Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-02
NAVY YARDS NEEDS
REAR ADMIRAL ENDICoTTS ES-
INMATES FOR ENSUING YEAR.
New Power House Regarded as Abso-
lutte Necessity-Building for
Storage Purposes.

Rear Admiral Endicott, chief of the naval
bureau OF yards and docks, has submitted
the folio wing estimates for needed improve
ments at the Washington navy yard for the
next fiscal year: Building for powder
plant, extension, s125, 600: railway landing
bridge $4,000; piled floor in store house
for guns and mounts. S27,240; raising roof
of annex to building No. 46. $1,000; grading
and paving. $4,000; freproof store house
for naval supplies Ito cost s225. O0O), $4,000;
freproof model storage building, $39,5OO;
coal storage and coal handling plant for
new power plant, $4,000; making a total
OF s36s.740.
Estimates Explained.
In explanation of these estimates, Ad-
miral Endicott says, in part:
"A new power house is now. an absolute
necessity at this yard, for in the present
one the boiler power Is now taxed to Its
utmost capacity, and the smokestack is
built as high as possible. During last win
ter great amount of wood had to be burn
ed In order to keep up the requisite press
ure and since that time there has been
built two new shops and one office building,
and a large new dynamo has been installed.
In addition to a lack of sufficient power,
some OF the boilers are so old that they
will soon have to be replaced. A new power
house should be built on the land about to
be acquired close to the water 'front.' and
plans ana estimates LOT SuCn d power mousse
are now being prepared with a view to the
future development of the yard. The
amount above requested e necessary for
this contemplated addition.
Another necessity Ia a properly balanced
landing bridge for transferring cars and
heavy guns to the barges for shipment to
the naval proving grounds at Indian Head.
With the present arrangement costly acci-
dents have been avoided only with the ut
most care.
"a building for the storage of heavy
guns, mounts and rough forgings Is very
much needed at this yard, and by replacing
the old floor in building No. "A the neces-
sary amount OF space can be secured. The
floor proposed will be of concrete and
gravel laid on 4-inch white oak decking,
the whole being supported by piles driven
very closely, in order to support the heavy
weight coming on the floor.
1.-The walls of the annex to cartridge
case factory are so low that there Is con,
slant danger of the roof catching fire, and
in summer the heat in this building is very
oppressive. The amount above requested
will be used to raise the roof of this build
ing.
1.-THE sum requested for grading and paw
ing will be used for paving In the proposed
western extension Of the yard which will
be Immediately necessary, on account of
the character of the ground, in order to
prepare the streets for the hauling of heavy
loads
Fire-Proof Storehouse.
"A large, centrally located. modern fire.
proof storehouse for the use Of the general
storekeeper is very necessary at this yard.
The present building Is badly located, not
freproof and inadequate for the work re-
uufred. II central storehouse Is built
large amount will be saved, both in time
and money, In transporting, storing and
handling supplies. and. in addition, the sup
piles stored in such building will be pro-
tected from fire.
THE operations of the model basin are
greatly hampered on account Of the lack Of
the proper flreproof building for the storage
of completed models. The present quarters
are entirely too small, and no additional
storage facilities can be afforded.
THE sum requested for coal-handling plant
will be expended in equipping the new power
plant with coal-handling appliances, by the
use of which coal can be taken from barges
in the river, from railroad cars and from
a reserve pile, the necessity for which has
been demonstrated by the recent strike at
the coal mines.
1.-THE bureau would call attention to many
other improvements which should be made
in the Washington navy yard and which
are regarded as Of special Importance at
the present time. The department Of yards
and docks Is very poorly equipped for the
very large amount Of work 1t accomplshes
and needs sorely a shop building wherein
It can assemble its work under a more eff
Client supervision and with better facilities
and room. A wall should be authorized to
inclose the property now being acquired.
The quay wall should be extended. The
bureau of ordnance needs breech-mechan-
ism shop. A locomotive and crane house
is very much needed and a shed for the
storage OF timber should be built. The
bureau of supplies and accounts Is espe-
cially DESTROYS that It's department be fur
nished an adequate storehouse."