The San Francisco call., 1896-03-30
MARE ISLAND
NAVAL NEWS,
Visions of a New Drydock
Dispelled by Act of
Congress.
PROGRESS ON THE YARD.
The Gunboat Bennington to Be
Overhauled and Put Into
Shipshape.
HOWISON MAY BE PROMOTED.
It Is Believed the Comm andant
Will Be Given the South
Atlantic Station.

NALLEJO. CAL., March ZS.-1O i've LII
a navy-yard town one must be endowed
with the happy faculty of always looking
for something bright in the future. Hopes
have been INDUCED in for the past few
weeks-since Congress has been in session
that the lawmakers, in their wisdom,
would appropriate money to build new
dry-dock at Mare Island. The hopes were
as light as vapor, yet it was something to
keep the spirit up by those who toll with
the hammer and ak. The past week has
witnessed the disappointment of those IN
dulging in the visions of foundation for
dock sufficient in size to take in the Ore
gon or the great batte-ship Iowa. so sue
cessfully launched at the Cramps yard yes
terday The dock will not be commenced
this year.
Now the people here are looking for
some apostle in the wilderness to aid in
securing torpedo boat to keep the ma
chimes at work. The regular appropriations
were passed, but not to become available
before the 1st of July, and even then some
of them will not be drawn upon for
months unless some rule prevails that con-
tractors shall furnish material promptly
and of excellent quality. The special appro-
priations for the repairs of ships comes in
good time, and will enable many men to
be retained and others to be taken on.
The Bennington, for which some of the
money will be used, is in the drydock and
will be overhauled at once. There is COM
paratively little to be done to her outside
of general repair work incident to ship
in commission as long as she has been.
1t is quite interesting and refreshing to
read published statement that "the Ben
nington was the butt of every joke of the
English officers while in the Asiatlc sta
ton, by reason of her engines being so
frequently disabled" The fact is we'll
known to every one in naval circles that
the Bennington has never visited that
station.
1t is currently reported that Captain H.
L. Howison, Commandant of the Yard,
will be detached in July, his term of three
years shore duty having expired. His ad-
| ministration has been one of success from
beginning to end, and there have been
| more complicated matters and heavy work
to be accomplished than for years past.
The captain, being nearly at the COM
modore's list and the most available man.
will undoubtedly be given the South At
| lantic station. Several have been spoken
| of for the command of the station and
yard, but none so far definitely settled
upon. While Commodore Norton has been
mentioned prominently for the place. it
would not be surprise to see the orders
given to Captain Louis Kempff, who is
| higher on the list of captains than was
| Captain Howison when he was given COM
mand of the yard.
| Commodore Norton will soon be a rear
admiral, and of late officers of such rank
have been given the presidency of some
| one of the boards, with headquarters at
Washington. Commodore Norton is we'll
known here, as for years ne was in COM
mand of the receiving ship Independence.
He, like Captain Kempff, in his younger
days was counted one of the best athletes
in the navy, and each saw considerable
active service during the war; Commodore
Norton being the executive officer of the
| Lackawanna on the west gulf blockading
| squadron.
| The friends of Boatswain D. Glynn, U.
| s. N, and Miss Annie Ward are extending
congratulations to them upon their con-
templated marriage on the 9Th of next
month The boatswain is attached to the
yard and Miss Ward is the eldest daughter
of James Ward, IN charge of the Govern
ment stock at Mare Island.
The appointment of Commander John J.
Brice as Commissioner of Fish and Fishe-
ries is one that meets the approval of those
in and out of the navy-yard.
Naval Constructor Baxter and several of
the construction mechanics well versed in
the dockage of ships went up to Port Or
chard the first of last week to dock the
monitor Monterey. They will be gone
two or three weeks. 1t was considered
best by the department to assist in the
first trial of docking vessel in the new
dock at the northern station.
AS much interest was manifested by the
clerical and appointive employees in re-
port that they were to be placed under the
civil service rules as though a battle-ship
had been awarded to the yard. While
there is some truth in the rumor that the
commandant, clerks and chief clerks of
the departments may be so placed, it is
not at all likely that the Secretary of the
Navy would wholesale all of his own ap-
pointees into life positions under the Gov
eminent.
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MdrcMse Station Mowrns.