New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-08
AFFAIRS IN THE NAVY YARD.
THE FLAGSHIP NETWORK NEARLY
READY FOR SEA.
,,-,.s1DE TUGS USED WHEN SHE CAME OFT OF
TIVE DRYDOCK-THE SHAKE Up IN THE
CONSTRUCTION BUREAU - OTHER
ITEMS INTEREST

With only one ship in commission in the yard,
and that one being fitted FOR sea as fast as cir
oun,stances Will permit. there has been little
81 spectacular interest in the Navy Yard during
,be last week. But the absence OF glitter and
chow has had no effect on the regular routine OF
business or the matters, political and Of other
sor,s which are continually cropping up in the
course of the yards business. and the place has
M, been dull. The machine-shops had a little
rpsh on the dynamo engines of the flagship
New-York which came out of the timber dock
on Friday forenoon at high water, and as soon
&c the engine room Of the big ship is straight
sned out she will be ready for her cruise In the
waters Of the Caribbean Sea. Her port side was
rTsmy and black in places yesterday. for a por-
lion OF her crew was engaged IN filling her bunk
ers with coal. This work Will be finished early
This week. and as her orders are that she shall
be out Of the yard on the 14th. and Captain
schley has a habit of obcying orders. it is more
than likely that next Saturday will find her
anchored off Staten Island ready for business.
Lieutenant John +. Parker. of the flagship. who
was injured a short tine ago by the parting and
nv,ng bacl, OF a hawser, will not go out with his
shin as he is nursing a broken rib and some
minor hurts al his home in East Thlrty-eighth-
g New-York He is rapidly improving, how
ever and Will be able 20 report for duty in
short time.
The battle-ship Texas. after a delay Of four
DAYS due 10 a break in her steering gear started
ont yesterday forenoon for a four hours test OF
her engines heading southwark after passing
sandy Hook. She returned and anchored off
Tompkinsvl!le about o'clock.
The trip was made for the purpose OF "shak-
,ne down her machinery. settling the strength
~ her steering gear, and adjusting compasses
The vessel behaved well and at one time made
speed Of sixteen knots an hour. She did not go
fa- out to sea and will make another short trial
trip tomorrow. The contractors trial Of her
engines VII take place later in the week.
SURPRISE FOR "DARNACLEs."
Work in the various shops has gone along
with considerable rapidity. especially since the
shake up" in the Bureau Of Construction and
Repair The announcement that several places
urde~ control OF the bureau had been de-
ciar-d vacant by the Secretary OF the
Navy on the recommendation OF Naval
Constructor Bowles. and that the Secretary
had confirmed the constructor in his place
IS the head Of the local end Of the bureau. was
q shock a. some Of the men. who had the idea
that their places were held by political and other
pulls" REGARDLESS OF fitness or efficiency. The
move by the Secretary is regarded as meaning
that he i IN full accord with the ideas Of the
constructor in regard TO the infusng Of young
and new blood into the working and admins
tra,ive forces Of the yerd bureaus. and there Is
10 doubt in the minds of those who have be-
come acquainted with the practical workings of
the Yards labor forces that the changes will
result benefcially. Constructor Bowles is averse
10 discussing the recent changes, but others who
know what he is driving Al say that the bureau
is rapidly being put in shape for the undertak-
ing OF any work which may come to it. and
there is a hope that the excellent plant. In the
hands Of a thoroughly competent set of men,
will be employed on work larger than the ordi-
nary repairs which follow the cruising Of
SQUADRON at sea The rebuilding Of The Chicago
ana the Atlanta Will, in a measure, test the
ability of the new forces. and there is an ex-
preston Of confidence that the results shown on
those ships will be of so high standard that
there will be no more talk OF the expense or de-
Law attending the production Of war vessels al
the Government yards. especially the Brooklyn
est hlishrent This is in line with what The
Tribune has said on tie subject when laoor
troubles at the yard have claimed large share
o. the attention Of the Department The plant
of machinery at the yard is one OF the hnest in
the country. and when the new shops are COM
pleted the engines and tools will be housed In
. manner baftting their worth These altera-
lions in buildings. which are now under way
and in part completed will make the yard
new Mace 10 those who have not seen IT in the
las two years and those parts which have been
completed have already shown the wisdom OF
the ideas which they embody. If the working
force can be brought up TO the standard OF the
buildings and the tools, there is no reason why
the home station should not construct SHIPS as
cheapy and quickly "a any private concern IN
10
Two Of the big crank-shafts for the engines Of
the Chicago have arrived at the shops OF the
Bureau of Steam Engineering. and are ready 10
b. placed. They are beautiful pieces OF WORK,
Weighing about two tons each. They were cast
a. the Nidvale Steel Works. and finished ana
bored in Baltimore. They are hollow. an eight
inch hole running through the centre OF the cast
ms The remaining four are in process OF hnlsh-
ing and will be the shops In short time me
last Of the lowpressure cylinders for the engines
has passed the ordeal OF the lahes. and its lining
is now being prepared for fitting. The cylinder,
which is a small mountain Of iron. at present
perched on a platform for convenience IN nan
ding will he ready TO go 10 the'mounting-room In
Z snort time and three Of the cylinders are al
ready In place.
OUTSIDE TUGS CAME IN TO HELP
A break in the usual routine of yard service
occurred on Friday when the New-York came
out Of the timber dock The tide was not SUI
fciently high to leave any room TO spare be-
tween the keel OF the ship and the Sill OF 'he
dock and as there possibility or a touch tie
services Of two New-Y York tugs We're engaged 10
puu On the big ship when the dock gate was
orcred This mea sure was wise one. for with
falling tide and slight catch on the SILL there
would have been a case 81 hog, and cruiser
with a broken back Is OF little value d. Hn a.
foraa AZ II vas the Jugs had all they could al
tend IT, assisted by the whole available force OF
ard tugs 10 get the cruiser moored al the crane
wharf. and later measurements SNOW" ~ IN. IN,
y non she came over the sill there was less thah
& foot II water 10 spare 49, 49, ,o,rtro ~
The Inconvenience attending the moorlh8 OF
the New-York emphasizes the need FOR the r1pio
c,,,,,le.ioo Of me work now under way in the
Whitney basin. the stretch OF water ihcios s
w1inln the limits OF the Cob DOCK. Inns II ; Nv
tended 10 be used as resting pi"Vr ~. 1 w.
yyficb may be laid M awaiting repairs. ana had
the basin been ready the Chicago ana Atiah' Ia,
and probably the Katahdin, would have Dsen 9os
o.; the way. As 1t is no., the New orn LII, ,here