New-York tribune., 1898-10-30
AFFAIRS AT THE NAVY YARD.
WORK ON THE BIG SHIPS BEGINNING
TO LET UP.

TO LET UP.
| FOUNDATIONS Fo7 FOUR NEW BUILDINGS 5EiNa
PLAcEp-cHANGEs IN THE ENGINEERING
FoRCE-A BIG FLOATING DERRICK
TO BE PURCHASED.
There are signs Of a slackening in the rush OF
| work at the Navy Yard, so far as the Dig ships
are concerned but II is offset by an increase IN
| tlilding operations which are now going on all
over the yard When the New-YOrk went down
the Bay early in the week there was Itt!e
berthing room made. and as Commander Hemp
| hill announces that the Buffalo VIII be aple 10
get away Tomorrow unless delayed by the ship
| ment Of additional naval stores for the Aslatic
| fleet the yard will lose much Of the crowded
! appearance II has presented recently The Bur
! falo will go to the Orient by way OF the Suez
/ Canal the first ooarg station at which she
will stop being Colombo. on the island OF Ceyioh'
| This run shows the remarkable steaming radius
Of the vessel She will take to Manila six hum
dred or seven hundred recruits for Admirai
| Dewey's feet, and large quantity OF supplies
! The will fill the vacancies caused by SICK
ness and the expiration of terms Of enlistment
Foundations for four large buildings are being
placed to include clothing factory, plate
bending shop and storehouses. and extensive
alterations being made in Building NO. :. 10
fit II up as a machine shop for the Department
of Equipment In addition to this, the work OF
renting Building No. 10 a Joiner shop for
! the Construction Department is so far advanced
that portion OF it will be occupied tEis week
FEATURES OF THE NEW SHOPS.
The increased use of electricity. large num-
| Der OF the now machines in the construction
shops being run by WIRE will require a large in
of
and this work Is already under way. 1T Is esu-
mated that one thousand amperes, at voltage
/ OF no. will be used in running the machinery,
! and the present capacity will be more than
doubled. One OF the features Of the new joiners
shop will be a dust and shaving collection sys-
| tenn. operated by air, which will deliver all the
| refuse Of the machines at the furnaces, and IN
this way the shop will produce a large part OF
| it's own power In the construction smithy there
| is to be installed a gas apparatus for neat
| ing small forgings and tool steel The building
has recently received a new steel truss roof, and
the old chimney at the southern end mas oeen
taken down. Electric travelling cranes are also
to be put into the shops, and when all the i'm
| provements outlined and under way are COM
pleted the yard will he able to build anything
from a scow to 2 battle-shp 1t is to be hoped
that the new arrangements will so far reduce
the loss of time and money necessary under the
old system that the Government will see the
advisability of keeping the shops occupied with
work which now goes to contractors.
At last the launching ways are clear again.
Bright and early yesterday morning the tug
boat which has been built for use at the Nor
folk yard, and is known No. g. was launched,
under the supervision of Naval Constructor
Bowles and was towed around to the main sea-
wall for completion. The new tug. which Is a
sister to the one built at Mare Island recently.
is 125 feet long, % feet beam and feet draught,
with displacement of 225 tons.
A DRYDOCK TO BE DRYDOCKED.
The floating drydock, built by the Perth Am
boy Drydock Company, which was brought to
the yard on Wednesday has been tied up near
the head of drydock No. 3. In the drydock a
treste-work has been built as a platform on
which the floating dock will rest. and in few
days the floating dock will be taken out OF water
and coppered and calked. Visitors to the yard
while this work is going on will see something
out OF the usual run. drydock inside another
one, with plenty Of room beneath and around
the floating dock. The work is being done at
the expense Of the company which built the
dock the Government dock being used by a
special arrangement. The dock is to be taken
down to Key West when it is ready for business,
and may be sent to Porto Rico or Santiago. in
order To save "A long voyage North when YES
sci OF moderate size on the station needs over
hauling.
. A court Of inquiry, composed of Captain
Niooll Ludlow. OF the Massachusetts, Com
mander Mackenzie of the Mayiower, and Lieu
> / tenant C Commander j. \. Rodgers. of the Indi-
ana with Captain r VI. Wood. Of the Marine
Corps. Judge Advocate, has begun an investi-
CATION OF the trouble betW zen Commander Eaton
Of the Resoute and Lieutenant John 4. Bell,
navigator of the same ship When Lieutenant
Bell cam up for promotion recently Commando
| Eaton gave him unfavOrable professional
record. and the Lieutenant has retaliated with
charges against his superior officer. The ses-
sons held behind closed doors.
CHANGES IN THE ENGINEERING FORCE.
Civil Engineer A. q. Menocal. -etred. has been
sent to Cuba by the Department. to make a
study Of the arsenals wharves and other ac-
cess )ries Of he Navy He will have the aid OF
the American Commissioners in making the ex-
arninations.
There have been many changes IN the en-
gineering force at the yard in the last week
Chief Engineer George W. Stivers retired. VINO
has been on duty with the Vermont. has been
detached and ordered his home. in Brooklyn
Passed Assistant Engineer Frederic c. Bowers.
who has been on special duty has been detached
and ordered :" the Fish Commission. He was
one Of the officers Of the Maine at the time she
vas DESTROYED. His place at the yard Will be
taken by Assistant Engineer K. X Crank. OF
the Texas. Assistant Engineer j. Y. Rockwell
goes from this yard the Norfolk station.
Passed Assistant Engineer Henry f.. Rhoades.
ret ed. who has been on duty with the Board
/ Of Inspection and Survey reco: der. has been
detached and placed waiting orders, and AS
sistant Engineer Wyman O. Hawthorn. one or
the first volunteers to appear for examination
before the Board. has been assigned 10 duty on
the Chicago
INDIANA IN FOR A LONG STAY.
1t is likely that the Indiana will be at the yard
all winter as there is still lot OF work to be
done in her engine-room Work on the Brook
NJ t.I In fnlfn nj the