is seldom
omitted, especially if the dead happens 10 be
much thought OF, and The crews happen sill 10
be together. For Instance in the cemetery are
the remains OF those that met their death at
Samoa some years ago. They have no large
monument 10 mark their rest resting place for
the reason the ships companies were dis
persed ana scattered in various parts of the
another case the crew of the Boston erected
handsome monument to the memory of those
on board OF her that were killed by the ex-
poSlon of the magazines IN sight OF The ceme-
terry, and but few hundred yards away
Bids will be received during the coming week
for building number of buildings within The
magazine enclosure. The last session OF Con-
gress appropriated something like $1,000 for
the purpose. The work is all to be let out by
contract, The foundations and floors 10 be OF
concrete. There will be but little woodwork
about either one OF the buildings. Ii is eX-
pected there will be six or eight bids handed
The Monterey, now up at Puget Sound, is
expected to return to the yard within short
time, aud, so far as can be learned. there is no
foundation to the report that she Will be placed
out OF commission for the purpose of securing
her crew for the Olympia.
The Boston will not BE- ready before the lat
Ter part of January or first of February, though
a good force or men are at work on her and
mailing rapid strides with her.
There are at present about 775 men at the
yard. Some OF these Will gradually be let of as
soon as the Work they are on is completed.
AS soon as the men are discharged they go TO
the foot of the list in numbers. and II is not
known when they will be rt-emplOVed. There
is considers Die talk that All endeaYOr will be
made with the present Congress 10 have the
clerical force now al the navy-yard aud all
those that have recently been appointed 10 D0-
sitiOns, no mater now inferior the place may
be, placed upon ciYil-SerVic5 basis IL Is
quietly limited that this is for the purpose OF re-
tanning all those in office that have been ap-
p0lDItu by the present ADMINISTRATION III Is
not likely that this measure would be made to
hold when it is taken into consideration that
with but one or two exceptions every man
known TO be a Republican that it was possible
TO reach has been displaced and his position
filled by one of The opposite party.
Congressman English visited The Davy-yard
last week aud, with the heads of the various
partmenJs, made thorough trip through the
dferenl shops and about the yard TO ascertain
the requirements, so that he might be Die TO
present them TO Congress in an intelligent man
~ He gathered mnch Information n
needs OF the yard, among which are a new
drydock, a number of torpedo boats 10
build. a ferry owned and operated by the
Government, win boat built of live
oak. copper fastened and copDered-length
16l feet; beam, 30 feet; feet depth of hold;
AT feet over guards, fitted with TWO fire pumps
and 1000 feet OF fire hose-tOgetEer with neces-
sary slio on the Vallejo side of the river and
the moving back of the ferry-sip on the Island
side. IL is estimated the cost of building the
ferry-bOats and building the slips will
he Sl54 00O with an average yearly
expenditure of SIT, 900 for maintenance. II
such ferry is built, the amount to raise the
the reduction In the wOrkmrn's wages 10 the
CORE spending amount now paid by them. TO
wit. 80 cents per week. TO the owner of the
present ferry system. 1t has been termed
free ferry, but it will not be in every sense OF
the word; transient passengers would be re-
CURED 10 pay small fee, and the workmen
would go across and return without paying
their fare, but would receive couple OF dollars
per month less for their work.
1lt plans nave Deen received at Inc steam
engineering department for the engines aud
boilers of me new steel tug, which has been
given the official title OF No. 4. The other three
steel tugs being at different naYy-yaTds at the
East considerable additional machinery is
quired up at the steam engineering department
in the way of lathes OF various kinds and sizes,
nut tapping, facing and mlling-machines, buf-
fing plant, plating plant, transverse hydraulic
electric crane, electric motors for use IN ship
work, boring, drilling. etc., and trail tracks in
the shop from end TO end with TWO turntables
and branch tracks for use in handling machiu
cry. and heavy objects are required TO facilitate
WORK.
extend the present end OF the quay wall TO the
coalshedS distance of 474 feet, at esti-
mated cost of S69,0O0, also similar wall
between the ierry-slip and the drydock. a dis
lance Of 800 feet. together with permanent
opening for marine railway and buiding-sliD,
estimated 10 cost $4,000. The yard has
always been short of cOalStOwage facilities and
an attempt Will be made 10 secure an apprO-
priation OF $4,000 10 build a coalshed capable
of holding 5000 tons. II the shed Is erected
subsequent TO the construction OF the proposed
quay wall along this portion OF the water front
the shed would cost many thousand dollars
less. Mr.. English stated while here that he
would. in addition TO the above, use his best
endeavoTs at the next session OF Congress TO
secure an appropriation for and an order to
have a cruiser built at the Mare Island Navy
yard. The people here are OF course anxious
that his efforts may not be in vain.
Ensign q. II. Burrage we'll known here, has
been order 10 The Union Iron Works AT San
Francisco as assistant 10 The inspector OF cleo
trlc lighting.
Rear-Admiral Beardslee, U. S. N, and family
are stopping in San Francisco ar present.
There VIII be no work at the yard Thanks
giving day, though the men will receive their
pay the same as usual.
Commander Dennis Aluin will report as
commanding officer of the United States ship
Mohican the LIST of December.
The estimate of funds SET aside for the re-
pairs OF the Adams has been received at the
yard. and as soon as the ships now here are
away work will be commenced on her.
A re-survey of the timbers of the Hartford
was made last week to ascertain for the infOr-
nation Of the Naval Constructor ana depart
ment the present condition of her hull. Work
has not yet commenced on her, though much of
the material has arrived at the navy-yard.
"MY BABY GIRL"