Evening star., 1901-12-05
NAVY YARD IMPROVEMENTS
PURCHASE Of ADDITIONAL LAND IS
URGED.
Admiral EndicottI& Recommendation.
Include sever. New Buildings--
Estimates Aggregate S622. 600.

In a special chaptsr about the Washing
ton navy yard Rear-Adfhiral Endicott, chief
of the bureau OF y1NsJ and docks. in his
annual report says that the total expendi-
lures on account sofs labor and material
during the past, tiscaf year were $4es, 1876,
Of which $s34745 was for yard improve
ments.
The repair and preservation of the yard
cost $42. 794e2. Of this about. one-fourth
was expended upon the yard buildings and
only $1,9OS for ofacers quarters. About
5000 was expended ,gon repairs to the
wharves. which had fallen into serious de-
cay. About $4,000 was expended upon
roads. sewers and drains. The attendance
apon the heating. lighting and power plant
cost about 5000.
The sum Of s24 .252 Is was applied to the
maintenance Of the yard during the year.
The sum was not sufficient to properly
meet the various requirements under this
head, but what was applied was done In
a careful and economical manner. The
principal items of expenditure were for
cleaning and clearing up the yard, attend
pur chase of fuel and purchase, mainte-
nance and hire Of teams.
Estimated for Next Year.
The public works estimated for the next
fiscal year are as follows: Gunners' store
house. $4,000: improvements to building
No TO- 100000; coppersmith shop, 1900:
steel timber shed, $f5.00O; brorzing and
plating house. $4,000; model storage build
ing for construction and repair. $39.5O0:
SIT 500: building for yards and docks.
$95 600; purchase Of land. S1S5.000: coaling
plant extensions, $4,000, making a total Of
$622, 900.
More Land and Buildings.
In explanation Of these estimates, Ad-
mirai Endicott says:
IA coaling plant has been contracted for
at the Washington yard to have capacity
Of 5000 tons. The bureau Of equipment is
very desirous that this should be increased
in dimensions so as to store larger
amount. and an estimate is presented to
effect this object. z7r... sss,a
The yard Is fast being filled with struc-
lures necessary to the duties required to be
performed, and more room Is becoming alb
solutely necessary. The bureau renews it's
recommendation of last year, that an ap-
preparation be made for the purchase Of
more land. The lands upon either side can
which are not large. Some Of the tracts
are ready for Improvement, and If the pur-
chase Is put or to a much later period Inn
provements will be made which Will en-
hance the COST =-s-sIaz g..
The bureau OF yards and docks is in
much need of building ainto which it can
concentrate its scattered work. Its duties
are very large and require good and suf-
ficent appointments Favorable considera-
tion of this estimate is requested.
THE bureau Of ordnance has need for a
fireproof building for the safe storage of
valuable drawings ahd records 1t is pro-
posed to replace an old shell house no long
er required with a structure designed to
afford the accommodations mentioned. It's
construction Is regarded as important.
Building No TO- storehouse occupies a
large amount of space. but affords COM
paratiyely little storage room. It should be
remodeled, have a new steel roof a new
frepreof floor to cover theespace now open.
and be furnished with crane supports, run
ways and crane. s9g : 5Ga ! ~.
''The -coppersmith shop. bronzing and
plating shop, and timber sshed are deemed
necessary for lthesiordnance work. and the
bureau Of Constructors ana repa1faaska that
authority be obtained for a powefhouse
and model storage building for its purposes
In connection with the model tank estab-
lished flereae'" - - s.i.os a.5~ hsa'2si'1 ~gla9
ffE'. StOrehOuxef for Records.
In indorsing the proposition for sepa-
rate building for the oare.-ef government
records Admiral Endicott says:
Work in the bureau has been hampered
by lack Of sufficient room Three years
ago all the work In the bureau was done
in this building and all it's force was en-
gagged herein. Today more than one-haIf
the Office force is quartered In a building
upon 17th street. so great has been the
growth OF the work. with no room in this
building for the expansion. Both Of the
officers, who are technical assistants. are
also installed upon f7th street This dis
persiOn of the force operates to the great
disadvantage of the bureau. The records
Of the bureau, to a very large extent have
had to be removed to give room for other
purposes. and large quantities are now
stored in the Washington navy yard, where
they are not so safe as in this building,
and are very inconvenient for reference,
which sometimes becomes necessary.
"A building conveniently located. into
which all the records not current could be
deposited and arranged for easy reference,
would relieve the congestion somewhat,