The times., 1899-03-26
Past Glories of the Station on
the Potomac.
Great Guns of the Service Built in
It's Shops.
Burned by Order of Its Commandant
in 1913 To Prevent Capture
by British Troops.

been made there. The aspect of the yard
in, its earlier days presents sharp con-
trast TO its appearance today. The visitor
who for the first time passes through its
gates, is impressed Immediately upon en-
tering the historic grounds with the al
most Sunday air of quiet which generally
prevails there. At first glance one would
not suppose that the yard contained the
largest Government gun factory in the
United States The trim, almost immac-
ulate cleanliness of the buildings and
grounds does not at all accord with the
general idea of dust. dirt, and smoke which
by many are thought to be the prime es-
sentials of manufacturing establishment.
1t is not until the visitor has passed with
in the doors of the huge building under
the hill and has stood marveling at the
surprising sights which present them
selves that he realizes just how big plant
1t takes TO turn out the guns which the
SpaniarGs have learned 10 fear and the
world at large to respect
Notwithstanding the heavy machinery
employed in constructing the huge instru-
ments of war. the noise from the work is
comparatively light and does not penetrate
TO all parts of the yard. Aside from the
work of great importance is carried on The
present aspect of the yard presents sharp
contrast to that which it did from the time
OF its establishment in 1880, until shortly
after the close of the civil war.
The Eastern Branch, OFF the yard, was Of
ten filled with American frigates and cruis-
ers moored there waiting for Their turn 10
be overhauled and sent out to sea again,
their holds refilled with supplies, ammuni-
-, cd In
those days much of the work of over
hauling and repair, which is now done at
the yards and stations nearer the AT antic.
was performed here The yard presented
a busy picture then. The sound of the
ship carpenters hammer and saw and the
shouts of the men moving supplies and
goods TO the storehouses and thence 10
the ships gave an air of activity which is
lacking now. The little stretch of land
bordering on the Eastern Branch was
yeritable bee hive.
Since the civil war the vessels of the ma
w have been built with deeper draughts
so that they cannot all come up to Wash
ington, and as a result the yards located on
deep water have sprung into prominence
and thus Washingtonians were deb9rred
from the excitement of seeing. during the
Spanish war. the ironclads which were
laid up for repairs swarming with work
men making haste TO get the vessels in
condition to meet a supposedly powerful
enemy. Naval officers say that the yard
here can no longer be properly called a
navy yard but is now nothing more than
an ordnance station.
The Washington navy yard was one of
the first established after the country had
shaken off the effects of the Revolution.
The policy of the Government during the
Administration of John Adams among
other things included the building of
navy. Secretary Benjamin Sto3dert, the
head of the Navy Department at that time,
asked Congress for an appropriation of
600 for the establishment of navy
yards at New York, Philadelphia, Ports
mouth, y. H., Boston, Norfolk and Wash
ington.
The appropriation was granted. and one
of the first things done with the money was
TO purchase suitable land in the District
for she establishment of yard. The pres
ent site was chosen on account OF the good
anchorage ground afforded by the Eastern
Branch. 1t included forty acres and was
bought for $4,000. Immediately after the
transfer was completed work was begun by
erecting storehouses. docks, and wharves.
The ships Of war of the then white
winged navy were brought up the Poto-
mac and 10 the navy yard where they were
oyerhauled, repaired and reprovisioned
This was constantly done for many years
The history of the yard is fun of inter-
esting events.
Robert Fuiton's Experiments.
In 1907 Robert Fulton, of steamboat
fame, made application to the Secretary of
War TO be allowed TO make experiments at
the yard with submarine torpedo inven-
tion which he had conceived. Permission
tod and I-t,I.
Quoted his experiments, which. however.
did not prove satisfactory. His funds gave
out, and as Congress was unwilling TO
make an appropriation for further tests
he was obliged TO give up for a time but
again took up the work several years later
As far as the records show, Fulton was
handicapped throughout his experiments
and finally died before perfecting his in
vention. Had not the policy of Congress
been so economical there is but little doubt
that the great strides in naval architecture
and the invention and perfection Of often
Give and defenciye weapons, which have
been left to later years. would have been
made long before they were. In 1s47 a
man named Uriah Brown succeeded in get
ting the official ear of the department and
inducing the Secretary to appoint board
of three officers to officially examine at
the navy yard two inventions which he
"eo pIOhc 10 lle
navy. One of them was a ''liquid-fire
weapon" and the other a "shot-proof
steamship"
Inc offlcers made examinations of the
workings OF the inventions and reported
the liquid fire weapon" TO be impractical
bic. but for some singular reason failed TO
render AN opinion on the ',shot-proof ship"
The records do not show why the report
was rot made. The evidence shows that
the use of iron in the construction of war
ships originated about fifteen years before
the suggestion was successfully carried out.
The officers no doubt thought the invention
was not worth bothering about, but a few
years later. after the Confederates had
taught the world lesson when they pro-
teeted The Merrimac with a thick armor of
iron, the department began to see that it
would be necessary to initiate them IL they
desired TO make any progress in the fight
before them. The navy yard was the scene
OF number of tests, which were watched
with Interest by the officials of the de-
partment and by the people all over the
country as well.
Early Complaints of Mismanagemcnt
During the first few years after the es-
tablishment OF the yard complaint was
made from numerous sources, especially
from naval officers, that the yard was being
managed without system and that the yes
sells sent there for repairs left in but lit
Tie better condition than when they return
ed from long cruise. This state OF affairs
lasted for some time before being rene
died. However, gradual changes for the
better took place. loose methods were cor
rected and the operation of the yard re-
dncee to system. In 1856 the system had
been reduced TO such scientific proportions
that had the officers lived who first made
The complaint they would have cried
enough" and begged for mercy