New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-28
NAVY YARD MATTERS.
THE FLEET STARTING on ITS USUAL
SUMMER CRUISE
MANY PORTS MAY BE VISITED-SLACKEN-
ING OF WORK IN THE sHoPs-IM-
PRovEMENTs UNDER WAY.

With the departure Of the New-York and the
Indiana for the Tompkinsve anchorage. pre-
paratory to sailing for Newport and beginning
the summer cruise, the Navy Yard loses two OF
its drawing cards a show place. Two, how
ever, remain. the Brooklyn and the Texas but
the stay Of the latter is brief as she is to go
up the Hudson Tuesday and fire the salute
opposite Grants tomb. The repairs needed by
the Brooklyn OF such nature that she
VIII not be able TO get away and join her COM
panions until late in the week. and 1t is re-
garded as likely that the fleet the larger mem
bers OF which will be the New-York. the Indi
ana. the Massachusetts, the Texas and the
Brooklyn. will be augmented by the New-Or-
leans, which is now at the city of her name
The ships are likely to make a stay Of a fort
night at Newport, being scheduled TO sail from
here to-day. and leaving Newport in time to
reach Boston and take part in the exercises OF
Bunker Hill Day, June IL From Boston they
will go to Portsmouth and have target practice
then to Portland Me. and from there to Bar
Harbor Mount Desert.
MAY VISIT MANY PORTS.
Full details Of the cruise after leaving
Frenchman's Bay have not been arranged, and
the itinerary has not been made out but it is
understood that every port the ship can enter
between Bar Harbor and New-Orleans will be
visited, that the officers may become familiar
with the channels and forts This plan will not
interfere with the practice work Of maneuvres
boat drills. target practice. and the other ponss
which go to make the American sailor the mas
ter Of his business.
The completion OF repairs on the ships OF the
fleet causes a slackenng OF the rush OF work in
the big shops, and the Construction Department
dismissed 12j men at the close OF business yes
terday. There is still considerable to be done
in refitting the Buffalo for service trans
port for officers and their families between this
port and Manila and when the plans Of Com
mander Hemphill are fully carried out the boat
will present an altered appearance Not only
Will the quarters Of the officers and men be
much more comfortable than they are now but
there will be a greatly increased space avail
able for cargo and supplies. 1t is not likely
that che will get away before August l. Hurry
up" orders have been received regarding the At
lanta, which has had a long rest at the wall
between the causeway and Drydock No 3, and
there are prospects that the pretty little cruiser
Will have flag flying at her stern before long
The Somers. the German built and Englsh
transported torpedo boat which could not get
away from England in time to be OF use in the
recent disturbance is much like a white ele-
plant, as. in addition to the expense already
charged against her. another $4,000 Will have 10
be expended before she Will be ut Tor service.
The little flyer is not OF much use at present,
and il Is doubtful II the sum needed Will be
used to lick her into shape" There are boats
out on skids in the yard now which need the
money and it will do no harm to let the Somers
rest awhile.
EXTENDING TRACKS OF THE CRANE
One OF the big improvements at the yard Is
the extension Of the tracks for the forty-ton
crane around the entire waterfront, near the
seawal. The tracks now creeping along
toward the northern end. and the Bishop der
rick which has been OF the LANDMARKS TO-
pilots coming down the East River Is being
torn down. The tracks for the derrick are eigh-
teen feet apart, and there is an overhang OF Two
feet on each side. so that wide pathway Is
needed by the machine which carries Dig guns
and boilers and other heavy weights around
the yard. II is intended TO extend the tracks
over the causeway and around the COP DOCK
shore. to reach the ordnance houses ana the re-
ceiving-ship Vermont the locomotive tracks al
ready covering that territory.
DELAYS in the preparation Of plans for the new
steam engineering shops have caused Rear Az
mral Endicott to send out hurry up orders
with the hope OF having the work expedited.
Rear admiral Melville has decided that there
shall be nothing lacking in the new SHOPS ana
100 electric motors will be part Of the power
equipment. These machines will be OF the latest
and most powerful type. and VIII be entlrey
under the control Of the steam engineering
people.
Rear-Admlral Philip is away from the yard
on short vacation. and CAPTAIN Frank Wildes
is acting cOmmandant, his regular station Delng
captain Of the yard
PROTESTS AGAINST CHANGES NEEDED.
The protests Of naval officers against the pro-
posed plan of changing the blue and white
blouses and in making other alterations in the
uniform have been needed AS has been an
nounced a circular has been drawn and signed
prescribing new changes which were so OBJ
jectionable to the Navy at large This circular
will not be issued; but one in its stead provid-
ing that shoulder marks be worn on the over
coat and white blouse instead OF shoulder straps,
and prescribing the Uniform for warrant off,
GERS This circular will be issued soon.