New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-10-27
.rFAIRS AT THE NAVY YARD.
rzp TEXAS TO GO INTO THE TIMBER
DOCK FOR REPAIRS.
~u.r is GOING ON AT THE HOME sTATIoN-RUsH-

xc WORK ON THE NEW sHIPs-MINoR NOTES
oes arrival Of the Texas for the first time in New
- waters was the chief incident of the week at
- ,or,e station. The big ship attracted many W.T.
.-s 70 Staten Island while she at anchor Of
rornkinsvslle. and many Of the friends OF her OF
80 took advantage OF the fact that she was out
he reach OF the usual swarm OF visitors attracted
=. the Navy Yard by anything at all out OF he
-,nary run to go down to the ship and make calls.
~ big cruiser up to the yard yesterday fore
IAN and was tied up at the sea wall She is slated
=. 40 into the drydock. but just how she will
=, eoated over the sill is not yet known. One pecu-
y.rty Of construction Of the Texas Is her great
heau "a feet inch which is only nine inches less
thar the NETWORKS while her tonnage is smaller
NV over 200 tons Her draught % feet inches is less
.s.n the NETWORKS but owing TO her breadth she
l have 10 wait until the tidal conditions favor
aha 10 allowing her 10 pass in at the gate without
.craping the side walls Her sides tumble home
and as her greatest breadth is at lower point than
a. the case with the New-York she will need more
uater on which to float in safely than the name>
rake OF the Empire State requires. Once IN the
dock the repairs TO her circulating pumps will be
puickly made and her bottom will have thorough
Scraplng and cleaning.
That the Minnesota is safe in Boston Harbor is a
matter Of congratuaton and she will probably end
hsr record under the care of the old Bay States
naval militia. She towed around by the steamer
sanulit. and reached her destination without mis-
hap having made a couple OF stops on the way TO
Ayod nj ght towing and danger from sudden squalls
An important and interesting piece OF news
,ent 10 Secretary Herbert last week. II that
the contractors who working on the new timber
dock expect have their big Job completed by June
I OF next year. Both the Secretary and Commodore
Matthews. the chief or the Bureau OF Yards and
Docks admit that II the contract had been given to
its present holders when the work first started
the annoying delays and final failure which re-
suited from the first contractors attempt to COM
piete the work would have been avoided. and the
dock would now be ready for the Government
When the new dock Is completed II will be the
largest in the country. The need of good dock on
the Atlantic coast plainly shown short time
ago when the builders OF the Indiana wanted to have
her bottom scraped preparatory to her speed trial
The only dock owned by the Government large
enough 10 accommodate her was that at Port Royal,
and as there were ugly rumors ahoat regarding the
depth OF water the sill. and the stability OF the
dock itself the contractors unwilling to trust
their vessel within It's walls. and they employed
divers 10 clean her hull rather than send her to
Halifax 10 be lifted out OF the water.
The new Brooklyn dock Will be sufficiently large
to safely hold any battleship cruiser that Uncle
Sam may construct and naval officers are anxious
that it shall be completed. The measurements
for this dock follows Length over all. COS
Feet: width 81 feet; width at entrance. los feet.
The construction of the dock will have cost the
Government in the neighborhood of s5Io.NO when
Il Is finished. The Government is building dock
ut Puget Sound, Washington. which 1t is thought
win be ready for occupancy some time IN December
Of this year. While this is fine dock. 1t does
bot equal the one in Brooklyn. as It is somewhat
shorter 1t $50 feet in length but has the
advantage OF two feet over the Brooklyn dock in
the matter OF depth.
The big steam dredge at work on THURSDAY
Ind Friday digging away the mud from in front OF
he only place where the Texas can tie up without
moving the Maine, which was taking on her coal
and the contract which calls for the removal OF
eaooo cubic yards of mud from the Wallabout chan
aeI Is still a long way from completion
People who are interested in the matter are won
serng how long the delay will be in the matter Of
he nav pumping plan for the yard short time
ago the Department advertised for bids for the con-
Etrlcon OF efficient pumping Plant % tmes e Vl9S
were to have been opened on OCTOBER 20 put owii.s
10 change In the plans Of the Secretary they were
cot examined Soon after the Orig;ns 70
sRset see e steam plant Of the whole yard into
Sne establishment. As this arrangement WILL un-
aoubtedy affect the position OF the papi ssc psSae
tons will now have be drawn up and submitted
for proposals. and this will be done as soon as te
the former set of bids received will be returned 10
TSe TaTy Yard tugs Nina and will start
for Boston this morning for duty In connection VIII
the Ammen ram Katahdn, when VIII prr0obbaaSiiyy
take place on Tuesday The course VIII pr, pTooa Any
and Cape Porpoise and the tugs VIII De used as
stakeboats -. $50 an, horse .. sanas-st.
which was begun early in July, will now be rushed
through to completion as the dihersnGes concern,
ING The Dlans and specifications, when caused
STOP STOP IN lns hv board Of inspection.
Those little White elephants, the torpedo boats in,
tended for Maine, are 20 be htted WIN piY ~.
Of the steam Engineering DEPART
ent is carried out AT the last trial Trip OF one OF
these boats her propeller was DAMAGE ana I'M
need OF the change was made apparent IL VIII
Be impossible to make the change s n y t me Maine
and she will receive the little crait uhtll are
ne Ie s nrnneers the boats viii be able make
The required speed Of seventeen knots an hour
a, s S6Temser N0 to relieve Admiral Kirk
land has paid a high compliment 70 Lieuie11ant
rommodoro sicard's personal sian. by Offering him
the position Of flag Lieutenant OF me and the
lieutenant viii accompany The Admral wned ne ne
sails II is not known VINO nas ag See Secretary but
tn announcement will be made IN sp the COM
ahSer pans Of the o MAINE are to sail for Gardners
Bay as soon the coaling OF the vessel rs rs +erv
she VII then be officially inspected and VIII 60 20
Newport for her torpedo sntht II no .nent che
S9n S are Por reSeve Me- ' by November ana
eeiye the silver service WnTn orn ne than year She
will then ioin the squadron OF Admiral buh0e anu
lake part IN the winter manoeuVres'
WORK on THE NEW SHIPS
The percentages Of completion OF the various YES
Bells now beng finished for the Navy have Deen
announced as follows. The battle-ships Massacnu-
sets and Oregon q and 93is per cent respectively
the monitor Puritan 9s the Terror a. anu inc
Nonadnock Sc OF these the Puritan ana leiioi'
nov being finished at this station could II heCeS
city arose be made ready for active service with
two months The turrets OF the Puritan are near'y
eornje+e4 and three OF her Pinch guns are IN ,he
yard. The percentage Of the other vessels uH1et
construction is far from complexion ana none ~
them VIII be ready for at least year THESE are
the cruiser Brooklyn, which IS 81 per cent I'm
cont
Nashville g. per cent; Wilmington u PEI CENT anu
Helena. 81 cent. a.. -~a,artng Nh