New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-10-31
AFFAIRS AT THE NAVY YARD
MANY OF THE FLEET AT THE HOME
STATION THIS WEEK.
THE NEED OF KEEPING TRAINED woRKvrv
on HAND BROUGHT OUT By CHIEF NAVAL
CONSTRUCTOR HIcHBoRN's REPORT
IN ASSIGNMENTS.

NiNy ldtu, loi UiB VI tic meet, the
Brooklyn. the New-York and the Iowa are tied
up at the bulkheads, and in addition to these
some of the smaller vessels are used to fill in
the chinks. 1t is more than likely that Thanks
giving Day will see many Of the vessels in port,
as work has not been begun some Of them
and 1t is known that they are in need OF
some slight repairs. Every one familiar with
the yard routine knows that this means an in
definite stay at the station, and the wives
sweethearts and sisters of the men who man the
ships are hoping that the sailor lads will enjoy
their turkey dinners at home. The New-YOrk
has been foated from the timber dock and 10
in the hands Of the equipment department.
which has a programme covering about two
weeks Of work All this is not absolutely
necessary to the seaworthiness or fighting capa-
bility of the ship, but it is considered just as
well to have all the electrical connections In
good order, and she is expected to remain at the
wall until 1t is all completed. There Is still con-
siderable to be done on the Helena before she
will be ready to start for the China seas, but
she will probably get away within a fortnight.
The movements of the Marblehead, which 10
ready for sea are at present uncertain, and
no one seems to know just what she will be
ordered TO do. The Brooklyn and the Iowa
need not be kept long after the repairs TO be
made are decided on. but there does not appear
to be any rush regarding them. AT the same
time there is nothing to prevent the ships going
to sea on short notice and 1t is the general opin-
ion that no work which would delay them long
will be undertaken at present
The Dolphin is the vessel on which the hopes
Of the yard de oartments hang so far as work
is concerned. A board Of survey is to get at
her within few days. and there is general
oh will he
almost a complete rebuilding ordered. The ship
has never been oyerhauled thoroughly since she
first went into commission. thirteen years ago.
and in addition to the needs Of her engine
and boiler rooms new decks and fittings will
probably be called for Her stay at the yard
is indefinite but It will not be less than three
months. unless an emergency should arise
WORK on THE BIG DOCK STOPPED.
Work on tn big timber dock is at a stand
still the recent storms having upset all the
calculations OF the lumber people and the yard
officers Naval Constructor Bowles has re-
ceived word that some Of the big sticks are on
their way North and. while he is hopeful and
determined TO relax no effort. the fact that
material has started for the North so many
times and been thrown out If the track. calls
for lot Of courage under discouragng cir
~''~
yard that the pile-drvers will resume opera
tons befor. many days, and another start be
made toward brushing aside the 'hoodoo'
which has so far hung over the work.
Paving sewering and building operations have
gone along as usual in the last week, and
the making Of the yard an attractive place
IS gradually approaching completion. An in
stance Of the minor Improvements is the paint.
Ing Of the Macedonian's guns in the little tri'
angular space near the Lyceum Building. com.
monty called trophy patch and the stencillins
on the sides OF the old smoothbores OF the date
Of the engagement In which they were taken.
HICHBORN'S REPORT CAUSES COMMENT.
Considerable comment has been caused at the
ward by the recommendation Of Chief Naval
Constructor Hichborn ma lie in his annual re-
port 10 the Navy Department that five
sheathed cruisers be built at the navy yards,
in order to retain force OF skilled workmen at
the yards when repair work Is slack. 1t Is
understood that the recommendation is favored
by naval officers. hut that it il doubtful II Sec
rotary Long will include 1t in his report. owing
II the Importance of the drydock question. and
the need Of Improvement of the repair plants
at the various yards. This recommendation 10
only in line with the policy which has been
advocated in this column ever since the COM
plction of the batte-ship Maine at the Brook
Ign yard The need OF trained force Of men
at hand at all times has long been apparent
70 the construction and engineering officers at
the yard. bat repair work has come by hts
and starts, ard. as a workman mas put II. cars
for labor have been short and seldom. the
yard has been at Disadvantage To this may
be charged much of the complaint as TO the
amount of time ii takes 10 do anything where
the Government shops are concerned. Heads OF
the bureaus have been put 10 their wits ends
to retain WOrkmen who are skilled in the busl-
ness of making and handling parts Of ships
while private shops have been rushed with Gov
eminent work
The item OF expense has been given as one
Of the principal reasons Why some OF the feet
of smaller boats now coming into line for COM
mission were not built at the yards. but tn9
point appears to have been overlooked that tho
expense OF keeping a large and valuable ship
building plant in good order with an inadequate
force OF and in idleness would more than
make up the difference between the price PAID
to the contractors and cost OF the work TO the
Government as an employer and bull Ter. Never
before were the different divisions OF the yard
forces so well housed as they are now. the major
ty OF the shops were neN er in better condition
for undertaking construction work than AT
present the different bureaus are In the HANDS
of men thoroughly competent for anythins
which may come up In the way Of designing or
building but over it all hangs the cloud OF un-
certainty. and the natural tendency OF the men
is to obtain work in places where work is STEADY
and can be counted on for than month
NJ time. The result Is that when ships come
in four or five at a time. and the shops are
rushed with repair work. men who are avail
able are taken on and when the Jobs are done
they are dismissed. and then comes the howl
of favoritism. and appeals to Congressman ana
other officials supposed to have pulls and IN
vestigations and all the other evils incident 10
delay The assertion Is made by officers sup
posed to know that the Brooklyn yard as az
present rum can turn out ships as quickly, az
we'll and. for the purposes of the Government
as cheaply as any private shop in the country
and the hope Is generally expressed that Secre-
tary Long Will give careful consideration 70
Naval Constructor Hichborn's recommendation
RECRUITING OPERATIONS SUSPENDED.
Although there is great need Of a larger num-
Der OF enlisted men. orders have been issued
suspending recruiting operations for the pres
ent This Is in order to prevent exceeding INC
limit of enlistments allowed by law. The neeo