New-York tribune., 1901-09-01
FROM FUN TO WAR.
GAY IONA ISLAND CONVERTED INTO :,
GRIM NAVAL MAGAZINE FOR
EXPLOSIVES

Gunner Frank H Whitney U s. N v,
some time has been stationed the naval rnag, o'
at Chelsea. Boston. has been transferred 10 -
naval magazine now in course OF constr1,c,io =
Iona Island, ROekland County. across the Hrs.
River from Peekskill He relieves Gunner Her
Campbell, who has been at Iona Island for -
last six months. and who has been transferraa :.
Washington. With the arrival of Whi,De, - "
work on what is to be the largest naval rnaz,,t
in the country has been much accelerated sDs =
Is expected that the dynamite. the nitro-zIvcsr.
and the lyddite shells. enough if exploded 10 ,,
Peekskill of the map. will be placed in the ma
azines and stOrehOuses at the island by NoveuS-
Iona Island for many years was largely utiliza5
excursion ground for New-Yorkers Tos.
by in the river steamers would hardly rs
nize the place; for where formerly there Wa
green lawns are railroad tracks and mare.
and bricks. The merry -go-rounds and the sUng.
and the shooting galleries have given place -
substantial buildings. The pier where the sundo
excursions landed has been practically rebuilt IT,
new pier is 100 feet front and so feet deep On 4,
stands large freprOof shipping house. Later ,hs
gunboats. battleships. cruisers torpedo boats ana
other vessels Of the navy will touch at this n,sr
to receive their cargoes OF ammunition
There five magazines. each 30 by 100 feet or
brick and stone very strong. and partially beneath
the ground Each magazine will hold 500 tons az
explosives. There are eight shell houses. for stor
ing shells.
one. First a contractor drilled and drilled and
drilled TIght down through solid rock six-fncb
hole was made. and after IL had been cut about Zs
feet toward China, and nothing but rock OF the
hardest kind and not drop Of water had been
encountered, the task was abandoned The final
plan was to construct reservoir. 1t will be allsd
by springs and brooks and natural rainfall Then
the water will be pumped to standpipe or water
at the north end of the island 10 feet above
the river level and 100 feet high. This pressr
and to the of frepIugs and hydrants placed
at convenient points
For the commandaut OF the island house n,
Colonial architecture has been built furnished WITH
all modern improvements. II OverloOks the Hud
son. and is 200 feet from shore. There IS spacious
portico and in front lawn has been sodded
There have been also completed four cottages
double. of brick and stone furnished with all mod
ern improvements. which will be occupied by gov.
ernment employees and watchmen when the maya.
4 zine is put in commission
/ The old hotel is still standing On the second
i floor. where the parlOrs and dining room vera
| formerly. offices and draughtsmen's rooms
Down in the basement where the 100 by 10 foot bar
| room used 70 run wide open on Sundays there ar,
| now clerks desks and stored material Over txo
4 hundred men at work. A strict surveillance "a
| maintained Of the grounds. and Secret Service o.
/ hcials about all the time. A photographer IA
/ fired OUT without ceremony. Every man. woman
| or child who sets foot the grounds has 10 ac-
| count for being there. Every workman who leaves
| the grounds IN work hours must have pass
/ a half mile from the magazines is Round Island
where every day dozens of heavy blasts set Of
Round Island Is OF solid granite and is being slow
| Iy blasted away for paving stones and CRUSHED
| stone. Tons of dynamite stored there and
| when the heavy blasts set on the ground il
shaken for miles around. and the shock often rattes
/ window panes IN PeekskilL What effect this win
Z have on the lyddtte. nitrO-glyCerine ETC., to BE-
i stored a quarter Of mile away is a problem n
! may be necessary for the government 10 purchase
| Round Island and its immense stone crushing plant
I TO avoid danger.
| IL s hoped TO have the magazines ready for sx-
| plOsives by November although il will be another
year before the grounds Will be cleared up sodiet
4 a." planted with shade trees. When this IA done
/ passing passengers boat land will see ene AZ
| the prettest and most interesting spots between
1 New-fork and Albany, until perhaps the magazines
blow up some day. and il they ever do the eoan-
try for twenty miles around viii know IT, although
I inhabitants in the immediate nefghbOrhOod Of the
| iona Naval Magazine United States Nayy" EV
| probably never know what happened.