New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-07-13
TO PUT FORT LAFAYETTE IN REPAiH.
SECRETARY LONG WISHES TO ESTABLISH
NAVAL MAGAZINE THERE

SECRETARY LONG WISHES TO ESTABLISH
NAVAL MAGAZINE THERE.
Washington July II (SpeciaD.-The Secretary OF
the Navy has transmitted TO Congress a connnfi-
cation from the Chief OF the ordnance bureau
recommending an appropriation to put fort hai"'
ette New-York Harbor. in repair az naval inasa
zine. The sum Of $4,000 is recommended to repair
the walls docks and present magazines erect az
ditiona buildings for storage purposes h'i'ns
houses and workshops. quarters FOR gunhers ana
watchmen lighting heating, fresh water, teie-
phone extnguishng fires. for boats ana Hsh'ciS
and other purposes. The Department luii! cohOu'
in the Bureaus recommendation. and urgently re-
quests that the sum mentioned be Appropriated
and be made Immediately available secretary
Long saws: THE Importance of the maintenance
of a naval magazine in the harbor OF New OF 4
cannot be overestmated inasmuch as our principal
naval station, at which large number OF ha'ai
vessels must be fitted out, whetHei III P'"0S "
war. is there located" $3.50
The circumstances Of the REIMBURSEMENT OF EMS
Island by the Navy Department are stated In the
letter of the Chief of the Bureau OF ordnance. ne
Chief refers to the action or the Ne"-Je'se! '-es
islature obging the Department TO give up 'hiS
island Reference is also made TO the PriN"ese9
extended by the Department ana the use "nue
temporarily of a portion of Fort Wadsworth al inc
Norrovs Rut II is said that, while this answered
well the Improvement of Notifications AT tha'
point by the United States engineers rendered II
necessary that 1t should be evacuated by the naval
authorities Accordingly at the earnest ana re-
heated solicitation of the War Department, the
Navy Department agreed TO remove all ha'a'
property from the premises by August l. All am
muniton has been ordered TO Dover. y. j.. where
the Navy has a storage magazine for reserve am
muniton. There is. says the chiel OF the Wv"
nance Bureau. great difficulty and delay ana
serious objection OIL the part Of the jersey III!
local authorities TO the transportation OF large
quantities Of gunpowder end other explosives over
the railroads and in the freight yards
The chief further says: Probably at no time IN
tho history of the United States Navy has 1t Been
without a magazine at the port OF Newt orh' our
principal naval station, where In peace anu wal
the greatest number Of naval vessels VIII III out
and which is the natural depot for supplies. lie
recites the fact that the Ordnance Bureau was d.
rected the War Department having consented 10
appont a board of officers to visit Fort Lafayette
for the purpose Of ascertaining its htness Tor the
uses of a naval magazine until the Navy depart
ment could secure a good site. probably up the
Hudson River below Haverstraw Bay. inc report
the report Chief Charles Neil thus refers TO are
statement Of the condition Of the STRUCTURES on
mall fog signal station on the southwest font be,
longing TO the lighthouse establishment. two sm f
frame shanties in a dilapidatcd state, useu lO
storehouses and blacksmith shop in the construc-
ton of the mining casemate one new mining case
mae 81 spaee T IS ample The three
intact but will require overhauing' DePth 4, y,
fourteen feet about twenty syo1 1eet n al s su
required The dampness is slight and easily con-
,ionaSle when proper quarters are provided SUN,
Gent space exists outside of the fort FOR neating
And all s sSSan HnnRr
lam Smith commander. United states Navy; Pfes,-
dent and members respectively OF the board OF IN