The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-07-17
At THE MARE
ISLAND YARD
Philadelphia Is Taking
on Supplies.
ALMOST READY TO SAIL
WILL START FOR HONOLULU ON
WEDNESDAY.
Tug Iroquois Has Taken on Coal and
Is Prepared to Start on
Cruise on Days
Notice.
ALMOST READY TO SAIL
WILL START FOR HONOLULU ON
WEDNESDAY.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

VALLEJO, July 16-The Philadelphia
has been taking on ammunition for
couple of days and other stores are
being rushed aboard as rapidly as pos
sible. A small amount of coal for aux
Hilary purposes has been placed on
board and the work of filling her bunk
erS will begin on Monday. There is a
rumor that just sufficient coal will be
put on board here to take her to San
Francisco, where the coaling will be
completed. There is a probability that
she will be ready to sail with Admiral
Miller on the goth inst, but it may
take day or two longer to get ready.
The tugs Active, Vigilant and Iro-
quois are still lying at the quay wall,
though the officers and crews from the
naval reserve are anxious to receive
sailing orders. Captain Turner has had
the Iroquois alongside the coal wharf
and she has 200 tons of coal In her
bunkers. Her water tanks are full and
she is ready for cruise on days no
tice. She is splendidly adapted for dis
patch boat service between San Fran
cisco and Honolulu as she can steam
sixteen knots and has a working radius
Of 5000 miles. She carries seven guns
and would be a good auxiliary vessel
for use with Admiral Dewey's fleet
having powerful pumps and wrecking
appurtenanceS.
The board to select a site for new
dock has completed it's work and the re-
port Is now in process Of preparation.
The plans for the dock will accompany
the recommendations of the board
which Will not be known until they
SanratorU Of IA 10
known that borings have been made
south of the "resent stone dock and the
new dock probably will be located very
near the place recommended by Naval
Constructor Baxter in his report to the
chief constructor a year ago.
With the sailing of the Philadelphia
the rush on Mare Island will have end
ed, as there is only the Yorktown to
prepare for immediate service, and that
can be done without night. work. A
number of men have been let off, as
there has been no demand for men in
their callings since the Philadelphia
was practically completed. The force
will still be kept at a high figure, es-
pecially in the construction department,
which has large appropriations and
much work on the Yorktown, Ranger
and Adams, as well as the Alert and
Hartford. 1t is now understood that
these vessels viii be completed without
yea@
By that time, 1t is expected. the war
with Spain will have ended and a num-
Der of Admiral Dewey's ships will come
here for repairs. The flagship Olympia
had received orders to come to Mare
Island, but the breaking out of the war
caused the orders to be countermanded.
The Baltimore has accommodations for
the flag office and will probably become
the flagship of the Asiatic squadron and
the Olympia will return to Mare Island
as soon as peace is established and the
disposition of the Philippines settled.
Work on the Yorktown Is going
ahead rapidly and the results are be-
ginning to show. When the battery is
placed on board the Yorktown will be
the best vessel of her class, as the
6-inch guns which will form her main
battery have been converted into
rapid-f1re guns. They were originally
a portion of the Philadelphia's battery,
but the hurry order for that vessel
would not admit of waiting. so the
Yorktown's guns were used and the lat
ter vessel will get improved guns.