New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-07-09
NAVY YARD AFFAIRS.
SAVING MONEY BY DOING
IT'S OWN BUILDING.
WORK DONE CHEAPER AND BETTER BY
THIS PLAN-NO BIG SHIP IN THE
CARE OF THE YARD-CAPTATNs
BELL ON DUTY AGAIN.

BELL ON DUTY AGAIN
When the Brooklyn went to eea on Friday she
left the yard without a big ship ir its care and
although there is considerable business expected on
the Detroit and the Iling OF the Cincinnati
is keeping number OF men busy, the prospects
are that July will be quiet month as far as the
ships are concerned. This time will be utilized in
preparing for work to come. and n getting the
yard and the buildings ir shape. The shops in
for an overhauling and cleaning. and plans for the
installation OF machinery will receive their finishing
touches. The delay in removing the ruins OF the
big fire has caused no Inconvenience. plans for
the engineering structure altered and
amended every few days with the result that there
is something closely approaching muddle over
the question as 20 exactly what the building VIII
be. The electrical equipment Of the shop.
however, is expected to be revelation OF the pos
sibilties of small motors as machinery drivers.
The Tribune that the construction OF buildings at
the naval station could be carried on 10y the Gov
has at last daWned on the ofcers in charge as
surprise and the result is that the reconstruction
G So by fO E by he yaS
at considerable saving of both time and money
Another big structure-the oil and paint warehouse
:. 900 also to be built by the yard on an estimate
consequence OF this the bureau presided over by
chief Ergineer AsseTson is the only one in the
them. and Yards and Docks is doing a thriving
business
ADVANTAGE OF THIS METHOD.
Outside of the financial interests this method Of
handling Government work has the advantage Of
being constantly under the control of the proper
officials which is not the when contractors
are employed. Instance after instance be
cited where the Government has been put to serious
loss and delay through the failure Of contractors to
in some matters at least the business of an i'm
portant bureau is to be run on business basis
The big drydock. No g. Is case In point, per
tinent because there is considerable talk Of build
ing another one AT the ward One contractor went
TO finished Another
took up the work after long delay and left
near costing the Nation a big warshlp and at last
the Government had to step In and do the WORK
make a real drydOck Of t-and the dock was idle
time when a slight accident to battle ship.
made " yast difference to to the ect or cuba The
building OF the Cob Dock causeway is another nI
caused by the discovery Of dummy bolts in the
have had difficulties to contend with. but even IN
that work the Department has apparently learned
constructing an adjoining section. and now an
other stretch of one thousand feet, reaching past
Chief Asserson's men. This is also pertinent. be
cause there may be by and by a basque bridge be
tedious passage of the Wallabout on the scow
Captain smith Of the steam engineers. has al
ready made his presence felt in the yard ana sev-
eral improvements Of his suggestion Will be adopt
ed In the new SHOPS.
CAPTAIN BELL BACK AT THE YARD
There is considerable satisfaction over the fact
that the suspension Of Captain Frank Bell. chief
of the yard pilots has expired. and that he re-
turns duty this week. Captain Bell was made
the scapegOat for the grounding of the Massa-
chusetts, and when the Brooklyn found the same
obstruction and her officers acquitted OF
blame it hoped by lovers OF fair play that the
Department would restore him 10 duty at once. but
he exception to the rule which was en-
forced In Sc surprising manner five years ago In
two well known cases Captain Bell has uttered no
word of protest against the decision setting him
ashore. He has put in some work captain Of a
pleasure yacht and renewed many acquaintances
which the eXigences OF Government service had
compelled him almost to lose sight OF.