New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-27
NAVY YARD AFFAIRS.
LITTLE WORK GOING ON AT THE STA
TON AT PRESENT.
rrrrc-r or THE SCARCITY OF IRON AND STEEL
OVERTIME PAY TALKED OF FOR THE
CIVIL ESTABLISHMENT.

EFFECT OF THE SCARCITY OF IRON AND STEEL
OVERTIME PAY TALKED OF FOR THE
CIVIL ESTABLISHMENT
Work on the Detroit has been nearly COM
pleted and the Atlanta has been hoated into
Drydock No. 3 for some work which cannot pe
done while she Is aHoat. The collier Marcellus
is to be used by the inventors of an apparatus
for coalng ships at sea for a series Of demon
STATIONS which will take place off Sandy HOOK
in a short time. The Government has permitted
the use OF the ship for this purpose. the invent
ors to bear all the expenses. With these excep-
lions there Is little work at the yard as far as
vessels are concerned, the Cincinnati occupying
her old place in the stone dock
Prosperity has struck the Navy Yard severe
blow and large number of men are wondering
where their share OF the prosperity comes In.
In the first place, the prevailing high prices for
iron and steel are responsible for the large bids
on the construction Of the machine shop
and the consequent alteration of the plans and
delay In the work. Following this contractors
on various buildings In process OF erection al
the yard have informed the chief civil engineer
that they cannot get the structural iron work
necessary 10 go ahead with the construction.
owing to the mills being osercrowded with
work. and the supply Of ore and iron snort.
This has caused practical stoppage OF work
several large structures, and although work
is going ahead some foundations there Is no
telling when the superstructures will begin to
grow.
The eastern wall Of drydock No. has been
torn out to the same extent as the western wall.
and great cavities have been made back OF the
places formerly occupied by the affairs and
strngers. The excavations will be carried down
TO the bottom OF the dock before any attempt at
reconstruction is made. The danger from the
broken sewer near the drydock wall has been
reduced to a minimum. and a large portion OF
the pipe has been replaced by new material. SO
that there Is no longer any fear or eVl results
to the drydock itself.
The fact that the mechanics and laborers en-
ployed at the yard are to receive pay Ior the
overtime they worked while the war exciteTheht
kept the yard busy brings up the question OF
the clerks. bookkeepers. timekeepers ana other
employees of what Is known as the civil es-
Establishment, and their right to overtime pay.
This force Of employees abored day and night,
Sundays as well as week days, overseeing ana
arranging the details of the work and keeping
track of the Governments expenses ana IL
seems hard that those whom the respon-
sibity fell for the proper execution or the cieri-
cal work necessary under the arduous conditions
then existing should not receive the same con-
sideration as those who performed the mechani-
cal labor II is proposed TO call the attention or
the proper authorities to this condition OF afalrs,
and If possible have an allowance MADE IN
some cases this extra work amounted TO an ag-
gregate of 1000 hours between the beginning
and ending Of the war. The employees are also
looking forward to the arrival of Admiral Dewey
with considerable anxiety. They are anxious to
share in the celebration and there Is hope that
the Department will declare a two days vaca,-
ton covering the festivities so that they may all
take part in the affair.
In spite Of rumors to the contrary, there Is
no doubt as to the part the yard officers will
take in the big celebration. Each will have his
duty assigned 10 him, and Rear Admiral Philip.
as the commanding officer Of the first home
naval station reached by Admiral Dewey Will,
as an officer put it yesterday, get all that's
coming to him"