Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-06-14
ARE READY TO START
Two Of The Monitors Under Steam
Awaiting Orders to Move.
The chamber OF Commerce Takes
thc Matter In Hand and VIII Fight
srccccd Captain Pigmnn.

The monitors Catskin and Lehigh. which
were taken from their moorings a couple
or DAYS ago. are now lying under steam.
Ter the first time In fifteen years. and
ready to sail 10 the Norfolk navy-yard
A. forty-cieht hours notice.
chief Engineer John ,,owe arrived from
washington last Wednesday. with orders
% overhaul the machinery OF all six mont
tors. and the only inference 10 be drawn
from this action seems TO be that the
squadron viii be broken up
4 telegram received from Washington
las, nieht stated that the Navy Depart
ment has under consideration a plan for
The removal Of the monitors from Rich
roud II IS generally believed that they
vii be taken 10 League Island. in the
schuylku river. near Philadelphia. where
Mcy WI he permanently stationed.
a MATTER OF ECONOMY.
The chief motives for this change seem
10 be economy. and in order that the
majority OF the men stationed on the
monitors at present may De used in other
directions. as In event OF the boats being
.-.t 90 League Island The crews would
Be- reduced % q minimum. only sufficient
m.a beng lcft on board TO guard the
lr.fs
rhc crews OF the six ironclad7 number
s.ttuly-tw1 officers aai men. iui the
monthly payroll amounts 70 g So. most
e.. which money finds us way INTO Rich
u-rL lr addition 90 this. IL is estimated
t-st fully 800 tons 81 coal are consumed
,a ,he SIX boats iu Tho course OF year.
all ol which is bought from Richmond
merchants. II IS no eNRggcrstion. there
gore. o. state tina; the continued presence
o., tas monitors IN the James river means
Sifl year 20 Tho city Of Richmond.
THE NEW COMMANDER.
The announcement thar Commander j.
s. Forsyth has been detached from the
Nays! Home. lG Philadelphia. and or
t.is. t3 succeed Commander Pigman
f. charge % the monitors. would seem to
Indicate that tho remaining four boats
v.l not be removed at present ana il,
i- Q.iic possible hat " representa- lions
a.e made at headquarters as a. the I'M
,1oyemcnts that have been accomplished
ly Tho cts o. the station. both I'm
oietr.us a-l the erection Of the break
water. tta; some provision VII Dc made
whereby the monitors may be left here.
To FIGHT THE REMOVAL
st d meeting oc The Chamber OF Com
rs-ce yesterday Afternoon President
Halves called tse attention OF the meet
irg o. The report that the monitor fee,
vu.1 De- removed from its presgn; an.
Ch0I-e. and suggested thar though he
lal already taken some action upon
inc matter 90 would he well for the
Chamber. as body, 20 take cognizance
a. t Upon motion Of Hon. j. Taylor
LIs>on abe C1mmitteo on Jamos-River
Improvement Was requested 90 take such
steps 8- % deemed necessary 10 have thu
monitors kept ly ne Navy Department at
their present location In James river.
CHANGE or COMMANDERS.
The following press dispatch was re-
Cefe1 a5t night.
WASHINGTON. June 13--C0mmandei
O.. ~ Thomas. OF the Bennington. will
&. relieved of the command Of that YES
SGD. which o. now presumably the only
naval shin at Honolulu. ana given three
months leave r. soon as his successor
captain y. q. Pigman, who was named
to-day. reaches Hawaii by merchant
mtr from san Francisco.
Commander >. NJ. Forsyth has been de-
t-~sa1 from The Naval Home. in Phila-
ds.1ha. and ordered to succeed Com
rsIler plrmau r.. charge Of the reserve
f..t of monitors In James river near
j. -hmoll.