Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-26
FOR YARDS AND DOCKS
Recommendations of the Chief
of the Bureau.
GREATER EFFICIENCY,
EFFECT OF THE LAST YEARS
IMPROVEMENTS.
Urges Higher Pay for the Civil En-
Observation-Disclosures Urged for the
Washington Yard.
GREATER EFFICIENCY,

Rear Admiral NJ T. Endicott, chief Of the
bureau Of yards and docks. in his annual
report to the Secretary of the Navy. says
] tina: the efficiency of the navy yards and
stations has been materially increased by
| the improvements added during the year.
| although much yet remains to be done to
place them in condition to expeditions
| ly and economically handle the work
devolving on them. AS the number ana
size of the navy yards and stations In
crease. it becomes necessary. he says, to
make larger allotments for their mainte-
| nance. and for the repair Of existing
structures. The expenditures during the
year from appropriations under cogni-
Zance Of the bureau. aggregated $',o51 ,6o),
of which amount $5.S46,690 was for works
of improvements specifically provided for by
Congress. The balance. $1,71OS9o. was APP
piled to the maintenance and repair OF navy
yards and stations. civil establishment, con-
tingencies. etc.
Work Under Construction. ~
It is reported that the new dry docks at
Portsmouth and Boston are completed ana
will serve the government for great many
years, without deterioration. Satisfactory
progress is reported on the dock at League
Island, with prospects Of its completion oy
Charleston are declared to be only fair. In
both cases the bureau Is keeping the con-
tractors reminded Of their Obligations ana
urging them to make every enort 70 hastsn
the completion Of the docks. Admiral Enol-
colt says that the additional land acquires
for the Norfolk navy yard will be OF mucn
benefit. The navy yard at new YORK IS
much crowded and Admiral Enolcott say
the same action will soon be necessary 10
prevent serious congestion there Because
Of unsatisfactory progress on the new
dock at Mare Island, Cal, the Original
contract was annulled and new one mace
which allows twenty-four months for COM
pleting the dock. 1t is expected that the
steel floating dock intended for the naVai
station at Cavite will be rea6y lot t .ha
next spring. Little has been done In the
wav Of permanent improvements at the
irsular stations. .,,,-,,
The diff1culty In securing prompt delivery
Of structural steel meeting goverl nti1, onn.
spection, Admiral Endicott says, sun con-
tinues to delay the construction OF puioIhss
and other improvements requiring sucn ma
terial. Delays were due also. he says, 10 the
lack Of officers In the Corps VI o1enntenf
and to the difficulty Of securing competent
craftsmen.
Estimates for Next Year.
The estimates made by the bureau for the
navy yards and stations for the next fiscal
wear aggregate 81, s55, 615, of which $6.164.-
Gao are for public improvements. The prin-
nroving the water front at the navy yard'
New york. An item of sos, 900 is submitted
for continuing the construction OF the dry
dock at Guantanamo. An item supmiteeu
for a masonry dry dock at the naval stauon.
San Juan, to cost 81 .2oOOOO An estiMa.e 10
Also submitted for beginning another dry
dock at the navy yard bostoh' " cose S'00'
600
The bureau renews its recommendation
made in previous reports that poaIo VI
officers be appointed to consider a site Iof
a naval station on the south PACING coast.
ADMIRAL Endicott calls attention TO the
fact that the pay OF the CORPS VI t t naval
service bestowed upon commissioned ON
GERS, and says 1t is Inadequate TOT the cnal-
acter of service rendered. besides compaiins
unfavorabIy with that obtaining IN civil ne
He recommends that Communication of quar-
ters be allowed to the Corps of Engineers
and that the technical shore duty CORPS,
including the civil engineer corps: Dc
granted the pay and allowances established
byAlaw for naval constructors and assistant
naval constructors. An enactment OF the
latter kind, he said, would be In the dlrec-
ton of equalizing the pay OF omcers anu
remove a serious discrimination which has
long existed.
Estimates for the Local Yard.
In a special chapter regarding the Wash
tugton navy yard 1t is shown that the ex-
penditures for labor and materials during
the past fiscal year amounted to 1881 ,Oo5, OF
which amount $237,448 were for yard I'M
provements. The estimates for the coming
fiscal year total 1895, 220, the principal items
being: SIS, GOO to complete building for cleo
trio power plant extension; $4,000 Tor 10
connective and crane house; $40, 600 for fire.
proof model storage building; $4O,320 for
steel timber shed. and $4,000 to extend the
water system. Smaller estimates are made
to extend the systems OF fire protection,
railroad, underground conduit, heating and
paving.