New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-10-03
AFFAIRS AT THE NAVY YARD
THE QUESTION OF DRYDOCKS STILL
THE CAUSE OF ANXIETY.

COMFORTABLE RATE-REPAIRs DELAY THE
DEPARTURE OF THE TORPEDO FLEET
CHANGES AT THE HOME STATION.
Over all the routine work OF the yard in the
way Of repairing vessels and fitting them Tor
sea duty and the assembling OF the torpedo-boat
feet and the arrival and unloading or the oig
,ne.eorite from Lieutenant Peary's grimy and
W-smelling ship the Hope. has doomed the ques-
ton OF drydocks. and its solution seems as far
off as ever The report OF the board presided
over by Commodore Bunce. the commandant Of
tho ward which recommended the construction
o, series OF concrete docks. was made public
o,,v rec4ntlv but already serious opposition to
.,e Man proposed has made itself manifest, and
tho latest developments point to the belief that
Z. Congress Is depended on 10 make the neces-
eo-v anpropriations for the construction Of the
new works they will not be built in hurry.
IN the mean time. Naval Constructor Bowles,
M. deferred by the wrecl; OF schooner loaded
with timber for the Golfer dam of the big dock,
which Is idle has gone ahead with the work.
and the welcome announcement was made yes
terday that the strike which interfered with the
shipment Of the big sticks needed for the work IS
at an end, and that steamer loaded with ma
terial Is on its way direct TO the yard This
means a rush which will go long way toward
the point where the filling in Of the Golfer dam
spaces may be started. This filling in is no small
lob but II will not be expensive as had at first
been supposed. as arrangements have been made
for the use OF material taken out by the con-
tractors who are digging out the city property
Just cas-, OF the Navy Yard wall for the Walla-
bout Market piers. This material, which is an
extremely heavy and tenacious clay, is admir-
ably adapted for the purpose and its use by
the Government will be an advantage TO the de-
partment and TO the contractors. both financially
and In point OF time.
THE STONE DOCK CA1sSON LEAKING.
As II 10 emphasize the need OF more accom-
nnodatons in the way OF drydocks. and at the
same time cast a bomb into the camp OF those
who are. for one reason Of another. opposed 10
the building Of timber docks, the stone dock at
the yard which has recently been vacated by
the Chicago began TO take in water at an I'M
comfortable rate yesterday, when the yard tug
Traffic was foated in TO take the place OF the
torpedo boat Ericsson. which has been repaired
The trouble is supposed to be with the rubber
gaskets on the inner edges OF the calsson'
which had been under heavy and continuous
nressure duriag all the time that the cruiser
Chicago was IN the dock and II is said that
when the caisson was shifted II developed
the pumps 20 keep the dock clear of water
Whatever the cause may be. and definite knowl-
edge will only be obtained by a thorough in
vestigation the result Will be The placing Of the
dock "out Of commission" for a time. leaving
the Simpson or timber dock No. ., the only
one available for use. This latter dock is also
doing a little leaking, but not enough at pres
ent 10 cause any apprehension.
Taking it all In all, the drydock question is
I1~< 10, f-0vo ont ana a
station, and the return OF the fleet. al present
at sea under Admiral Sicard is awaited with
feelings Of apprehension.
THE TORPEDO FLEET DELAYED.
TIE departure OF the torpedo feet has been
delayed by trifing arrangements OF the ma
chinery Of some OF the little flyers, and tugs
were backing and filing the small green boats
around the entrance 10 the Whitney Basin yes
terday afternoon, to the great delight OF the
swarns Of people who had gone 70 the yard to
see the rneteorite. The Foote was tied up at
the Cob Dock wall close TO the scow landing, and
the blue band around her after funnel was the
cause Of a good many questions. the answer 70
which was that II was the DISTINGUISHING day
mark Of the flagship OF the feet 1t was an
nounced that the fleet would get 10 sea by Mon
day at the latest. and that the cruise would not
be interrupted materially by the present de-
lay.
Work on the Detroit. Helena. Marblehead,
Montgomery. Texas and Terror, the ships at
present at the yard in commission. has so far
advanced that any all OF them could 20
10 sea at short notice and II IS expected that
when the North Atlantic squadron leaves the
neighborhood OF Yorktown 1t will be increased
by some Of the vessels at present doing duty
at the sea wall Of the yard. The Texas Is 10.
have a new commander within a few weeks.
as the tour OF sea duty Of Captain w. c. Wise,
at present IN command will expire soon. His
successor will be Captain John ". Philip. now
captain Of the Brooklyn Navy Yard. but who is
we'll known In Brooklyn and New-York the
former captain OF the flagship New-York. Com
modore Rush r. Wallace. now in command OF
the naval station at Newport. Is slated for re-
tirernent on account Of age within a short
time He is second on the list Of commodOres.
and will be succeeded by Commodore Albert
Kautz.
Following the recent change In command OF
the Pacific fleet Will come In December the
turn Of Rear-Admiral r. V. McNar from the
command of the Asiatic Station and the proba-
bic assignment L. that duty OF Commodore
George Dewey. who has been doing board duty
for some time. Rear-Admral Selfridge, Of the
European Station. will have finished his tour
OF sea duty early next month. but II Is expected
that he will not be relieved before January,
when he will be ordered home 70 await retire
ment
CHANGES AT THIS STATION
Among the changes IN assignments made
last week are the following affecting this sta
tion:
Gunner F. L. Hoagland. detached from the
Columbia October T. and ordered TO be assistant
Inspector Of ordinance at the works OF f. w. Bliss
e. Co. New-YOrk.
Gunner T NJ Johnston. ordered 10 the Column
ba October 4.
MON, and ordered 20 the Navy Yard New York
Mate L. F. Gallagher. detached from the New
York Yard and ordered 10 th"recelvlng ship Yer
mont.
Lieutenant s W. i. Dehl ordered to office Of
Naval Intelligence Navy Department. September
-
Passed Assistant Engineer J. $. Mckean. de,