New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-20
REED & BARTON.
NOTES FROM THE NAVY YARD.
BUILDING AND REPAIRING THE PRrNCIPAfi
MISUNDERSTANDING OUT PART
or DpyDnCK M
SIlvE RSMITHS
SILVERSMITHS, ;,
Broadway and 18th Street, N. Y,
6 Maiden Lane, n. Y.

As the only vessel in commission az the Navyi
Yard is the little gunboat Detroit. the principal
activity OF the place is in the way OF building and
repairing and the reconstruction OF drydock No. "a
large portion OF the west wall OF the dock havint
been torn away near the break The big steam
crane is used TO snake the heavy timbers FROM
their resting place and the backing OF earth re-
vealed by their removal shows the effects OF the
heavy rains which have soaked the soil The strain
OF the casson against the abutments is taken up In
a large measure by heavy braces reaching down to-
the apron Of the dock Twenty feet Of water 10
marked the scale OF drydock No. 3 and this Will
De retained until the dock is needed by some OF
the big vessels o. the squadron
As a consequence OF the difference between the
bids for the new steam engineering shops and tho
OF the appropriation, the beginning OF work
the structure seems as far OF as ever. No word
has been received from the Department as TO how
the difference is 10 be adjusted. but II is evident
the yard people that the plans will have TO bot
altered the appropriation Increased Specifcatonsr
for the tools required have been issued to con-;
tractors and bids will be opened October TO- The
list Of machines comprises about everything which
can be used in shop Of the kind, and is in addition
to the machines already in use in the temporary
shop A large part OF the northern end OF the
foundry building s being fitted as an additional !!
shop and some heavy tools have already been tai
stalled Plans for the shop call for an extent
sion OF the present site which will encroach on thet
,iler tubes and in anticipation OF Its removal the
tubes being placed in temporary shed hear
the present boiler shop. This removal Is no small
matter. there are about seventy-rve thoHand
tubes OF sizes ranging from those used In the tor
pedo boats 10 those for the battleshps and each
tube has be oiled inside and out. as protection
against the weather, before being placed IN the
racks.
The break in the sewer near drydock No. Is be-
ing repaired rapidly. and the dock Is In no danger
from the collapse OF the pipes.
As soon as a connection crossing Aorris-aye- at
FIfth-st. completed the small railroad track will
be OF TO the foundry and machine shop, The
extension OF this track and the use OF small but
powerful engines and nat cars mean great saw
Ing In time and labor TO the Government and
greatly increase the handling facilities OF the yard
Work on a dredging contract has been begun, /
and an enormous amount Of mud is TO be taken out
OF the channel IL is intended 20 have a sufficient
depth permit vessels OF the deepest draught 10 tie
up at any portion OF the wharf frontage OF tho
yard.
There is already some talk OF the disappearance o:
the old receiving ship Vermont, as consequence or
the scheme OF yard improvements outlined some
time ago. All the officers agree that barracks WIN
serve the purpose OF receiving and ensting sailors
much better than the present ships, which are In
many instances regarded as none too safe. -
The English built torpedo boat somers u IN the
hands OF filters. and Is being prepared for COM
mission. She is entirely different from the Amer-
can craft which visitors 10 the yard see perched
up on the ways near the launching slip, and al
tracts considerable attention.