New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-05-17

had nothing to do with it.
FAULTY WORK IN NEWPORT. ALSO
On top Of all this comes the news from Wash
ington that there has been a similar state Of
affairs discovered at the Naval War College
in Newport, and that Board OF Survey and In
spection has been asked for to fix the blame
for lot of faulty work discovered there. In
this connection an officer thoroughly acquainted
with the whole business Is quoted as saying:
THE whole trouble lice right here. The APP
pontment of officials who are not civil en-
gineew to superntend civil engineering work
naturally leads to these results. Just why
line officer, or a steam engineer, or a surgeon
should be deemed competent to pass on the
quality Of masonry work while the civil en-
gineers are kept busy at routine work that
could be done equally we'll by clerk. Is
question which. when answered by the Depart
ment will show how deep the trouble lies.
The people at the head of affairs will wake up
TO this some time. and the only fear Of those
interested is that when that some time comes
1t will be too late for the people will want TO
know all about 1t. and the questions which
will be asked will not be easy to answer"
TROUBLE WITH THE NEW CAIssoN.
The caisson for the granite drydock was
put in place on Thursday and has been causing
trouble ever since. The pumps have had nara
work to keep the water at a level and prevent the
leaks from filling the dock to the sea level Inc
first difficulty found on Friday, when the uock
pumped out. and stream of water was fouho
to be pouring in from the swinging end An IN
vestigaton showed that this was due TO the drop
ping of some tools in the slot In which the end OF
the caisson supposed to fit This was rem
edied. and another attempt made to clear the
dock. Then new trouble arose. From beneath
the new gate a stream of water came In whlcn
kept the pumps busy in preventing gain, ana
Yesterday a diver was sent down 10 find the de-
feet. 1t is believed that this leakage is due to the
dredging operations which have been going on
near the gate of the dock since the monitor Puri-
tan was 1oated a short time ago The big dredge
stirred up a lot of mud. and the removal of the old
casson Is thought TO have allowed the setting or
large quantities of silt on the sill OF the DOCK
An uneven settling of this deposit would naturally
leave spaces where the water would hnd It's way
through into the dock .
The structure. which was built by Marvel. of
Newburg is a doube-ended hull. of steel each
end being formed similar TO the forward end or
ship The keel Is straight. and the ends and
stems curved fit the stone wall of the dock: the
main deck is of steel. and there is an upper deck
of wood projecting over the hull at the ENDS; Inc
dimensions are follows: Length over all. top
Of waterways 6S feet inches: extreme breadth.
Is feet; breadth on top. II feet; height from top
of upper deck to bottom of keel plate 81 feet.
STEAM ENGINEERS RUSHED.
There is a rush of work in the Bureau OF
Steam Engineering. and overtime will be the
order of the day until the ships at the yard are
sent down 70 the fleet. Additional work has
been caused by the equipment of new steam
launch for the use of the Second Separate Dlvl-
sior of the Naval Militia. of Rochester Inc De
rsrtment has lent to the division steam !aunch
No 49, and it will start this morning Tor
Rochester by way Of the Hudson River and the
Erie Canal in charge of Lieutenant TrowbrldSe
and other officers who have come TO the yard
after It, There will also be a dinghy a swinging
boom and a complete outfit for the launch sent
on by freight. A.,
The Job Of taking out the machinery OF the
Chicago is going ahead as fast as circumstances
will permit and the seawall where she is ued
IN is a strong reminder of South-st. junk shop.
as il is covered with litter OF old IRON ana
various pieces of machinery. all of which snow
marks of hard usage Nothing has Deen done -
the transport Fern, which is al the yard await
ing repairs but il is expected that Work VIII De.
gin on her as the warshlps are OUT oi
the way. gratifying advance Is noted IN 'he
work of preparing the approaches to the new
gate at Sands-st, and the buildings are OUT Vi
the hands Of the pasterers and nearly reduy ioi
use. .....,.
On the causeWay and sea walls under construc-
ton there is a delay caused this time by ack OF
funds and the necessity of waiting for the action
OF Congress in the matter or appropriations; III
the mean time the new timber dock IS rusnlhs
along, and the building OF the caisson' which Is
being constructed inside the dock. Is attracting
considerable attention from the visitors and WORK
men, The side walls are nearly nnisheu anu 'ne
flooring where the caisson will rest Is being put
In place. $500 nj, T., ,ho
court-martial room in building No. I on FRIDAY
afternoon, and the series OF outdoor concerts
was begun by the yard band Inc dances s na ~,
been entirely successful this season, the added al
traction OF tea being served having had the erect
Of increasing the attendance ,
A mock or nlly hoiiliiiB Pi6cO"' ~" - s..
within the next few days at the Brooklyn Navy
Yard for naval purposes. as result or the eApei-
ments which have been conducted with THESE
birds at the Naval Academy and at the naVal sta-
ton al Key West These experiments snow 'ha'
birds taken as far as 800 miles out TO sea nave
returned TO their coops with messages from the
offiren, on board the ships which released them
These birds depend wholly upon their slght. ana
in fog they fail to give satisfaction In adul'iUn
to the location of coops at Ncw-York. Annapoils
and Key West. ii Is the intention OF Commander
c. f. Chadwick. chief OF the Bureau OF equipment
1rho bas charge Of all matters OF this kind. to
nlaca birds at the naval station at Newport. the
Norfolk Navy Yard, League Island Navy YARD
and at Mare Island
MR. SCHVALBACH NOT TURNED DONN.