New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-09-27
AFFAIRS AT THE NAVY YARD
TIE GOOD CONDITION OF THE CHI
cAGos HULL REVEALED BY
HER DOCKING.

prcr,LrAR CONDITION OF THE CONTRACT WORK
observation-disclosures ALrlBoNE Sc
yEHEIY CRITICISED BY ASSISTANT
SECRETARY MADoo - TORPEDO
BOATS COME OUT FIRST IN
sEARcHLIGHT TESTS.
While there has been no extraordinary rush of
husiness at the Navy Yard In the last week. there
"a. been constant activity. and all hands seem
"a have settled down to winter of steady occu-
nst,on. The docking OF the Chicago in the stone
aock marked the beginning of a task which will
not be completed inside Of year. and may re-
ouire much longer. The workmen of the Con-
s,r,ction Department have already begun opera
films but there Ia some inconvenience attending
the work on the underwater part Of the ship as
the casson Of the dock is not as tight as 1t should
n. and the leakage Is sufficient to keep the keel
blocks constantly soaked. There Is a possibility
that the leaks will increase in extent. and II
vas remarked yesterday that it might yet be
necessary to float the ship and make some
changes in the fittings Of the caisson
remarkable thing about the Chicago is the
excellent condition in which her hull has re-
NAMED For year or more she has been floating
IN the muddy waters of the Wallabout Channel.
where dredgers have been at work constantly.
her only movements having been shift from
one side OF the channel to the other. Commenting
on this yesterday one Of the constructors said
that the hull was apparently At to last forever.
with any sort Of care as her plates showed no
srns of the usage TO which they had been sub
,ected In her interior she is as good as ever, so
far as her structural parts are concerned, and
there n every prospect that when she is again
n,aced IN commission she will rank with the best
shins Of the Navy in speed and general useful
ness. and with her new armament, VIII be able
70 give some Of the heavier ships OF foreign
powers a hard tussle II occasion requires. Her
new engines. which are only lacking some small
connections to be ready for turning in the set
t,ng-up shop. will probably feel steam some time
nert month The condensers have been tested,
and with the exception OF shght ieah' nave
been found to be all right
The regular work of repairs on the ships OF
the feet, together with the work on the Chicago
the Ericsson and the Puritan. will keep things
moving along at a lively pace for some time
There was a rumor floating around yesterday
that the Atlanta. which is now at the yard
awaiting her turn at the hands OF the rebuild
ers. will be sent to the Norfolk yard. but 1t
could not be verified 1t is hoped by the yard
force that the rumor is not based on fact, as
there is none too much work in sight at present
and the yard has plant and force capable OF
handling much more business than is likely TO
come to II.
Recent bids for battle-ships and torpedo boats
have again called attention to what many
people consider a mistake on the part OF the
Government. That u.s. the awarding OF work OF
that sort to outside firms while the Government
plant Is so well equipped and the force OF men
IN such an excellent condition as regards per-
sonnet and numbers. With the new tools and
engines placed in the yard shops In the last year
or two II was pointed out yesterday. the Brook
Ign yard has all the facilities for building naval
vessels possessed by any private firm which Is
in the business, and the fact that wages and
hours Of labor more near the level OF out
side concerns than ever before is cited as one
great point In favor Of the work. or portion
of IT, being placed in the hands Of the Govern
ment builders
HOW THE CONTRACT WORK STANDS
The contract work on improvements about the
yard is in a rather peculiar condition. 1t may be
remembered that the case Of j. NJ. Brosnan who
had the contract for building wall on the north
ern edge Of the Naval Hospital grounds is still in
the hands Of United States Commissioner More
awaiting settlement At the time the wall con-
tract was under way the same contractor was
west from the end of Main-st., on which work
had been suspended. Since the of the
faulty work in the wall went into court. work
the sea wall has been resumed and it is now
nearly completed. The last of the stone for the
coping came to the yard yesterday, and when
that is placed there will remain only the driving
OF the fender spiles the outer wall. and the
filling In of the earth at the back There is little
outside work being carried on any Of the
buildings. No. 115 being finished. The tim
Der dock shows signs of nearing completion as to
the approaches and the work of constructing the
retaining walls is going ahead with the vgor
which has marked all the operations conducted
by the contractors who undertook 10 finish the
task A contract has been made with Benner &
Ondyke to build section of the quay wall inside
the Whitney Basin. in the Cob Dock. the price
being 500 a linear foot. The section will begin at
the end of the present quay wall. and be about
orr feet long This wall will be built Of concrete
on a sple foundation, and have granite coping
and a backing of riprap stone. j. Sanford Ross
IA the lowest bidder for the contract for the
wall al the coal wharf, his figure being SIS a
linear foot and IL is expected that he will get
the contract This wall, which will be about 4SS
feet long will take the place OF the present rot
ten wooden structure, and Is an Improvement
greatly needed. II will be built according to the
general specifications covering the Whitney Basin
wall the difference in price being attributed to