New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-04-07
AFFAIRS AT THE NAVY YARD
or,pR1NG UP MATTERS RELATIVE TO
THE BIG DRYDOCK.
COMMODORE MATTHEWS. OF THE YARDS AND
rocys DEPARTMENT. VISITS THE YARDS
NOTES ABOUT THE SIIIIS-THE NEsUNIUS


There was a ripple of excitement at the Navy
Ward last week. caused by the announcement mat
secretary Herbert had decided call John Gilles,
the contractor 70: the big drydock which Is sup
nosed to be in process Of construction. TO WASH
,ngton for an explanation to why work on the
dock had been delayed so long and why his con-
tract should be annulled. As has been already
,,On in The Tribune, Mr. Gil,ies has had at least
nenty Of time for the work, and while political IN
a,ence has without doubt had great deal 10 do
with keeping the contract In his hands, against the
wishes OF prominent officials in the Department and
the bes, interests CT the Navy and the Nation
,b,nes have at last reached such stage that poli;i
cal influence Will be of little avail. and the proba-
Utilities are now that Secretary Herbert, after his
discussion of the matter with Mr.. Gles to-mor-
-ow will decide Of two things, either that
tbe Government shall take the work in hand on its
oyn account and finish 1t. or the be placed
On the hands of another builder. If the latter course
4. adopted. it is n;imated that Simpson & Co, who
,rlt the dock which is now occupied by the Maine,
will get the contract for completing the new one.
Commodore Edmund O. Matthews, Chief of the
Department OF Yards and Docks. visited the Yard
Yesterday and had long consultation with Com
,nodore Sicard. tine Commandant; Captain Asserson,
Chief of the Bureau of Civil Engineering a; the
ward and other officials interested in that parcu-
lar branch Of the work Il is expected that he Will
,s,urn 10 Washington tomorrow in time to be pres
ont al the consultation between the Secretary ana
Mr. Gillies and the outcome of the conference is
awaited with much interest by all hands within
the big yellow walled enclosure on the Wallabout.
The statements which have been Published with
reference to the final completion of the vessels now
IN hand at the Yard based on the published per
con,age of completion. somewhat misleading.
ANY one reading the statement that % per cent Of
the work on the Maine finished would infer
that the Maine almost ready to go into commits
sion This however. would be a mistake. the leo
nar cent mark. indicating final completion. will not
be reached until after the vessel has had her Official
trial and been accepted or passed by the Board of
I,snection and Survey. The difference OF per cent
involves large amount of work The work Of
mounting her big guns has not yet begun. and al
sbough the two lOnch guns for her afterturres Will
prohaby be put in pare this week the carriages for
the forward turret not yet ready, and in fact
pne of the guns for that turre has not yet arrived
., the Yard This is only one instance. ON the
coast-defence monitor Terror there is lot of work
between the 81 per cent announced and the lOO per
cent of full completion. No tests OF her engines
have vet been made The hydraulic machinery
necessary for moving her turres Is not yet in pace
her guns still require lot Of fixing before they Will
be ready for use and her steering gear also requires
a 10, of attention. 1t will be seen from this that
while in case Of emergency II might be possible TO
get both vessels down the bay in short time. their
fitness for sea duty and active warfare Is entirely
another story.
The news from the South Of the movements of
Foreign war vessels is not at all alarming to Naval
officials The final trial of the Minneapolis will
take place about the LIST OF May. in West Indian
waters and a board of inspection composed OF
officers attached to the fleet will meet on Monday,
Aprjl o. on the cruiser. and begin soon as pos
sible 4S-hour trial at full speed. on the result
OF this trial will depend the final payment OF $7o-
cO to the Cramps Captain Robley D. Evans Of
the New-York will be president of the board
with Chief Engineer Harris OF the Columbia; Lieu
Commander Charles O. ANbohe' lleu'eh-
ant Wainwright Kellogg. and Carpenter Joseph H.
