New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-06-18
NAVY YARD AFFAIRS.
DISAPPOINTMENT FOR OFFICERS SEEK
ING RETIREMENT.

A GENERAL CLEARING UP OF THE YARD BEGUN
Low PRICES FOR WAR RELIcs-PowDER
FOR BEACH FIREWORKS.
the new Naval Personnel law would be number
Of applications for retirement. but the number
so far made has exceeded the ideas of those
who have been looking for changes Among
the most prominent OF those who desire TO be
relieved of the and tribulations OF active
life in the Navy is Commander j. d. ]. Kelley
chief aid to Rear-Admral Philip, commandant
of the Brooklyn Navy Yard, and one of the most
widely known and popular officers Of the
vice. his name having been the Navy list
for thirty-fve years. Another well-known off,
Ger who seeks retirement is Commander Dele
hanty who gave up the place Of Supervisor OF
the Port TO assume command at the Sailors
Snug Harbor, gave that up to go to war and
since his return has been in charge Of the
"Snugs" on Staten Island. Captains Schouler.
Green, Rockwell, Reiter and Houston; Com
manders Rush, Delehanty. Kelley. Jasper.
Speyers and Stevens: Lieutenant Commanders
briggs. Porter. Moore, Hanus Fisk, Holmes.
Peck Rooney and Eaton, and among the en-
gineers Captains Rearick and Harris Com
manders Ross and Hannum. and Lieutenant
Commanders Lawrence Willis and Freeman
make up the list OF those whose applications
were sent to the Department.
The question of the Interpretation of the law
relative to voluntary retirements was left to
Judge Advocate-Genera Lemly. and his de-
csion, given elsewhere in this edition of The
Tribune will cause lot OF disappointment
among those officers who will be compelled to
wait for the requisite changes in their grades
before they may voluntarily leave the service
the Navy Yard. aside from placing the Brook
lyn in the big drydock. was the announcement.
Of awards made by the Department to bidders
for the Junk" which has accumulated in the
last year or two Relics OF the war with Spain
which by and by will be OF much value.
sold for little or nothing. Brooklyn buyers OBJ
tanning many plums Visitors at Manhattan
Beach this summer will be likely to some OF
the results OF the sale, for II. J. Pain, OF fire.
works fame, was the successful bidder for more
than 10000 pounds OF powder OF various sorts.
and he also obtained about i2,OUo cartridges.
A Philadelphia firm got 21,7j4 shell and shot.
mostly for the old smoothbore Parrot guns, OF
various sizes. from 15-inch down. and specu-
lators reaped a harvest in the way OF small
stuff The result OF this sale will be the clear
ing away Of vast amount Of rubbish which
has encountered the yard and as a further move
toward making the yard little more present
able in appearance, Rear-Admiral Philip has
issued instructions that beginning tomorrow
heads OF bureaus will be required 10 see that the
sidewalks about their buildings and half the
roadway adjacent are kept clean and In good
order far possible This Will result in
greatly improved appearance or the whole
reservation.
SMASHING IRON CASTINGS.
The usual result Of yard contracts Is being
made manifest In the removal OF the ruins Of
the big machine shop. Only twelve days re-
ba hut he
still partly standing. nothing has been done to
the forty feet which must be removed from the
boiler shop and an extension Of time seems In
evitable In the mean time the temporary shop
is nearly full OF tools and the travelling crane
is breaking up the enormous amount OF cast
iron found in the ruins by the primitive but
effective method Of lifting a heavy weight
thirty-hve or forty feet in the air and dropping
It on the iron to be broken up. A large quantity
Of material for the meters has been accumu-
lated in this way. The decision that all yes
sells Of the Navy shall hereafter be equipped
with boilers OF the tubular type means that
there will be a lot OF work for the machine shop
forces, and II is hoped that the new building
will be sufficiently under way to admit or set
ting I'D some Of the necessary tools before any
of the ships requiring changes come to the
yard.
ENIIsTMENTs AND LAWSUIT.
Enlstments have been begun board the
Vermont for yeomen Of the third class These
men will be held on board the receiving ship for
thorough instruction in their duties. and when
competent will be transferred TO ships OF the
fleet needing yeomen OF the lower ratings. The
number OF applicants FOR enlistment in this
branch Of the service has been great that
the qualifications have been advanced, and
fair knowledge Of typewritins and stenography
are requisite for acceptance.
II is expected that there will now be general
overhauling OF the affairs OF the big drydock
No 8 as the Government has begun proceedings
in the United States District Court against the
firm of T. e. A. Walsh who were the second
contractors for the work, succeeding John Gil
lies. This il the work for which CIVIL Engineer
A. c. Menocal. who was in charge OF the Yards
and Docks Office at the yard, was held partly
responsible and Major Lauchheimer, who was
iud advocate OF the court which tried MI
Menocal has been ordered TO New-York 10 con-
fer with the United States District-Attorney.
Three OF the vessels at the yard are TO be sold
the Yacht Enquirer 1876 tons: the steamer Sciplo
a collier 6SG4 tons. and the Niagara one OF
the old Ward liners 5221 tons They are to be
disposed OF at auction. on bids 10 be sent 70 the
Department at Washington and they are held
az an upset price Of $4,000, 81, 900 and 100000
respectively - ~ ~
shire IS nearly finished. and the ship will be
ready IN he returned to her station at East
Twenty-eighth-st. within q few days. The Rain
how Is 10 be foated into drydock No. to-mor-
row for repairs and a cleaning, and the Brook
Ivn will remain In drydock No. for about three
weeks.