The San Francisco call., 1896-03-09
THE NEWS FROM
MARE ISLAND,
The Monitor Monadnock
Is Preparing for Her
Departure.
A CREDIT TO THE YARD.
Encouraging Expressions From
the Secretary OF the
Navy.
MAY BUILD MORE WARSHIPs.
Work Still Slack on Account of Want
of FundS-Miscellaneous
Notes.
MAY BUILD MORE wARsHIPs.

VALLEJO, CAL, March s.-The monitor
Monadnock was hauled out from the quay
wall Saturday afternoon and is now lying
in the stream attached to one of the buoys,
and the first of the week her powder will
be sent aboard. The inspection board still
have her in their charge. For the last few
days lighters have been alongside, from
which quantities of coal have been trans
ferred to the bunkers. Stores OF all kinds
are snugly slowed in the various rooms set
apart for their reception. The day has not
yet been set for her departure from the
navy-yard, where for so many years she
has proved boon to the mechanics; and,
while she is virtually out of their hands,
they look with pride upon the elimination
of their handiwork.
Supervisor McGettigan has just returned
from Washington, and in a conversation
with the Secretary of the Navy, he was in
formed by that official that the yard hav-
ing gained such well-earned reputation
for completeness of work intrusted to his
representatives and the men employed,
he will do all in his power to further its
interests, and that while the yard has had
much work in the past few years the out
look is good for an increased amount of
labor.
1t is understood that committee will
be sent on to Washington instructed to
assist our representatives and the Secre-
tary in furthering the proposition of get
ting cruiser or a battleship to build. If
this cannot be accomplished then a gun
boat will be desirable. Anything, how
ever, will be welcome to keep force of
men employed. The ordering of all the
boats, spars, canvas outfits end furniture
of the two gunboats now under construc-
tion at the Union Iron Works at San Fran
cisco will help along as this means an ex-
penditure of upwards of sixty thousand
dollars in labor and material.
The boilers of the Swatara have been re-
moved and hauled up and ranged in posi-
ton near the red barn, not far from the
steam engineering building where as soon
as funds are available they will be over
hauled and painted and afterwards, when
the time arrives for her repair will be
placed in the Mohican, the boilers in her
having been condemned as no longer fit
for service.
Work is getting very slack in that de-
partment, owing to lack of funds, and ru-
unforeseen occurs discharge of some
magnitude, not only in that but in the con-
struction department, will take place in
the near future.
At the marine barracks the guard for the
battle-ship Oregon is being selected. Cap
tain O. G. Berrvnan, U. S. NJ. c., will have
command of the marine guard ON board
This is the only officer that seems to be
settled upon as likely to 60 to her. She
will carry about sixty men i'll the guard
A fine little wherry for the Monadnock
is under constructions; the Mohican's
barge has been fitted for the naval reserves,
and all of the fine boats for the Co.
manche have been sent to her. The m oni-
tor is nearly ready to be sent to San Fran
cisco for the reserves. She has been thor
oughly cleaned, and at recent visit to her
by some of the officers of this auxiliary
branch Of the navy they expressed them
selves as pleased with her appearance.
Three general service men have been de-
tailed to her to serve while under charge
of the reserves.
When the Monadnock reaches the City
of San Francisco and sounds her foghorn,
the good people need not be affrighted and
imagine that half dozen of the water
front steam crafts are letting off steam for
fear of their boilers going up in air.
The Baltimore still remains high and
dry on the stocks in the granite dock. Wis
itors look with wonderment at her large
proportions, but in comparison with the
Oregon she cannot be compared in the
same breath; there is said to be such
vast difference in their size. No attem pit
has yet been made to enlarge the entra nee
to the dock, therefore, until this work has
been ACCOMPLISHED, when the Oregon re-
quires sdocking-which by the rules of the