The evening times., 1899-12-18

| ers OF the navy.
Protection From Fire.
"The bureau has had an examinatio
made into the systems OF protection frol
fire at the navy yards on the North Allan
: tic coast: and the report thereon show
that extensive and radical provisions ar
necessary in order to afford protection :
the Government property. At several Q
these yards the fire departments have al
most gone out of existence and protection
Is obtained from the cities adjacent whel
fires occur. The city departments have II
these cases expressed their readiness an,
1esire to extend their service to the Gov
rnment property. and in all cases of fir
they have responded promptly and eff
ciently.
1T has been found, however, that some
thing further is necessary, and it Is pro
posed to adopt at the most important o
these yards a salt water service for the ex
tinguishment of fires and a system OF au
tomato sprinklers in the several buildings
together with good alarm system. 1t has
been found upon investigation that these
can be installed within a reasonable cost
and the estimates submitted for the navy
yards at Portsmouth. N. H.; Boston
Mass Brooklyn, N. Y; League Island
Pa, and Washington, D. c.. amount to a
total cost 0( 1854. 200
Marine railways are asked at Portmouth.
N. H.; Brooklyn. N. Y; League Island, Pa;
Norfolk, Va; Port Royal, S. c., and Mare
Island, Cal. These railways are particu-
larly requested by the Bureau of Construc-
tion and Repair, In order that torpedo boats
and small vessels may be taken out for re-
pairs quickly, at small expense, and with
cut recourse to the large dry docks needed
for the use of larger vessels.
In the estimates for the Norfolk navy
yard occurs an item of $685. 900 for the pur-
chase of land. The yard is already WE'LL
nigh completely occupied with structures,
and 1t is exceedingly probable that in a
few years the enlargement OF its limits will
be absolutely necessary unless the growth
of the yard in the matter of public works
and plants is arrested. OF the amount rec
commended for public works, 81, $50 900 are
for continuing the work upon the five dry
docks, four of which are now under con-
struction.''
The Washington Yard.
Improvements for the navy yard liz
this city and the estimates therefor are as
follows:
Yards and docks building, $50 900; exten-
sion of store No. l, 5000. paving, $50, 600;
underground conduit SYSTEM. $50. SIS; pur-
chase of land, s133, 700: fireproof floors for
pattern shop. Sl5, goo; boiler house for heat
ing plant. s14.500; skylight for north gun
shop, s3,202; storehouse for infammable
material $4,000; coal shed and coal-handling
appliances, $4,000; fre-protection system.
$4,000; miscellaneous shop for ordnance.
$50, 800; tool shop for ordnance. $50. 800:
gunners' workshop, ss0.SO0: seamen gun
ners' machine shop. $40, 1000; extension of
Shpp and apla
ing boiler house, and new roof. So, 400: new
quarters for superintendent, $4,000. To-
tai. sS75. .O17.32
Concerning the work of improvements
already accomplished by the bureau, the
report says:
''Of the many works of Improvement car
ried on a considerable portion was render
ed necessary by the Spanish war. Some
Of these were completed in the early
months of the fiscal year. and others OF
greater extent. projected then, were con-
tinued throughout the year. Notable among
these were the installation or extension Of
the electric light systems at the following
yards and stations, viz. Boston, New York.
Washington. Port Royal and Pensacola
which was done to meet demands for night
work in the time of war or unusual activity
from other causes-alterations aud modif-
cations in workshops. construction of aG-
coal houses and coal-handling facilities.
Dredging Operations.
Extensive dredging operations have been
carried on at the Mare Island. League ISL
and, and New York navy yards. by way of
improving the navigation at the first and
last named yards. and the construction Of
capacious fresh-water basin at League
Island
Permanent quay walls have been con-
structed at several of the navy yards 10
supplant temporary timber wharves and to
extend the wharfing accommodations up
on portions Of the water front where none
has heretofore existed.
In the act of May T. 1898, Congress ap-
propriated for one steel floating dry dock
to be located at the naval reservation at
Algiers, La. to be capable OF lifting a yes
sci Of $1,000 tons displacement. General
specifications were issued for this work and
proposals invited, to be accompanied with
competitive designs. The limit of cost was
placed at SS50.000. The offer OF the Mary
land Steel Company was accepted for the
construction of a dry dock upon its de-
signs for the sum of $50 900. The con-
tract was executed on April 10 last, work
has begun in the shops, and preparations
are being made for the construction of the
dock at Sparrow's Point. Md. 10 be towed
pletion at the former point
Contracts for Dry Docks.
''Of the four timber dry docks appropri-
ated for by the same act, as modified by
the act Of March 8, 1899, contracts have
been let for three, to be located at Ports
mouth. N. H.; Boston, Mass, and Mare
Island, Cal. Authority having been grant,
ed by Congress for the construction of two
Of these dry docks OF granite or concrete
lined with granite, the department, in the |
exercise of its discretion, decided to build |
those at Portsmouth and Boston of the |
latter materials.
The dry dock at the Boston navy ward |
was contracted for after public competi- |
tion upon plans and specifications prepared |
by this bureau, and the award was made |
to O'Brien & Sheehan. OF New York. for |
the dry dock proper including the caisson. |
for the sum of ssS3, 400. The contract for |
was let to Farrell Hopper, OF |
New York, the lowest bidders, for the sum |
Of S1S0.000, making the total contract price !
fer this dock s10l3. 400. The work has |
been commenced, favorable progress is be- |
ing made. and up to the present time there |
is promise that il will be completed within |
the time limit of two and one-half years.
THE dry dock for the Mare Island navy |
yard, which is to be OF timber, was also |
advertised from plans and specifications |
prepared by the bureau, and the award was !
made to the Atlantic, Gulf, and Pacific |
Company, Of New York, for the entire work |
1t $729, 900. The contract was entered into |
and the work is now in progress