New-York tribune., 1896-09-02
TONS OF OLD IRON THERE
BAD CONDITION OF THE Navy YARD.
A PROBLEM CONFRONTING THE oFFICIALs-oND
QUARTER OF THE GROUNDS NOW COW
Erred WITH THE RUBBISH
IMPOSSIBLE TO SELL. IT

ERED WITH THE RUBBISH
IMPOSSIBLE TO SELL IT.
One of the problems now bothering the heads
OF the Navy Yard officials Is the disposal OF
the millions OF tons of old iron and junk. the
accumulation Of fifty years more. The grow
ng area covered by the huge ccrap heap Is
little less than alarming Nearly % per cent
of the room in thc yard is taken up with this
old junk. and before January I several thou
sand tons more will be added to the pile. 1t Is
heaped up in indis,riminate confusion and con-
sists of the discarded machinery. equipments
and CASTOR paraphernalia OF scores OF the war
vessels. Exactly how long this pile of junk has
been accumulatrg no at the yard seems to
know. Why II is allowed to remain in con-
spicuous place eyesore to those who are
compelled TO pass it many times daily. and the
subject of unfavorable comment by visitors, 10
difficult to tell. The pile is fast encroaching
upon the space actually needed for the sue
oessfu operation of the yard. and the dis
position Of the refuse Is a problem now con-
fronting the yard authorities
Recently Tribune reporter met an English
tourist in the yard near this junk pile. The
traveller expressed great surprise at the neg
lected condition Of this part OF the yard. and
said: In our navy yards all unoccupieG
grounds are used for flowerbeds. and the work.
men take great pride in caring for them"
Yesterday the reporter had a conversation on
this subject with one OF the yard officials who
said: You are quite right in saving that the
disposition Of this junk pile Is one OF the prob
lens we are now considering. Although small
blast furnace has been built near this pile OF
refuse for the purpose Of melting up whatever
old iron can be used at a profit. there Is so
much OF II that is worthless for uses here
that the pile grows apace. and, besides being an
eyesore, is actually getting in way Re-
Gently about 1000 tons Of this junk have been re-
moved from the Chicago. and when the Atlanta
is brought over from the Cob Dock and stripped
for the drydock. there VIII be at least another
1000 tons added TO tn" pile. The stuff Is prac-
tically unstable. Not long ago the department
sold forty-fve tons for one-half cent per ton,
and the purchaser lost money at that price IL
costs to break this old iron up into proper
shape for the furnace than 1t is worth. Ac-
cordng TO the department regulations. II cannot
be given away. Buyers are lot often found. ana
as a consequence the pile grows larger day py
day.
THE Englishman was right about the flower
beds in their Navy Yards. but in that country
there are 1000 convicts employed In keepinE
the Government grounds in order. II the 4p Gov
ernment convicts now in the Crow Hill Peniten-
tary could be sent here and put to work break
ing I'D this rubbish, would have q clean yarf
in year or two But convicts or no convicts'
the authorities will have to do something TO-
ward Getting rid Of this junk pile soon.
Noxious weeds have grown up. half-obscurlhH
the gigantic boiler shells. walking beams, smoke
stacks propeller wings and other out-of-date
machinery the whole being frst-class mosquito
incubator The watchmen complain or tnes
;nsaots and cav that the yard will soon rival
,he most famous mosquito parks of the New
Jersey coasts.