New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-25
AFFAIRS IN THE NAVY YARD
ITEMS OF INTEREST FROM THE SQUAD
RoNs HOME STATION.
nuGE KEEIs ON THE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
FROM OTHER YARDS TO JOIN THE PARADE
POINT ABOUT THE CRUISE OF

FROM OTHER YARDS TO JOIN THE PARADE
POINT ABOUT THE CRUISE OF
THE ST. MARY's.
In the Government domain on the shores of
the Wallabout, the week just ended has been
one Of comparative ease. the only big jobs on
hand being the fitting of bige keels. or roller
checks to the hull of the battle-ship Massachu-
setts and the repairs to the little torpedo-boat
Porter otherwise known AS No. q. The work
on the batte-ship has been pushed ahead so far
that the starboard side Is almost completed
while the port side is ready to receive the strips
Of iron which are TO prevent the racking roll of
the ship when in a seaway. The Porter has
been foated out of drydock No. 3 and is in
Nrst-class condition. She will probably have
run tomorrow Wednesday, to try her en-
ejres and see that they are in perfect alignment
and also TO see that her bottom is where it
should be. this latter point being made neces-
gary by sensational stories that her hull had
shown a tendency to divide itself into two Sec
tons someW here Just below the watcr-line.
one Of the most severe tests which could have
been demanded Of a new drydock is boine I'M
dergone by the structure recently completed by
the firm Of T. & a. Walsh. for the big battle-shp
Massachusetts has not been moved since she first
went into the dock 4 fortnight age. This con-
slant steady strain has had no appreciable ef-
feet on the alignment Of tho dock and no de-
r.ession Of the bed foundation has been dis
covered. This will be good news to those who
have had fears that the dock would not fulfil it's
purpose, and assures the Department Of
dock on the Atlantic coast which can handle
without danger any vessel flying the American
fag.
There has been invasion Of the yard by
Department tugs froni other places. which hava
come to take part in the naval parade on Grant
Day. Among the new arrivals, the Leyden.
from the Portsmouth. N. H., yard, is the largest
and most attractive and presents much finer
appearance than the boats Of the home station
The Ivana, from Boston, Respondent in gold
and white, also attracted attention from visitors
TO the yard yesterday. The difference in ap-
rearance may be accounted for by the fact that
the visiting tugs have not the work to do which
falls To the lot of the Nina and the Narkeeta,
which are such familiar objects on the waters
Of New-York. The Scout the boat used by
Captain Delehanty, harbor supervisor. left the
yard late yesterday afternoon after a short
visit The Fortune and the Rocket, both from
the Newport Naval Station. expected here
to-day to join the feet of small craft flying the
Government ensign. The rebuilt Undine, Ad-
miral Sicard's steam launch, was also ar object
of interest
AGAIN THE ERICSSON.
Again the unlucky torpedo-boat Ericsson has
demonstrated her claim TO be considered the
champion "hoodoo" Of her class. She was
scheduled to start from the YARD yesterday to
go down off Sandy Hook for torpedo practice.
and when she started there snap and
crack. and the valve rods OF the second inter-
mediate cylinder of the port engines gave way.
The cylinder thrown out. proper connections
made and. with one engine working as triple
expansion and the other quadruple. the lit
tie craft went out her mission. returning
soon after O'Clock. luckily. without further ac-
cident. The necessary repairs will not require
much time. and will be made as soon as pos
sible
Work on the Chicago has advanced so far that
the ship is ready to receive her boilers. but as
those Of the Babcock e. Wilcox make with which
she is TO be fitted not yet ready for her there
will be no hurry about their installation Her
engines awaiting transportation to the ship
and her shaft couplings are being fitted in the
machine shop.
The training ship Alliance will be ready for
business within few weeks, and her top and
topgalant masts have been fitted into place
Her new spardeck is a great improvement, as 1t
gives her room for additional number Of boys
and much higher freeboard.
RUMORs OF INVESTIGATIONS.
There is considerable gossip about the yard
relative to a possible investigation. at the in
stigation of the trades unions. of the method Of
the Labor Board in the hiring and dischargng
Of the employees Of the yard. The greater num-
Der of the yard employees are under the direc-
ton Of the Bureau Of Construction and Repair
and the steam engineering chiefs strens
movement has been started to have the present
If Francis IL, BOWleS
Edward Farmer detached and assigned TO duty
elsewhere the idea Of those behind it being that
thereby the door would be opened for the re-
ward Of political aids of the ward leaders There
is confident feeling that If there is an nVestl-
CATION Of the matter the politicians VIII be de-
feated and il can be announced authoritatVely
that no change will be made in the present
heads Of the departments. unless some more
grievous fault is discovered than has yet come
10 light.
A point in naval affairs in which the city OF
New-York. through its Board Of Education. Is
Interested has come up, and its settlement VIII
probably bring disappointment to some hearts
which have been set on summer cruise OF the
training-ship st. Mary's, near the coast, instead
OF across the Atlantic. The ship was scheduled
10 sail on her spring and summer cruis, on
Thursday last, but her departure was delayeo
for al least week, ard search FOR eXplanatloEo
resulted in none being found. 1t has been
learned however, that Lieutenant Commander
William H. Reeder, who succeeded Lieutenant
Commander Wells L. Field in command of the
schOolship. has been making efforts to have the
usual cruise at sea omitted this summer, the de-
sire being expressed to take theship to New-l ON
don, Boston, Portland, and other places along
the coast II has been pointed out by NUMBER
Of people interested in the ship, and the boys
on board that this would not carry out the OBJ
3ects OF the school. the amount or seaman
ship to be learned cruise Of the sort out
lined would not help the lads in any way. Inc
work Of getting into and leaving port can be
made clear BY handling the ship in foreign
ports and in addition, the practical knowledge
Of how to handle ship when stormy Wlhu Ht arr
irving To tear the top off the Atlantic Ocean
IS to be gained by the usual trip. 1t Is regarded