The San Francisco call., 1898-06-19
DAY OF REST
 AT THE YARD No Sunday Labor at
 Mare Island. FIRST LET-UP IN MONTHS
FIRST LET-UP IN MONTHS
ONLY THE PHILADELPHIA TO
 BE GOT READY.
Secretary Long Calls a Meeting of the Board to Select a Site for the New
 Dock.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

VALLEJO, June 18.-For the first time in many weeks the navy yard at Mare Island will have a quiet Sunday tomorrow. During the great rush in- cldent to preparing the Charleston, Brutus, Monterey. Nero and Monad- nook for sea there has been no differ ence between days and the busy hum of industry has not ceased for the Sab- bath. These vessels are now com pleted, however, and the only work on hand requiring extra duty is on the flagship Philadelphia The heads of departments have decided that it is best to give the men good rest, and when they stopped work at o'clock this afternoon it was until Monday at o'clock. The men welcome the change and will be all the more willing to rush Admiral Mlller's flagship to completion when they resume work on Monday.
 The Philadelphia is rapidly nearing completion. Her entire main battery, with the exception of guns on the fore castle and poop, was placed on board yesterday and to-day, and the missing guns will be placed in position on MOn- day. The steam launch is on shore and will be hoisted into its position on the cruiser while she is still in the dock. The painters have covered her hull with war color above the water line, and are preparing to put on anti-foul- ing paint below it. The finishing touches are being put on by joiners and other mechanics, and the vessel will be fully ready by the time fixed for put ting her into commission.
 The Monadnock is lying at the quay wall under the big shears, and is prac- tically ready for the long trip to Ma nila. Some little tinkering in her en- zine room as an extra precaution against accident is all that is needed, and the vessel could start at any time. She must wait, however, until her con- sort, the Nero, is loaded at San Fran cisco. This will require some days yet and the monitor will go to San Fran cisco on Monday and wait. The start will be made at about 4 o'clock in the afternoon. Her bunkers are full of coal and an extra supply in sacks is stored in the Superstructure around the after turret. The double bottoms of the yes sel are filled with fresh water for use during the trip. The forecastle hatch has been covered up to protect the berth deck from being flooded and a ventilator to furnish fresh air between decks has been led through the hatch. Two ventilators have been placed on each turret to admit fresh air to these parts of the ship and everything pos sible to increase the comfort of the crew has been done.
 The men are proud of their vessel which they say is the cleanest and most convenient in the navy. They are willing to wager they will beat the Monterey to Manila, basing the opin- ion on the fact that the Monadnock s machinery is In the very best possible condition, while the Monterey's has al ways given more or less trouble.
 The Secretary of the Navy has or dered a meeting of the board to select a site for new dock at Mare Island in accordance with the new naval ap- propriation bill. Rear Admiral Kirk land is president of the board and the members are Chief Engineer Joseph Trilley, Naval Constructor w. J. Bax- ter, Civil Engineers F. c. Prindle and R. c. Hollyday. The board will con- vene on Monday.