New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-09-01
AFFAIRS AT THE NAVY YARD
LACK OF MEN CAUSING DELAY IN COM
MISSIoNING SHIPS.

N"ASSiO->iA>N Sf1lfS.
MORE TROUBLE WITH THE DRyDoCKs-CoLoNE1.
FoRNEY AGArN-NoTEs ON NAVAL MAT
TERs-CHANGEs OF THE WEEK
There Is lots Of fun ahead for the biswigs OF the
Navy Department. both at the home station OF the
North Atlantic squadron and at Washington The
question o. getting TO man the new ships Ia
looming up with more than usual prominence and
AS the rate OF enlistments has been unusually .ow
the Department has been seriously hampered ever
since the AIrphitrite went into commission early
las, spring On July the enlistment OF the 1000
men provided for by the last Congress began. but
the men have come forward slowly that the
dates OF putting new vessels into commission have
been postponed several times in spite OF every effort
put forth by the Department. 1t was expected that
both the Maine and the Lancaster would be in
commission by the LIST OF August but this scarcity
O. men has prevented the carrying out OF the pro-
sramme. Within the last few weeks however there
has been an improvement. and now It is announced
that the for the Lancaster has been practi-
cal.y completed. and that the ship will be ready for
commission by September s. The crew for the ar
rored cruiser Maine is still short about 100 men,
and In an effort to make up the deficiency the crew
Of the cadet practice ship Monongahela now at
the Annapolis Academy. will come to the Brooklyn
yard in few days. and the Monongahea be put
out OF commission. This practice of putting one
vessel out OF commission In order 10 get men for
another ship cannot be kept up for any length or
time. however. and at It's best is only stopgap,
while at It's worst 1t shows how little attraction
service in the Navy has for men who can get any
thing else 10 do while who cannot find en-
poyment shore under present conditions of labor
are not the class OF men desired by commanders of
fighting ships.
Nothing was known at the yard yesterday as to
the results OF Secretary Herberts visit 10 the At
lanta Friday. but It the general opinion
among those who had looked into the matter that
the cruiser would be ordered to the yard and placed
out OF commission for the carrying out Of
tensve plan Of repairs her boilers and machinery
The ship In her present condition is practically
useless as far as steaming is concerned. year
ago las, April she overhauled at the Norfolk
yard and in every place except her engine-room
put in hrst-cass condition. Without her engine
room however the other repairs are useless. and II
would be wise 10 lay her up alongside the
Chicago and give her dose of the same medicine
which her big sister is 10 receive. This action would
also increase the available force of for the
crew OF the Maine, as there are number OF men
the small boat whose terms have not expired. 1t
is not probable that she will 20 TO Boston for
few days anyway. as Secretary Herbert has gone TO
Washington and no word had been received ycster-
day as to his decision regarding her movements.
The Dolphin remains al the yard and one OF the
tugs went down 70 Fort Wadsworth yesterday for
a supply OF powder for her. for sautng purposes
She Will join the fleet the Secretarys return
from washington, but the Columbia VIII not get
away until after the court martial Of her captain
Is ended.
MORE TROUBLE WITH THE DRYDOCKS.
Trouble with the drydocks appears TO be chronic.
and now. in addition TO the squabble between Civil
Engineer A G. Menocal and the Washes over the
big Job in Brooklyn, the Port Royal dock IS the
cause Of lot Of fuss and inquiry. When the work
on the Brooklyn dock abandoned by Mr.. Gill
lies. The Tribune. in an exhaustive article. pointed
out the dangers Of placing the work in the hands
OF contractors who were not thoroughly familiar
with the ground and the circumstances under
which tho work prosecuted. The prediction of
more trouble has been verified. and again the De-
partment appealed for help by the contractors
The present trouble Is due to the contractors hav-
ing driven piles by OF followers. or blocks
placed on the tops OF the piles and extending
above the water-line. he hammer not striking the
heads OF the piles directly. This was made neces-
sary by the dock constantly filing with water and
the presence OF bed of qucksand, the latter being
evidently extension of the bed encountered by
the Simpsons in the construction of the present
Undertook.
Mr. Menocal took exceptions to this method Of
driving the piles and asserted that the stability Of
the dock was imperiled his idea being that the
dock should be pumped out and the heads OF the
niles exposed Assistant Secretary McAdoo was
appealed to- and a Board OF Inspection was ap-
ponted TO investigate the matter This board mas
completed Its work, and It's report went on 10
Washington yesterday. The Walsh Brothers are
said TO have strong pull but there has areaoy
been TOO much delay and political interference with
the Brooklyn dock. The Navy is in sore need OF
q dock OF suitable size to handle the batte-shlps
which are TO be ready for commission ana
~ II Is TO have II will only be obtained by
dropping politics and going to work IN business
way As long as the heads Of bureaus can be num-
hugged by contractors who undertake more tnan
thew can petform and trust to luck and con-
alteration they would not expect from private en-
Movers TO get over difficulties which were not con-
sdered in making the contract or letting H. SO
long will the Navy Department and the Govern
mont be hampered and delayed in the carrying out
o. designs for the improvement OF the pubic SER
vice.
The Port Royal Dock is a case In point Heaos Oh
denartment bureaus have inspected TINS WORK at
various times since 1t was begun. and the vaiue OF
This .,nspection' is shown by the fact that the
dock sunposed 10 be completed Is little better IMAM
wreck In addition bad attack OF structural
-re.kness shown by sides "tumbling home.
there is a leak which seriously threatens inc Dry
ness Of the dock when pumped OUT ana other points
=, .,rnost equal importance. 1t seems that no atten-
or has been paid by the contractors TO the recon-
ro.ndations made over two years ago by ooard OF
,,s,ac,,on and the Department has already IN
formed Mr. Mccarthy, the contractor that extern
sive alterations will have TO be mace oeiore 'he
structure will be accepted. Now another poarp OF
,nsnActon has been appointed. OF which CIVIL En-
gjneer A. G. Menocal is a member and IL VIII meet
q, port Royal next week and determine what
changes are needed 1t is TO be hoped that this
board WILL in addition 10 pointing out the dehc'ences
in the work point on. way by which the suDordi-
nation Of public neeos to private interests may oe
prevented in the future. and Government WORK De
-. -. Ia.ss as close a regard 10 business
principles as would be the case In private con-
o,-r TUE yAPD
There appear 10 b, good reasons for oeheV'ns 'n"'
ne
prooLl,r GARD will be assigned 10 the command OF
the Yew.York when Captain Evans takes command
Of the Indiana He has been considered lot some
time as being IN the running for the command Oh 'nt