Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-02-02
Splendid Grounds and Build
ingS OH Southern Branch.
WAS A BARREN WILDERNESS
Extensive improvements iiII Going
Stored Awny-ShcIls From Tho De-
stroycd Ccrvcrn's Fleet are PncItcd
i'm tho 1yOuscs-Gunncr Lynch I'm
Charge OF the Place.

The grounds OF the Government mag
aznes. located at The point of land
formed by the angle of the Southern
Branch and 81. Julian's creek. formerly
known as CoXe's Point, are not only an
ornament to that section, but Il credit
to Uncle Sam and Gunner p. Lynch,
who has command of the place.
Thirteen months ago yesterday, the
magazines of the Government were re-
moved from Crancy Island to it's pres
ent site. on the Southern Branch. At
the time, Uncle Sans property at that
place was Il barren wilderness of brown
sage and waste cane. Now the place
Is enclosed with neat wire fence;
walk-ways and drivc-ways ornament
the grounds. and handsome buildings
give the place an air Of business that
is homeike and refreshing.
~"GUNNER LYNCH IN CHARGE.
Mr.. p. Lynch, formerly chief gunner
under Admiral Dewey. has been in
charge OF the magazines here for the
past six years, and Is regarded as one
of the mos; efficient ordnance officers
In the Government service. There has
never been an accident or n complaint
Gunner Lynch has under him ten ma
rine guards, and about thirty other men
are at work in the magazines. At
present the men are kept very busy,
as great deal OF ammunition is be.
ing put up and packed in cases ready
for shipment
Yesterday the men were marking and
getting ready for shipment Il quantity
of ammunition to be sent TO the fleet
at Manila.
SHELL-HOUSES AND MAGAZINES.
There are three large she'll houses
and two magazines at the grounds.
Four of these buildings are brick and
one Of the shell-houses is frame
structure. having been put up tempo.
narily during the Spanish war. but
which is still being used rs Gunner
Lynch Is very much crowded for room.
In addition to these five buildings
there is a brick gun-cotton house AN
Office building. the marine barracks anu
several ou;houses and the dwelling
house OF Gunner Lynch, who lives al
the magazines with his family, con-
sistng of wife and five children.
IN COURSE OF CONSTRUCTION.
BESIDES the buildings enumerated
above the McIlvain. Unkcfer Co are
erecting three large brick magazines
Mr. ~ Moloney, representing the con-
tractors, has charge of the construc-
tion of these buildings.
~ narrow gagged railroad is being
built with converted roadbcd that will
run into each building. and the track
extends to the wharf, thus making tho
unloading of material and loading OF
ammunition on the boats matter of
comparative ease. M. At0fo11ry-tr.rs
charge of building this railroad also
There will also be II watcr-tower and
ipt, hn
ing capacity of 80, 500 gallons. The
water will he supplied by cisterns. and
IL is thought an abundant supply can
thus be obtained. Water mains are
being laid through the grounds. and n
fire company will be organized among
the employees. Water plugs will be ar
ranged, and it is thought that acct.
dent by fire will be reduced to a min
imum.
LOADING OF SHELLS.
The loading of the ammunition is
very interesting: The men are clothed
In flannel robes that nearly reach IN
the floor, and wear shoes without heels
or tacks OF any kind in the soles. The
powder which is in little oc.acon-
SNAPPED blocks is packed carefully and
put in bags and then into cases for the
large guns. and for the smaller ones
the shells are loaded ready for firing
No one is allowed to go near these
buildings with fire, and the greatest
care and precauton is taken against
accident
After the shells are loaded they are
packed into cans and carefully labeled
card being placed in each can. show
Ing when and where the loading oc-
CURED. The three houses are
hiled with ammunition ranging from
one Founders to thirteen inch shells
carrying over five hundred pounds of
powder
ANOTHER APPROPRIATIONS.
An appropriation of s27. 800 has been
asked for for additional improvements.
ana Mr.. Lynch thinks there is a goou
cnance to get it. If it secured addi-
tional ground will be bought and other
improvements will be made to the
place.
The wire fence that Is now around
the grounds will shortly be removed.
ana IN It's place an eight-foot sheet
IRON fence VIII be erected
Mr. Lynch was particularly kind and
courteous to the reporter. and showed
him over the entire grounds. and gave
an interesting description of the work.
lie exhibited q. great deal of ammunl.
ton taken from the Spanish fleet de-
stroyed at Santiago including a six
inch shell that was taken from a gun
Of the Cristobal Colon that had never
been fired.
None OF this ammunition will be of
any use to Uncle Sam, as the shells do
not fit our guns,