New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-07-21
AFFAIRS AT THE NAVY YARD
o1y1Er FOLLOWING THE SEASON OF
ACTIVITY.
INVESTIGATIONS NOT YET ENDED-woRK ON IN
PRovEMENTs-GOssIP ON NAVAL AFFAIRS
CHANGES FOR THE WEEK


pRovEMENTs-GossIP ON NAVAL AFFAIRS
CHANGES FOR THE WEEK.
There is a quietness in affairs in the Navy Yard
a, prcsen, which Is in marked contrast to the ex-
element OF two or three weeks ago. but the
r,mblings Of the "shake-up" which resulted in the
transfer Of two OF the most popular officers at the
station have not entirely subsidized. and unless all
s.ens fail there is much TO be heard in ref
.rence to the matter OF civservce reform. APP
n.d to the mechanical end Of the Brooklyn Yard.
Naval Constructor Fernald has spen. the frs, half
of two weeks furough at York Beach, Me-. and
&c not due TO report at Norfolk before August l. &C
coring TO his orders. And comes the rumor
that those orders have been modified. that he
vii! have another month at the home yard 1t
was difficult obtain verncat.on or denial OF
this rumor at the yard yesterday, Commodore
slcard away a rest of a day two: Lieu
tenant Commander Adams was also taking a brief
rest and the other officers of the stan would not
discuss the subject The general opinion. however.
seemed to be that 1t was correct. and an interesting
phase Of the recent trouble charges of fraud
came out. Just why extension of time should
he granted unless 1t with the idea of consider
inc further statement from the Constructor,
which I; Is understood. he has in preparation is
hard TO There Is no reason as far as the work
IN the yard is concerned. why the transfer OF
Bowcs 10 Brooklyn and Fernald TO Norfolk should
not be made at once; the books and papers OF
b
pointed time gives rise to the freely expressed
onjnlon of those on whom article 254 rests lightly
that the Secretary may have seen great light,
and be preparing a way OF letting himself down
easily from the results Of injustice committed
"for the welfare Of the public service"
In the Bureau of Yards and Docks and the civil
engineers office there is feeling OF expectancy.
which shows that there is something more coming
than has been given out Two of the employees in
the draughsmen's room were before an examining
board last week matters connected with the ad-
minstratlon of that branch OF the work. The Ut
most secrecy maintained as 10 the action OF
the board Of which Lieutenant ~ T. Houston. of
the receving-ship Vermont. was at the head. and
orders have been received fit up the court-martial
room in Building No. for big court seats for
forty including witnesses ard spectators, being
called for. Who Is the culprit aid what offence he
IS charged with not known. and the rumor that
Commander George L. lde. recently Of the Alert.
was 10 answer to the charge made by Rear-Ad-
miral Meade Of an infraction Of the rules Of ETH
quete, while possibly correct. could not be verified.
Captain Asserson. chief civil engineer, who has
only few days more at his old desk, is busy
rushing ahead the work under his charge. and as he
Is one OF the hardest workers in the yard that
lot to the contractors ana others with
whom ne has dealings.
Orders have been issued for examination Of
applicants for the place OF quarterman moulder-
in-charge. under the Bureau OF Construction and
Repairs. TO be he'd July 81. This Is one of the
places recently made vacant. and pays 81 day.
WORK on YARD IMPROVEMENTS.
The extensive Improvements under way in the
yard being pushed ahead rapidly, more attention
being paid 10 the main seawall. perhaps. than TO
other less important parts of the work. A steam
dredge has been in active operation just asern OF
the Cincinnati for the last two days. and when the
New-York and Columbia get home there Will be
p.enty Of water to float them. even II there is no
T~L-
the results Of a weeks steady work. and are rapidly
approaching completion The pate shop Is the
farthest advanced. but the boi.ershop and Build
ing No. are not far behind IT, over In the WHIT
ney Basin everything is in a mess. and the final
Strengthening out will show wonderfully Improved
water front with solid walls, adapted TOT any use
that may be required OF II.
That the new drydock will be completed on time
10 hoped but hardly expected by the officers in
charge OF the work. The contractors while they
have accomplished much In short time. stu have
enormous task ahead of them. and that they
will be able to complete II is a matter OF doubt.
On the ships everything Is being pushed TO the
utmost and overtime is being steadily made by the
steam engineering and construction workmen. The
Cincinnati, which has not been In dock since No
vember last. Will probably have couple OF days
given owe. to cleaning her underwater hull before
beginning her duty with the Naval Reserve The
work on her ventilating apparatus Will be com
pe,ed In about FIVE days. and she will be ready for
sea by the last OF this week. The Maine is prac-
teay ready for business. Charges in the method OF
handing her ammunition have been made. and now.
instead OF being transported from the magazines 10
the holsts in the turrets by an overhead trolley. II
will be sent by means Of a small car on
track This change greatly facilitates It's handling
At the base OF the hoist. and gives mucn quicker
delivery at the guns.
The placing OF the forward trrret Plates OF the
Puritan will be begun this week and the shcathhs
xx.tt ho I'm
days. Several things have happened to delay the
TRIAL OF the Names torpedo boats. and the second
one OF the pair has not yet been hoatcd. Inc one
which has had some preliminary spins Is resp!ehdeh'
In new coat OF paint. and the changes made heceS-
sary by her trials have been duplicated In her idle
sister.
THE COLUMBIA AND THE ERICSSON
It's more than likely that a court OF inquiry VIII
be called 10 settle he responsibility for the injury
70 the Columbia In the Southampton dock captain
Sumner saws that the keel blocks on which the
vessel rested were hve feet six inches apart ana
that the settling OF the vessel was due 10 STRUCTURAL
weakness This idea was laughed at yesterday 10y
people who know how to build ships. ana II was
pointed out that while the keel books were un-
doubtedy TOO far apart the bucHlng OF the pia'es
was a sign of local but not structural weakness
The new vessels OF the navy are not struc'u'aAs
weak but there Is hardly vesse aioat mat y not
locally weak The plates IN the COLUMBIA bottom
are al the most only fve-egnths OF an ihch '"'oN'
and an enormous weight comes on them IN 'ne
space OF 1--WE and a half feet which Is unsupported
especially when the supporting Keel DOCKS s'r'Hc
between the lines Of the framework Oh '"e inner
hull In the Brooklyn Yard these docks arc never
more ,han fo,,r feet apart and in addition to them
aye.sel is in a great measure sustained by the
shore props. which begin sometimes az low down
As strake b. or the third row OF plates from the
keel
That the damage VIII prevent '"e US -,
tst,rr ,.r. In tho naval rnanoeuvres IL doubted
IN, ~ e, certain that she will not be 1T for active
service without overhauiins 5000,
An evil fortune has followed the western .oipeuo-
beat Ericsson ever since her arrivai III .>o''".''
waters When she arrived at New-I.onoon on Au-