New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-05-10
ammunition will be supplied as It is the inten-
'ioh 10 nave the ships ready for full battle duty

WORK ON THE YARD CONTRACTS
Ihere is an extremely exasperating delay on
all the contract work going on in the yard. with
the exception of the drydock. which, although
1t Will hardly be finished by the contract time In
June, will be ready for use within a short time
after the date set. This dock, which will accom-
modale vessels drawing less than twenty-eight
ieet' VIII be used for the batt.c-ships instead
the Port Royal dock. In spite of the favorable
reports made by Commander Rockwell, dis
couraglhg words have been received by the De-
partment relative to the depth Of water over the
Sill OF the Fort Royal dock and there Is a big
chance that great deal Of costly work will have
TO De done before the dock Is made capable Of
taxing In the deep-draught ships at all times.
IN some unacco1ntable way a portion OF the
Drick work Of the new building No. 116, under
construction. was Knocked down a few nights
ago, and VIII have to be replaced. The con-
tractor is trying to find how the accident &C.
CURED. but so far without success. The frame
work OF the building Is all in place, except few
light beams in the truss work
The sea wall shows signs Of progress and
the new gate at Sands-st while nearly completed
as far as the houses go. Is still long way from
being ready for use. This contract expires early
In July. and there Is chance that the work ca n
be completed II the work Is rushed but rush
Is apparently unknown the Government con-
tracts.
Orders have been received for the assembling
OF a crew for the Massachusetts on board the re-
ceiving ship Vermont and the crew Of the Texas
Is being assembled a: the Norfolk Yard. The
latter ship will go into commission on or before
June !, If the present programme holds
Rear-Admiral Bunce has asked the Depart
ment to supply cable. mine and other graphing
gear to the vessels of his squadron, and. as
exercise with such gear is sadly needed, the re-
quest will probably be granted
MORE ENGINEERS NEEDED
More vacancies are TO occur in the Engineer
Corps OF the Navy. The Corps Is ehorthanded
by twentyfour at present. The prospects are
that this number will be Increased to twenty
seven. Officers OF the Corps view the situation
with much concern. and say that 1t Is important
that Congress should pass some bill to increase
the commissioned engineers at this session. A
few days ago Chief Engineer J. W. Thomson APP
piled for retirement under the forty years
clause. His request has been faVorably acted
upon by Secretary Herbert. and the President
has approved the recommendation Chief En-
gneer G.. +. KutZ has also asked to be trans
ferred to the retired list. No action has been
taken by tie authorities his application
but 1t is Sc the Navy Department that
there is LITTLE ioubi that the President will order
his transfer from the active list. In June Chief
Engineer Jackson McElme retires on account
of age. The retirement Of these three officers
will make the vacancies in the Engineer Corps
twenty-seven There are only thirteen cadets in
the engineers division Of this years graduating
class at the Naval Academy. Therefore. on
July l. with the present and prospective vacan-
cies. the Junior grade Of the Corps will be short
handed fourteen.