New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-06-04
NAVY YARD AFFAIRS.
GETTING THE BROOKLYN READY FOR
DRYDOCK.
COMMANDER SMITHS ARRIVAL - YARDS AND
DOCKS STILL BUsY-A RELIC OF

The return of the Brooklyn with her Keel
mates buckled and bent from contact with some
thing at the bottom of the water off the Bat
terry. the departure of Commander Windsor and
the arrival of Commander Smith OF the engi-
neerng forces and the calling for bids for the
big oil and yarnish storehouse and the admins
tration building for the engineers were the chiet
Incidents Of the week at the Navy Yard stores
OF all sorts are being removed from the cruiser
but as the ships were built to put things into
and not to take things out Of the process is
long and difficult. Owing to the fact that the
bottom OF the ship will be less able 10 pear
weight when she Is in drydock than II 10 now
while II Is water-borne, the tightening process
will be more extensive than usual. ana VIII
therefore take a longer time
The Court OF Inquiry will meet Tomorrow anu
begn an Investigation of the accident 10 the
Rrookyn The court includes q rear-admlral,
two CAPTAINS and a Lieutenant. the latter as
Judge advocate. While there Is no room Tor
doubt that these officers will do their full duty
and Justly determine the responsibility FOR the
accident II seems q little peculiar to Ianos-
man that courts of this nature should al
WAYS be composed Of men who. when they are
passing Judgment on their brother officer. do so
with the knowledge that at any time they may
be called on to exchange places with him. ana
that the hearings should be behind closed DOORS
COMMANDER WINDsORs DEPARTURE.
The departure Of Commander Windsor FOR
duty at the Nixon shpyards was marked by lit
tie In the way Of farewes, but the arrival or
"Jab" Smith at the yard to take his place was
Of n different nature Commander Smiths be-
longings brought with him from Norfolk, IN
clude a silver service valued at $1,000 presented
10 Mrs Smith by the Norfolk Yard people, and a
beautiful floral piece was Of the adornments
OF the house in "Oficers' Row." Flushing ave,
which will be occupied by the chief engineer
He reported for duty yesterday, but Will not as
sumo active control Of the department until
Tomorrow. Lieutenant Salisbury being In charge
In the mean time Mr.. Smith Is regarded as
man who knows what good days work shouo
be- Will insist on getting IL from each OF MS
men, and will give full credit for It. one OF
the officers yesterday. in speaking or the
change said: Smith Is a hustler, but ne ID
man under whom 1t is a delight to hustle
Yards and Docks continues to be the busiest
| department at the yard and yesterday BIDS 1or
| the construction Of the administration puiio-
ing Of the Steam Engineering Department anu
for the big oil and varnish storehouse 10 De
| erected on the ground now known as the
dump" were advertised for. Contractors are
| not having an easy time at the yard just now.
| A short time ago an enterprisng indiViduai
bid 5000 for the spiderlike structure called the
"Bishop derrick" and contracted 10 take l.
| down and remove It. AS the whole business IN
Guided a tall steel tower. with an engine boiier'
| two pumps and q lot of machinery, 1t seemed
| good bargain, but competent judges thinh |" Is
| going to cost more than 500 to get down. sun
more to At 1t for market and that even theh
| the value is likely to be determined by the SELL
| ing price of old iron.
Work on the ruins Of the machine snop Is oeiis
rushed, but the towers have not yet been us
| turhed and there is lot Of business for the
contractors before the specifications are 1unieu'
| Others. who are behind time on their work. are
| h.iry st,rred I'D continually by the Chief Civil
| Engineer. Captain Asserson and as all the OPP
| erations of the department are being managed
| IN an office where painters and plasterers are
| running things to suit themselves. IL may De
! seen that the man in charge has no sinec1re.
! Construction work has fallen OH 10 such an
| extent that about fifty ship-joners were as
| missed yesterday, and reductions OF tne iO or
| in other sections will come along sooh' me
new floor of the machine shop Is nearly CON- COM
| Melted and Is the envy OF bowers who nave
| seen IL as they say that not half the Alleys III
| town have as good surface.
THE NEw-HAMPsHIRE TO BE REPAIRED.
A relic of days gone by has come to the yard
| for repairs. and people who travel up the East
| River will miss for a time the old frgate New
| Hampshire. which has been the headquarters
| of the Naval Reserve and a training ship for
| the members OF that organization. She was
| lowed to the yard yesterday forenoon and VIII
remain there about six weeks, for an overhaul
| ing and repalnting. When the work Is done
she will be towed back to her station at the
| end Of East Twenty-eghth-st. The militiamen
| who are on board will remain there while the
vessel is at the Navy Yard. -.
Ships ordered to the Brooklyn Navy yard VIII
| have NeW-LondOn as a cOaling station as soon
| as the Department plans are carried out, Inc
place has been abandoned as Navy Yard and
will be devoted entirely TO 3oaling purposes, inc
| work being so far advanced that II is expected
| that ships will be sent there for coal before
| winter sets in. The other coaling station on
the Atlantic Coast will be at Dry Tortugas, at
tached to the Key West naval station.
NO CHANGE IN THE UNIFORM.
Much satisfaction is felt over the fact that
the proposition 70 make change In the service
| dress has geen knocked out" When the an
| nouncement was made that the blue and white
blouses were to be superseded by some new de-
sign there was a kick" that made itself felt IN
| washington to some extent although there were
some officers who favored change. IL Is
| peculiar thing to note that While the atIair was
| being discussed a meeting was called IN the
| Navy Yard 10 which only those known 10 lavol
| the change were invited. but before the results
| of the pow-wow could be sent to washington
the notice was issued that there would De no
change II would seem to be about time ior
| Congress to pass a law on the subject, ana 81
nut a stop TO the periodical attempts to mon
kew" with uniform which gives satisfaction
to those who wear It, with rev eNcePoohS' ai'O
| which is respected wherever IL Is seen