New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-09
AFFAIRS IN THE NAVY YARD.
THE CRUISER COLUMBIA TO GO IN THE
DRYDOCK.


THE ST. PAUL RUNNING ASHORE
THE QUESTION OF WORK.
Advantage will be taken of the visit of the
cruiser Columbia TO New-YOrk waters 10 give
her hull a cleaning, and orders have been re-
ceived at the yard 10 prepare the timber dock
for her reception She will probably be at the
yard tomorrow and will be foated In on the
first high tide following her arrival The Gin
c.nnati came out Of the dock yesterday forenoon,
and was towed to the coal wharf. She will at
once take on supplies, and the steam engineering
department, which will be the last 10 finish its
work on the little cruiser, will be through in
time to let her 60 to sea on February 49, the day
set for her departure Swift and Ready will
be In prime condition, as the overhauling in her
engine-room has been thorough in every detail
Jus, how long the Columbia will be at the yard
Is not known, but II IS not likely that her stay
will be any longer than is necessary to give her
cleaning and make some slight repairs
The most interesting incident in the yard this
week will be the raising Of the Katahdins nag
on Wednesday. The fact that this queer craft Is
70 become a factor in the naval forces Of the
country serves attraction. and few visitors
come to the yard without paying visit TO the
wharf where she is moored. The fun list OF her
officers will be made public before she Is commas
stoned but at present the only assignments noted
IN addition 10 those already published. are those
Of Chief Engineer c. J. Habighurst 10 have con-
troll OF her engines. with Passed Assistant Ell
gineer T.. W. Kinkaid one of his assistants
The official inspection Of the Katahdin was maue
on Tuesday last and she was found 10 be al ris"'
and ND 10 the mark The next vessel TO go into
commission will be the doube-turreted coast
defence monitor Terror. and, by the present pro-
for oh
In the active list Of the Navy on March l. There
e practically nothing TO be done on her now in
the way OF equipment or finishing, and she coulo
ha ready for sea at short notice Her long sta!
IN the ward has been in one way penen', as II
has given 10 officers interested In her construction
an onportunity to become Thoroughly laiiliAiai
With all her details and 10 see where the posi-
bil!ty Of advantageous changes lie some iil'"o'
changes have been made, all tendlns 10 e""aH0e
the value Of the ship as fighting machine anu
~ increase the comfort and convenience OF her
officers and crew. This latter is an important
proy,ston on the monitors as, with theH 10"
freeboard and great weight they are al all 'ii'es
subject 10 the wash Of the sea, and, as matter
~ course a large part Of the time OF her men
,rns, h. snent below decks. Under these condi-
tons ventilation is a point o, vital iiiipoi
and IN that the monitor has reaped the beneht OF
delay.
FLOATING OF THE TERRoR's BIO SISTER
No date has been set for the floating OF the
rerrors big sister the Puritan. but as her guns
and coming tower Will not De nouH'eu a''N
900 while abe is IN the dock and nothing
further can be done with the chicago ui'''' '""'
docr 10 cleared for her reception there is every
ruohoh,,,,v that the stay OF the monitor IN
the dock will not be any longer than Is necessary
IT.. s.orrnv weather Of the week Just ended
bas ,n4errered with the work on the Dig dry
hock and the other outside Improvements IN 'H'
yard IN, work was resumed on Friday ana Is so
ing ahead IS usual. The enormous amount OF Emu"
and water which poured into the Dis CAVITY Va
the new dock added considerable expen ne, troro
contractors and an extra service eH H a.
Tho n,rps which used 10 keep the wa'eI a.
o normal level There were some "dshOu.S Ia -.
the banks of earth still awaiting the act1h o. r.'s
big scoop, but no part OF the wolk insd Nv The
seriously damaged anu Inc N''"'
flood will be briei a. l., .ha ward in
the question Of the repairs which VIII DE me
- ~ Tavas II may b. remembered that "heh
she was at the yard, there was cohsIuei hr
about defects in her construction anu W.
,rials were had, her return TO the ahchoi az
~ Tonnkinsville was usually repetition o. me
storv that there something wrong no
.Tera vas something wrong Is shown Dy lHe
announcement that the Department Is coi 81,
t. the final report of her examining boaIu'
hitch calls for the expenditure or al Ieas, Wv
600 and three months time TO put the pa Wy. "
W. w., o." a. vnrkjng order II Is expected that the
recomrnen datiOns in reference 70 the chanscS '.-
her machinery and the hydrauhc apparatus ~
oneratinI her turrets Will be approved ana an
order To- replace the antiquated steam pumps
which by order of the Department. Chlel Eng!
neer Melville was compelled 10 pul III Pa ,bs,
viii be issued in few days. II is noticed tnat,
Z, tho full report in which the Board considers
mai the location Of the hydraulic machinery
should be changed from the bottom OF me snip,
20 m 10
~ Cantain Glass, VINO cOmnanied the SNIP Is
sustained as against that # Naval Constructor
Bowles. who built her Na'sd oiice t Gye an
rnent gets off with the expenditure or SZvoon
there will be reason for complaint ana ms
sum may safely be added to the cost or the
svnerinenting of building an American slip from
English designs. ,,. % ~. rlor o,bsv
,ng surerimnosed turrets on the new battle-ships.
Can,e;n RObley d. Evans. now OF the Indiana
and recently OF the New-York. Is created win
having voiced his objections to the sehene IN an
interview with the Secretary or the Navy >, Inc
yoard az Inspection which is TO visit the Indlaha
shortly. will inquire into the matter ana deter
mine II practicable. whether or hot the new piaa
Vow tu-rets are capable OF satisfactory operation
During the inspection Captain Evans INTENDS IL
Is said 10 fire the eight-nch guns over the turrets
Of the thirteen inch guns. 10 show that no III
sryects woud result from the blast OF the smaller
guns Captain Evans has remarked that ne
would IN We fired the guns during the recent prac
tice trip Of the Indiana had he not oeen alralo
MAJ The wooden pilot house would have been In
t1ired The report OF the Inspection Boaro VIII
be of considerable Importance as II is unu cs
stood that the Secretary proposes 10 CONSIDER
Il in relation to the turrets " The kearsarge ana
Kentucky the turrets for which. as al present
arranged. will be on the dyible-decker plan
The question Of providing more work TOR the
NAVY Yard is stil on the boards and In view OF
me bills introduced by Congressman 10" anu
Bartlett calling for heavy increase IN 'le pa t
fle-shps and a corresponding swelling or Inc
number Of smaller vessels. there is strong nope
that the plant will be put to better use IMAM re-
naming idle The fact Is regarded as hopeiul
sign that an informal poll OF the House Commit
tee on Naval Affairs shows that majority OF me
members are In favor Of going ahead win the
work ~ construction More than half the com
mittee II is said. is in favor OF the proposed SIX