New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-06-27

built Of three rows of sheet piling fifteen feet
apart and the foundation Will be Of piling driven
as deep as possible The spaces between the
rows Of png will be filled with hard clay. and
on top Of this will be a level stretch of eartn
three or four feet thick and about thirty feet
wide The dam will be loo feet long, and the
ends will be bUllt into channels in the wall and
packed to make a watertight wall from
stone to stone sloping bank OF earth is TO
he made the outside of the Gam. reaching
from its base 10 above the high water-line. An
idea Of the strength required in this structure
may be gathered from the fact that II will be eX
pected TO Withstand the pressure or about thirty
seven feet of water at high tide without a leak.
Engineers place the limit Of time required to
complete the work at six months after the re-
Cept OF material, but it is not at all likely that
this will be long enough. as the yard is hotorious
for delays. and there is a lot of red tape about
everything of the sort, which requires long time
to untangle The final plans have not yet been
accepted but it is said that the outline given is
not likely to be departed from in any material
point.
As has been noted the Indiana is to be cleaned
by divers. This is due 10 the reluctance Of the
Department TO take the chances involved in an
attempt to get the big ship into the dock at Port
Royal and get her out again. 1t is announced
that there is no doubt about the ability Of the
dock to sustain her weight. the trouble being the
depth of water over the sill. which is barely
sufficient TO accommodate vessel of her
draught even when the tide is at its highest
This defect shows that the action Of the Depart
ment in dredging away the bar in the channel
Just before the entrance to the dock is reached,
was Of little so far as the efficiency OF the
dock is concerned
NEW SHIPS To Go INTO COMMISSION.
Officers who have just become comfortably
settled in easy berths shore are somewhat
disturbed by the possibility o. the Department
cutting down the short duty term to two years
instead Of the present three years. This meas
IRE is under consideration in consequence of the
large number Of vessels which will go into com
mission soon, no less than twelve being slated
for active duty within the next four months
These ships will require about 10 of1cers, ana
in addition TO these a number Of officers VIII be
relieved Of duty and assigned to shore PAGES
six out Of the twelve vessels Will go INTO ser
vice in July. These the gunbOats Helena
Nashville Annapolis. Wheeling. NcksburS and
Marietta Four torpedo boats are also on the
slate and the Cincinnati is TO fly her nag Inc
latter ship is likely 10 be assigned 10 the SCUM
Atlantic station. in connection with the VIII
mington. 1t has been decided that the ON
cinnati which is now on her way to New-York:
viii not be taken out 81 commission. as hau
ur.ViOuclV been intended. but that on her ar
rival here such minor repairs as may Ne needed
will be made. and later in the season she VIII
be ordered 10 take the place OF the Lancaster
now on the station with the Castlne' Inc Nash-
Vile and Annapolis. Of the gunboats. VIII likely
remain on the North Atlantic station, the
Helena now at the yard. and the Wheeling VIII
go TO the Asatic station, and the Marietta VIII
take the place Of the Pinta. now at Sitka
only three vessels are scheduled To 90 out of
commission within the next four months-the
Minneap polls the Thetis and the Pin'a, and ms
rather dimnshes the intended size Of the Hett
10 be held in reserre. There is talk of the Phi!a-
delphia the flagship of the Pacific station bclhg
taken out OF service, but In that case the De
partrnent Will not be helped in the matter of men
or officers as the Baltimore will hoist her flag
and the crew simply be transferred. The ar
rival of'the gunboats in Asiatc waters Will prob
ably moan the condemnation and sale of the old
MOnOcacy.
OF course. all these changes and commission
ines will depend on the success OF the Depart
urrt in securing enlistments. which. at present,
70 slow The Minneapolis. which viii be home
within n week or two. will furnish some men.
i,ut not enough to go around. A portion OF her
men will be attached 10 the Helena and July
has been set for the ceremony OF raising her
flag, which will take place at the yard.