New-York tribune., 1897-07-04
AFFAIRS AT THE NAVY YARD
ORDERS TO RESUME WORK GIVEN AND
A BUSY MONTH EXPECTED.

THE ACCIDENT ON THE MONITOR PURITAN
CHANGES IN THE UNIFORM RECEIVED
WITH plsousr-A MILLION DOL
LARS FOR REPAIRS
Activity is the order OF the day at the Navy
Yard. and the hearts Of the men who have been
furloughed within the last month have been
made glad by orders to resume work. The De-
partment Of Construction and Repair has taken
on about three hundred men, the force OF the
civil engineers has been increased by about a
hundred men, and in the steam engineering
shops lists are being made out for number OF
men who will begin work after the celebration
Of Independence Day. In the latter department
work is In hand for the Indiana. Detroit. An
napos, Helena, Essex Puritan and Terror, out
side OF the big jobs connected with the Chicago
and the Atlanta. The work the Atlanta
which will be begun at once. includes the chang
ing Of her engines from the compound 10 the
triple xpanson inclined type. Four Scotch
boilers are TO be Installed, which, developing
1900 horsepower under 160 pounds of steam
will give her a speed Of about 10 knots an hour
Two new cylinders will have TO be cast for the
engines one of the present set being discarded
and the other being fitted with an inner BUSH
ing. The process Of dismantling the engine
room is to begin this week. The Chicago's en-
gines. which have been in the setting up shop
FOR the last six months. will probably be placed
on board the cruiser soon. as the material for
the foundation plates is coming to the yard and
being put in place. The department has S33,OOO
available for the month. and until August 1 at
least the wheels will go round steadily.
The Construction Department is gathering the
material for new tug to be built on the lines
of the present Narkeeta. for use around the
ard no vvil 10 NJ
inches long 21 feet inch BEAM and feet
inches draught. with a displacement Of 22o
tons She will have two masts and one cargo
beam. Work by the department on all the YES
sells is going ahead as fast possible.
Civil Engineer Franklin G. Prindle has been
recalled from the work on the Naval Hospital
improvements. and will have charge Of the
building OF the cofferdam which is to keep out
the water while the repairs are being made on
the apron at the entrance 10 the big drydock.
This Job will give employment to about fifty
men, and will be done by the Government.
Operations are expected 10 be begun this week
THE ACCIDENT ON THE PURITAN.
So far as has been estimated. the loss by the
accident to the furnaces Of the boiler Z. board
the Puritan will amount TO about 81, 300. The
Board appointed by Commodore Bunce TO inves-
tigate the accident finished its work yesterday.
and late In the afternoon the report was sent to
the office by the commandant by whom II will
be forwarded TO Washington. The engines OF the
monitor are all right. and the dock trial was con-
tinued yesterday while the Board in session.
The members Of the Board are Chief Engineer
Stacey Potts, Of the Detroit: Passed Assistant
Engineer Salisbury. and Assistant Engineer
Moody, Of the Indiana. They declined to give
any information as to their findings. and the re-
suit will not be known until 1t is made public IN
Washington. Chief Engineer Cowie, OF the mon
itor is rapidly recovering from the blisters re-
ceived while shutting off steam after the acci-
dent. ..,
One novel feature Of the affair Is the method
10 be used in replacing the broken-down crowns
To put them into the ship In the ordlnarS way
would involve a heavy expense. and lois OF WORK
in cutting decks and matches. and as the mon
itor has a comfortable large smokepipe, the new
ship through the pipe, being lifted up over 'ic
top of the pipe by the floating crane.
DISGUST AT CHANGES IN THE UNIFORM
It would be difficult to ind madder and
more disgusted set Of men than those aHecteo
by the order relative to changes in the uniform
which went into effect on July l. 1t Is not SO
much the new cap that is objected to as the
fact that sleeve ornaments now used on the
special fun dress suit shall also be used on the
blue service coat, and that shoulder straps
shall be used on the white service coat
and overcoat 1t is pointed out that the
new order adds nothing to the value OF the
service OF the men. while making them ap-
pear when on duty much the same as the tenn
porary officers the summer excursion boats.
and involves an extra expense which many or
the Junior officers are in no condition 10 meet
The new order involves an expense OF rom from >.
good slice out Of the monthly pay OF some or
those in the lower ranks. The old stripe on the
service coat was simple. servceabe ana neat,
and there is possibility OF some ill-feeling on
the part Of the Naval Reserve men. the new
regalia being a close imitation Of their badges
Just who is responsible for the change and the
drain on the purses is not known. but II Is a
hard task II not one impossible OF accomplish
ment TO find any officers who have good word
for the new and foolish scheme or the person
who succeeded in having the idea put into ef-
feet
TORPEDO-BoATs TO BE sCRAPED.
The torpedo-boat Porter has arrived at the
yard and will go into the timber dock early this
week. She will be accompanied, probably. by
the Helena and both Will have cleaning and
scraping. The torpedo-boat is frequent visitor
TO the drydock the last call being for the pur-
pose Of having a coat Of ant-fouling paint ap-
piled to take the place OF that which had been
washed off in her rapid movement through the
water.
Captain John r. Bartlett. who has been de-
tached from the command Of the Puritan. will
20 before the Retiring Board. in Washington. on
Tuesday. He will be succeeded by Captain Pur-
nell F. Harrington. Of the Terror, and at pres
ent Lieutenant Commander Selfridge Is In
charge Of the big monitor Captain Harring-
toms successor. on the Terror has not yet been
named.
BOYS TRANSFERRED TO GENERAL SERVICE
The boys on the training-shp Essex, which is
now at the yard. have all been transferred TO
the general service as second-class apprentices
This was ordered by Commodore Crownnshield
Of the Bureau Of Navigation on the recommen-
dalton Of Captain F. W. Dckins. who inspected
the Essex. and the service gains number Of
the young men who are Americanizng and IN
creasing the efficiency and intelligence OF the