Fletcher members of the board. with COMMANDER
Yates Sterling. recorder The Attachment Oh
carpenter to the board Of the usual run. and
e occasioned bv the fact that there is no naval
constructor with the fleet.
As II the questions Of trouble with England over
The Nicaragua Canal and over the Venezuelan
boundary affair and with Spain over the Anianca
incident were not enough TO keep the Navy De
partner, busy. now comes the question OF the pro-
tection Of American interests in Turkey, with
orders 10 Admiral Kirkland. now at Palermo, to
sail Immediately for Smyrna. Asia Minor Both
The San Francisco and Marblehead are 10 be IN
Turkish waters during the conference with United
States Consuls and resident American citizens reia-
tive TO the unsatisfactory delays IN diplomatic
negotiations at Constantinope. and TO quiet the
fears of American missionaries at Smyrna that the
Turkish Government will not take any steps to
prevent further outrages. Captain @ Nell VIII re-
port with the Marblehead at Bcyrout syria, ana
receive orders from the Admiral there II the Secre-
tary should adhere to his determination to send TWO
more OF Admiral Meade's vessels 10 European
waters T. Is possible that they will also be ordered
70 report to Admiral Kirkland before going to take
part in the ceremonies at the opening OF te butte
The Amphtrite will go into commission on ApTil
2 with CAPTAIN W. G. Wise in command, Lieu,
C. COMMANDER J. j. Adams OF the NaF%i
Borthwck from the Michigan; Past Asalstant E-i
gineer Stacey Potts. from the Bureau Oh Sam IAN
Engneerng Legtgnant lieutenant carl Rohrcr
from Commas instruction; Lieutenant Frank And
erson, from Washington. ana ,e, Lieutenant v" H.
The dv1ante cruiser Vesuyius Leutenant-Com-
TSesday afternoon for League Island and 20 ont OF
Orders dispos4ng OIL her GiiJe rms
ferred TO the receiving ship pending assigu"eH' ,h
other vessels Al no time IN inc n'SIo 20. ~ me th
Vermont been 50 low as AT present: y qIait oi
eight men was received at the receiying-ship yes
The Alliance will sail FOR Newport today bejihh
ming her summer cruise on the l9,h az amg"o oG
board who viii be available when she goes out OF
but II VIII be ih Iee %esK n The dis
cussion as 10 where Captain MahaM WIZ ~ 9'i u,
has narrowed down TO the NavaI ,o war IF Ghf In
le.l.gence Officer is regarded as having nee" nc
proper thing In view OF ms been an Excellent man
Tor the place. At the War College NOVEL, ne
brought him into prominence both in the Um'ed
States and abroad ...., .oo,,rrod IN
An accident which may prove fatal occurred on
IN the iron plate shop. while working on me dite,
turret los; his footing and fell to the decK ABDUL
len feet. striking squarey on his head. lie was Was
nsensibe when picked up, and was taken 10 I'm, ,lie
yard dspensary where twelve stltches W.T. -, hj
IN the cut in his scalp and ne was removed 70 ne
home In an AMBULANCE 1t was feared Dy the as
pensary reople that his skull had been fractuIeu
IteutSe,t,n ~ Commander Charles 4. Adams. OF the
'taY Of Commodore scard, was absent ron ron ms
post Yesterday afternoon. but ne had a soSG 20
,se lie vas out on hunt after an outnt or rugs
carpets window shades. new chairs and osner &c,
,essories which tend to comfort. for the onlces on
the second 0o0r Of the Lyceum Buhdlhe' outsIue
y the one coupled by The commahu ana ming the
Interior OF the old building WAS cOmpie'td anu IN
hen efforts have been made TO ma h d" fnrn,sbci
These efforts rave at last been successful ana ~
g 10 be hoped that Mr. Adams's quest VIII emo IN
superior officers. $500 N,r,di,, t.
The framework Of the crematory Du.Ia,nI -
n place and work on building No s is beng puSI1.eu
'orward a. r,,IlI,, 40 pogsjble. The quay wall TOT