The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-11-21
NAVY YARD IMPROVEMENTS
TUfyT r,DnOfr RrrORIs ~ rUv WORK
~ TWS tJtR
Progress. In the nuiid,rs ~ Dt, porl. over
I've We wiioI. >ses..sr, fuf the N~,t
ti.oal Nest Comment an nfortnnate
Dr, Dock W. . =, the New York Yard.

W,surVGtuN. N"y ~ much Interesting
information iu regard 30 carving out 10 pfuVo-
m"nt- ~ IN" vnrinn. navy ward. and shore
stations. - put NJ" navy IN better condition
Tor ho-tiliiio~ than II was a. tho beginning Of
tho war with spain. T., contained IN the annual
report II Rear Admiral Nrfdccli 7. IuGioptt.
Chicf Of the bureau Of Yard. ard pods.
Ia" Admiral -nyS that tho Yard aud stations
mr." In much better condition to-day to meet
u similar demand uh" war with SPAIN than
they were two wears ago. II" estimates that
to continue tho work of Improvement during
the next fiscal year si?. asa. $50 will bo required.
Nor" than tiI.ro.cD OF this amount Is for pub
lie works. but much If II T. - continue projects
heretofore authorized This II notably tho
case In the items for dry docks and certain
largc buildings at New York. Boston. League
Island. Portsmouth and Mar" Island,
or IN" dry docks authorized 10y Congress In
i MarIm, d ir;"; do "a, t., ARE be i IN nT I'd r., n, he I h"
and now. under construction AT SuHrroNs
Point, Md, viii probably be noatcd and towed
to it, destination ~ soon a, ~" weather will
permit In the spring Tn" dock AZ Ports
mouth. y II. l. advancing successfully. Three
failure. of the cqfierdam 9f the Boston dock
caused much delay and the dock viii not be
completed. within the contract time 81, two
aud q half years !Sp"1kinG generally Of the
dry docks. Admiral EndiCott says
The docks. now under construction. and
authorized Will constitute a lars" addition
to the docking facilities of the navy, but the
great increase In the number of vessels 10 be
handled IN docking times Of war, or when re-
pairing or commissioning Cunslderahl" num-
beers, viii require still more docks than are now
provided for. No specific oStimat" j. mad"
for such In this report, but II j. recommended
that an appropriation be made for N" con-
s~trlCtlon Of one III the Philippines a. soon ns
the Department shall have decided upon the
best harbor and site for a naval station adj
eqlIate III. every way for the largest vessels.
In the last fiscal year the cost of labor and
material at IA" New York yard was si,iNs,9j3.
Or the repair work on Dry Dock No. at the New
York yard, which has had an unfortunate eN-
pcrlence. Admiral Endicott says.
7 he work was well advanced AT the end Of the
entirely completed and the dock put into ser
vice again BY the end Of the present calendar
year. Very little granite Is being used IN It's
construction and when complete II viii b."
practically n concrete dry dock with "A wooden
floor.
The history II this dock is another CHAPTER
in the unwiSdom Of building these great and
important works Of a Ierishahle material, and
shows how, while the first cost may he smaller.
the ultimate cost j. vastly greater and the risks
and danger: involved in their use great and
unwarrantod.
The original cost Of this dry dock. completed
In 1890, was sos 900. The repairs and renewals
now being made will consume nearly the whole
Of the $4,000 appropriated. The expenditures
during the fiscal year were $500. 25j.
An estimate Of $500. coo Is submittcdto continue
work on the granite and concrete dry dock at
the New York Navy Yard authorized by the last
Naval net