New-York tribune., 1897-08-29
AFFAIRS AT THE NAVY YARD
WORK on THE ANNAPOLIS TO BE
RUSHED NIGHT AND DAY.

TIE GUNBoAT ORDERED READY FOR SEA BY SEP
TEMBER ?-THE CHICAGO NEARING COMPILE
TIoN-AN ORDER AFFECTING WATCH
DUTY IN PORT AND AT SEA
An unexpected change in the orders relative
10 the finishing OF vessels now IN the hands or
workmen Mt the Navy Yard. received late yes
terday afternoon, VIII make the Department Of
Construction and Repair the centre of activity
for the next few days The gunboat Annapolis
il ordered to bc ready for September -
which IL two weeks ahead of the time originally
set and compliance with the order will require
work night and day until the date mentioned
including no cessation Of activity to-day. This
order will permit OF the six days trial trip Of the
ship being begun on September >. as the vessel
will 60 from the yard direct to Hampton Roads
where she will be taken in charge by the In
spection Board The delay in completing the
little vessel and holding her final test has been
the cause OF not little anxiety on the part OF
her builders. the Crescent COMPANY OF which
Lewis Nixon is the head as the final payment
by the Government to her constructors will not
be made until after the report OF the Board has
been received. and IL is understood that the
urgent appeals of Mr.. Nixon to the Department
completing her and preparing for sea.
The cruiser Cincinnati about which there has
been considerable talk in connection with the
rumor that Commander Bowman VI. MCCalla, Of
unpleasant fame among sailors. had applied for
her command. will have week longer at the
yard. and is not due to sail for the South Allan
tic station before September g on which date
the monitor Terror is TO be ready for sea. with
har bau n in Il
business. and her cngne-room all Strengthened
out. The Detroit is slated for duty on the 9th
day after the cruiser and the monitor are to
sail. The squadron which included the New
York Indiana. Massachusetts, Maine Iowa
Texas. Brooklyn. Puritan and Dolphin arrived
at Bar fiarbor on Tuesday. and will sail for
Hampton Roads tomorrow waiting at the latter
place for the arrival Of Acting Secretary Roose-
Welt. When he joins the feet he will go on
board the transport Fern. and accompany the
vessels to sea for three or four DAYS drill
This drill is intended to bring out the minor de-
fects in the vessels which have been rcportod to
the Department These defects will be remedled
without loss Of time. and the ships made as ef-
fective rs possible.
IMPROVEMENTS on BUILDING NO +
Extensive improvements are being made on
huilding No. ]. containing the administrative
ofhces OF the station. The balconies Of the sec
ond and third floors are being lncIosed in brick
walls bullt between the pillars which support
the roof and the rooms thus made will gi-e
much needed space to the officers The work IS
10 he completed by the middle Of next month
The Offices formerly in the boathouse Building
NO. II, have been removed 10 other quarters
and the space they occupied will be devoted to
lp go oF hpo.c
Is being laid. and the luilding overhaued in
other parts. ether and more noticeable improve
ments in the yard include the filing and grading
Of the spaces between the buildings left vacant
by the removal Of the junk heaps and other yard
wreckage which was dumped in unsightly piles
wherever room for them could be found
THE MONTGOMERY IN DRYDOCK
The Montgomery. which came up from Key
West. arriving at the yard on Friday went into
the timber dock Yesterday a day or so sooner
than had been expected and the torpedo boat
Porter. which had been in the dock having her
propeller blades changed was foated. The Mont
gomerys hull. after her stay in Southern waters.
yielded a fine crop Of barnacles, and their re-
moval VIII increase the speed Of the vessel from
three to four knots an hour over that developed
on her run up the coast. The new blades of the
bronze blades taken off responsible for a
gavanc action which interfered with the utili-
~ of the little flyer. 1t is also held that the iron
blades Will be of more service in the POrter's
trip up the Mississippi. account Of the posi-.
bility Of contact with floating logs.
NEW BOILERS FOR THE CHICAGO
There are outward evidences Of internal activ-
ity on the Chicago, in the stone dock and six
l. A.. kni hn.
yard and been landed on the stone pier ready to
be placed in position. The other boilers Of her
set which have been built in the shops of the
Engineering Department, have been ready for
transfer for some time, and all hands will be
glad VIII N the bulky articles and the ships en-
gincs are at last safely board the recon
structeG cruiser Preparations are being made
at the yard for the receipt Of the stores for the
ship. and all signs point to speedy completion
Of the work.
orders have been received To hasten the work
on the big timber dock as much as possible but
this amounts to nothing long as the Depart
ment is hdmpered by lack of material. There is
much interest in the results OF the meetings Of
the Dock Board which being held at the
yard. but silence Is the rule regarding the delib-
erations or the possible results Naval Con-
structor BoWles has Transmitted a report to the
Navy Department regarding the docking Of the
battle-5hip Indiana at Halifax The cost was
only S3.1eO. most of the work was done bv
the ships force. The report criticises the purnp-
ing capacity Of the structure. considerable DELAY
having been cXperieno ed in pumping out the
dock after the entrance of the vessel Naval
Constructor Bowles says that the dock at Halt
fax is we'll located. far as the tidal currents
are concerned for the safety and convenience Of
vessels entering and leaving the dock The In
diana was dpcked a short time before high
water. at which time The tide gave % feet Il
inches over the sill and ~ feet q inches over the
blocks as set for the vessel The Navy DEPART
mcnt otii 'ialS are much gratGed at the success
ful docking of the shi. which was out OF water
only four days.
AN ORDER LIMITING WATCH Duty