New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-08-04
AFFAIRS AT THE NAVY YARD.
-ur SQUADRON NEARLY READY FOR
SEA


- ,obab,e that this time next week will see the
"a practically deserted by vessels In commission.
=. che New-York and Cincinnati. are slated to sal.
- Newport early this week. and they will be fol-
,-.d by the Montgomery and Raleigh. the Column
~. chasing the other boats soon she is ready
~ duty The Raleigh which arrived at the yard
H...rday forenoon from Boston. was a, once placed
.. N. ,mber-dock and her put work brush
~. M the eelgrass and barnac.es which have accu-
.,u,ated since last January. when she was cleaned
,.n.ratory TO her Southern trip. Just how extern
10. the repairs to the Columbia will be cannot be
s.,srroined until her hull IS exposed and In
...c,ion is made OF the denied plates. The Con-
x,uc,,on Bureau. however will lose time in
cutting the fleet white cruiser in good shape as far
y. her plates are concerned. The Steam Engineer
-. Bureau has few odd jobs In the machinery
..c,ion a couple OF plugs are needed and some other
.nor repairs will put the engines and boilers in
.nod condition. and then the order will be coal up
.,a get to sea. The present programme Is for the
a., 10 rendezvous at Newport. going from there TO
p,rt,and thence to Halifax, n. S. returning to
pos,on and then going to Hampton Roads. where It
Al he to!ned by the Minneapolis, Texas and Am
,h,trtte and go through an extended series OF evo
iu,ione drills gun practice, etc. That the Texas
al, ,oin the fleet when II reaches Hampton Roads
4. sstted OF. as she will go into commission on
August Is and draft OF 300 men for her crew will
ave the Navy Yard on Thursday next to join the
s,tle- ship Captain Henry Class has reported for
,u.y on the new ship. and the Cincinnati Is now in
Aarxe Of Captain Mortimer l.. Johnson formerly of
"A receiving-shp Franklin. with Lieutenant-Com
mander William II. Everett. formerly of the Mont
.omery as his executive officer. Leutenant-Com-
sander James D. J. Kelley of the Cincinnati. hav-
NJ at the request of his captain, been transferred
% the Texas
The Navy Department has decided to follow the
aample Of foreign navies and send a naval con-
auctor 10 on the flagship Of each fleet. and
IN New-York when she sails on Tuesday will have
an board Richmond 7. Hobson. at present attached
% the Navy Yard staff who. with a draughtsman.
,u make the cruise for the purpose of studying
sroblerns OF naval architecture under the cond
dons Of service 1t is understood that this pro-
namme will be followed IN the Pacific and Asiatic
uuadrons at an early date, and there is no doubt
that the service will be greatly benefited through
The knowledge gained in this way.
Some attempts to belittle the performance OF the
Columbia have been made. but rule they are
not farorably received. the general opinion being
that the Navy has vessel be proud o.. and that
the trip was credit the builders OF y ship and
her engines we'll to her officers and w. Com
parsons between the Blake. the Kaisern Augusta
ana the Columbia after careful figuring. show the
immense superiority OF the American ship 20 any
thing Of her class. except her younger sister, the
Minneapolis. and in the opinion OF those competent
10 judge both American and foreign. the American
Navy mas In the ships a pair unmatched in any
o. the worlds navies.
CHANGES IN COMMANDS.
The recent shake up is not entirely settled yet
and more shifts in commands slated for the
near future That the New-York is TO lose her
captain Robley D. Evans. IS on the books. as he Is
10 take command of the Indiana when the battle
,hp Is ready for commission. Following the ex-
ample Of Captain Glass, he will take to the big
lighting ship his present executive officer. Lieuten-
Int Commander William Swift. Who will take the
alters place is still mystery but the latest slate
las IL that Captain Purnell +. Harrington. the
present president Of the Steel Board, will take
Of the cruiser. Whether Rear-Admira
ounce will take possession Of the new quarters on
he Minneapolis when they are completed is as yet
Undecided but II Is among the probabilities that his
lag will be transferred TO the cruiser until after
ne squadron manoeuvres are completed, when the
MINES polls Is likely to go to the South American
IA ton and be used a flagship by Acting Rear
ADMIRAL Charles S. Norton. who at present is on
he Newark
WORK IN THE YARD.
The work OF improving the yard goes merrily on
md the contractors who are building the
main sea wall running with the big
iredger which is deepening the Wallabout channel
rhe new boiler and plate shops are all rooted in
and work on the interior fittings has been begun
The edge Of the Whitney basin is all in heap. but
big hole In the ground In the southeast corner Of
he yard Is beginning to look something like dry
lock. OF course. with five ships in commission
and four fitting out there is plenty Of work for the
time being in the shops The New-York, Cincin-
natl. Raleigh, Montgomery and Columbia will be
away before long; the Maine is practically com
pleted the Lancaster is nearly ready for sea; the
double-turreted monitor Terror Is not far behind
and her big sister the Puritan. is chiefly occupy
inr the attention OF the two bureaus Of conStruc-
ton and ordnance.
Tho Chicago Is still In glorious idleness at the
Cob Dock wall, but work her engines is
being pushed along steadily in the steam engineer
Ing shops and when the Puritan comes out Of the
stone dock the Chicago will go in and be almost
entirely rebuilt
There was a crowd Of vessels at the yard yester-
day afternoon as, In addition to the vessels named
there we're the supply steamer Fern and the yard
vessels Traffic, Narkeeta and Nina together with
the big dredger and several pile-drivers. lighters
and scows, and there was crowd OF visitors at
the yard also. In addition to tho sweethearts and
wives OF the officers and men on the ships who
came TO tho ships. there was a naval cadet corps
Of about ono hundred and twenty-five boys from
the Ainslie Street Methodist Church headed by
1fe-and-drIm corps which came marching down
Main-st dressed In full sailor "togs.' and march
ing with a nautical swing which proved attractive
to the other strangers within the gates
REPRIMANDs IN UsURY CASES
Assistant Secretary McAdoo has issued orders
reprimandng and placing on waiting orders Pay
master Otis c. Tiffany. formerly OF the vermont
Captain slas Casey. captain OF the receiving ship
Is also reprimanded and Paymaster's Clerk MORT
arty and Paymaster's Yeoman Russman are as
missed as result Of the recent investigation into
charges Of usury in the Navy Yard and on board
the Vermont. Pay-Inspector Billings and other
member. NJ tho court which inquired into the mat
ter are also reprima nded for falling TO get at all
the facts In the case and making the findings
thereon.
MINOR NOTES OF INTEREST.
= Although Secretary Herbert has decided 10 equip
the new battle.b,ns with double turrets the oppo-
sttion TO this design remains unconvnced OF It's
efficiency and declares its Intention OF bringing the
natter up again before the contracts for the shps
are let In this connection the argument mace py