New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-07-07
AFFAIRS AT THE NAVY YARD.
RUSHING WORK ON THE CINCINNATI
AND THE MAINE.

NAVAL CONSTRUCTOR FERNALp AND THAT
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES BOAT TRIALS
MATTERS OF INTEREST IN THE
DEPARTMENT.
ord.r. have been received to hurry forward the
,rork on the Cincinnati. TO have her ready for sea
30 July H. and allow the Maine to be put In COM
mission in time 10 take part in the fleet manoeu-
yr.s Of the North Atlantic Squadron late In the
GUNNER The work on the Cincinnati is an ex-
,en.ive Job. and passes were issued yesterday to
,uo ,oremen OF gangs and their men for use while
emnoyed overtime. There is a good prospect Of
the Maine being ready for business by August l.
and the Puritan will not be far behind her In 60
,nr into commission. The ten-ton iron rudder OF
The monitor has been huns In place. and four OF
the nve plates for her forward turret are await
,rc the action OF the Construction Bureau. which
,ust at present has its hands fun OF business The
N,h plate is expected at the yard by the time the
others are fixed. and then the remaining two OF
her twelve-inch rifles will be mounted The rest
~ the work on the vessel will be minor Jobs which
can be put through in short order. The Puritan
once more aioat. the Chicago can be started on
the road 10 usefulness. and the work on the new
gate and pumping apparatus for the stone dock
begun.
l. Fernald and other Bureau chiefs were to be
rcprmanded by Secretary Herbert on the strength
O. Lieutenant Knapp's report has caused buzz
OF comment among those acquainted with the facts
m the case Mr. Fernald when spoken TO yester
day about the matter. indignant. and While
he would not crticise the action Of the Depart
men, denied tina, he had received any communica-
ton from the Secretary in the nature OF repri-
mand and added that he did not expect any. The
reprimand OF officer is not usual thing except
after a court-martial and hearing. as such pro-
ceeding would be contrary 10 the naval resula-
tons 1t may be. however. that Secretary Herbert
laaH ~ praS ideDf no had
something to say TO Admiral Meade short time
ago An officer intimately acquainted with anars
in the Construction Bureau. in speaking OF the
case said The whole trouble is this: No officer
can be attached 10 the Brooklyn Yard without be-
ing the subject OF criticism not by the Secretary.
but by men who have their own axes TO grind
Every officer likes be attached TO the yard, as 1t
is considered one Of the most II not the most de-
sirable Of stations and there Is continual hunt
for places here. Fernald has always done his duty
conscientiously and TO the best OF his ability and
] think the Secretary will find II so. A; any rate
10 haul him up at this time for incidents which
occurred under different system OF keeping track
OF the men. and for which 1t is big stretch OF
authority 10 hold him responsible, looks much like
rubbing II in
Other officers either declined discuss the mat
ter or were extremely guarded in their remarks
but the Bureau chiefs interested had not received
letters Of reprmand
TORPEDO-BOAT TRIALS THIS WEEK.
Onicers of the Department are discussing the COM
ing speed trials OF the torpeiob boats OF the Maine
which viii take place on the Hudson River next
week. When the construction Of these vessels was
proposed 1t was thought tina, they would add con-
sderably to the fighting strength OF the warship
but II has been founa impossible TO build boat
large enough obtain sufficient speed to be avail
able as a torpedo-boat Ii IS probable that the speed
will prove be not more than twelve or thirteen
knots. II was hoped that seventeen or eighteen
might be obtained. The boats could not be built any
larger, as they could then be accommodated on
the decks OF the ship. similar fault has been
found In the torpedo-boats OF the Texas. Since the
boats were designed the Department has decided
OF gun which is part OF the boat. and can be
trained the enemy only when the boat IS pointed
An accoun, OF the preliminary run OF one OF the
two boats bull, for the Name was pupsn.sd by me
speed was obtained for shor, distance. there were
s he TeSa.
bull, from the same design as the Names and II
suit Will at cas-, be additional room on the decks
1 ss m he and s wsss w ss
OF her Mosher boiler. and Will be in the smooth
under the supervision of Chief Engineer Ayres and
Naval Constructor Fernald
new engines was cast on Monday. and work on the
other parts Of her machinery Is going ahead
steadily.
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE YARD.
building erected on the foundations OF old Building
No 6 is in place. and IN, skeleton iron building TO
be used as plate shop is in the hands Of gang
OF roofers. who fastening the corrugated gal
vanized iron plates 10 the frame The big drydock
begins &c show the resu, OF the .abors Of the
contractors. Operations the place where there
will some time be a wall not going
ahead fast enough to suit the Yards and Docks and
Civil Engineering bureaus. but Chief Engineer As
serson has hopes. one Of the eyesores OF the yard
Is the Old plateshop. now wreck. and the mass OF
machinery stacked up in the rear OF the old shell
It Is 10 be hoped that work on the building will
be completed at an early day. and the yard resume
It's usual buslness-llke aspect
tween The Wallabout land recently sold 10 the city
and that retained by the Government, and founda
lions for the wall will De laid in the latter part Of
this month.
NOTES ABOUT THE SHIPS.
The Amphitrite the double-turre,ed coas,-defence
monitor which is to be In NewYork waters before
long. WILL according 10 the last reports. require
considerable liking before she Will be habable for
her officers and crew. The Inspection Board has
made Its report Secretary Herbert In relation TO
her ofYiclai test al sea. Particular attention was
siven 10 the working OF the battery and the gen
eral serviceabiencss OF the monitor Her four 10
inch rines were nred broadside several times. tho
mechanism working faultlessly. Excellent target
scores were made with the big guns. The ship was
turned, at her best speed In small radius and
the Boara pronounces her "A splendid hghtng ship
a. a coast defender. The best speed developed was
only seven knots Her ircmcn we're somewhat in
experienced. however. and after some changes are
made In the nreroom. and possibly with the pro-
peers no doubt IL felt as TO her ability to attain
ten knots The greatest fault found with the moni-
tor IL the intense heat Of the rooms below deck
and in her cabins 1t is said that In the wardroom
where the officers live. and which Is directly over
the boilers The deck Is hot that the ofncers can
no, nut their feet on It unless the moor IL covered
BY a mat The ventilation OF the Ampntrtc II
no, All tha, n should be- but II s thought that this
can be improved. Besides all her cruising mas peeh
In the South. where the climate u. no.. ~ .x,,,
Secretary Herbert IL expected 10 name an ear.