New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-01-09
AFFAIRS AT THE NAVY YARD.
RUSH CAUSED BY THE PRINCETON AND
THE SOLACE BEING ORDERED AWAY.
sMALINEss OF APPROPRIATION CAUSES A CUT
DOWN N SHOP FoRCEs-woRK ON
THE MASSACHUSETTS.

SMALLNESS OF APPROPRIATION CAUSES A CUT
DOWN IN SHOP FoRcEs-woRK ON
THE MASSACHUSETTS
caused by the announcement that two OF the
ships there the gunooat Princeton. Commander
c y West. and the hospital ship solace. Com
mander A. Dunlap are to be ordered TO the
Philippines The Princeton. which has been at
the yard for some time, is nearly ready for use.
and the soace can be put into shape for the
voyage In about a fortnight Details Of officers
and men for the Solace are now being made up.
and work on her will be pushed ahead fast as
possible.
The discharges OF last week in the machine
shops are TO be followed by more this week. and
a large number Of men will be laid off in con-
sequence Of lack OF money. This is likely to
cause considerable trouble. The appropria-
ton remaining for the last half OF the fiscal
year is. according to the accounts. divided into
equal parts. and no more than one portion Is to
be spent each month. II this plan is carried
out II will involve delay in the work on several
ships and the shops will be crowded with un-
finished business.
At present the Indiana the Newark. the At
lanta, the Massachusetts and other big boats are
having repairs made. and the torpedo boats are
without boilers they being retubed. Reducing
the force at this time is held to be unwise. the
better way being. II is said to go on with the
work until II Is finished and then dismiss the
men, leaving the shops clear OF the ships COM
plete
Stormy weather and ice In the Wallapout
Channel have delayed the operations on the lie"
sea walls. but work has been resumed with a rush'
The new houses have suffered in the same way,
but the yards and docks department Is full or
business as there are now nineteen contracts on
hand for new structures or alterations on ola
ones This is outside OF the work being done by
the yard forces.
The New-York which Is tied at the stern or
the receiving ship is not in need or repairs anu
came to the yard simply TO escape the noatins
ice at the Tompknsville anchorage.
Down under the hull of the Massachusetts, IN
the big dry dock. electric lights are burning eiec
trio drills are boring and a swarm or worKinen
are hammering away at the damaged plates In
the vessels bottom. The repairs Will not be
completed for some time, and the men are smell
tered from the storms by wind sails. which IN
close the whole forward under part or the
ship.
The Vermont was prettily decorated on New
Years Day. when Captain and Mrs Miller gave
a dance on the spar deck. music being furnished
by the Navy Yard band. The next regular
dance VIII be given on Friday afternoon or THIS
week.
Naval Constructor Bowles has returned to his
desk and affairs In his department have taken
on their usual aspect OF hustle.
Many additions to the machinery In the shops
have been made recently. among them being a
machine for cold bending tubes FOR the boilers OF
the torpedo boats. Among the visitors on Fri
dav who watched this machine with good deal
OF interest was Cornelius Vanderbilt, jr.. who was
accompanied by a few friends