Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-06
THE FORCE INCREASED
INSTALLATION OF MODERN
METHODS AND MACHINERY.
Scene of Bustle and Activity Presented
Today-Commander Bowyer Fur
nishes Facts and Figures.

The spring operations at the Washington
navy yard, with it's bustling thousands OF
employees, have been inaugurated and the
great Enclosure presented a busy scene to
DAY when the place was visited by Star
reporter. Not the least busy man in the
yard was Commander John M. Bowyer. u.
s. NJ, who is in charge Of the department
Of yards and docks
YES" said this officer, I'VE have be-
gun our spring work in earnest, and from
now on the activity will be continued until
the snow flies next winter"
The increase of workmen in the depart
ment OF yards and docks is shown by
statement furnished The Star by Command
er Bowyer. The list follows: Craftsmen 3;
special laborers, a: Quartermen. 5; special
mechanics. 2; machinists. electrical, 4: wire
men, y: undg.c- cable spiders, 1; masons,
orlcK, 81; masons, stone. I; joiners, house.
first class, 5: joiners. house, second class,
10; PAYERS. 1; plumbers, L; timers, 1; track
men. L; engine tenders, I; letterers and
grainers, 1; painters, first class, II; helpers,
general, 2; helpers, joiner's, 2; helpers,
plumber S. |; helpers. timers, L; hod car
rlers' 81: )a1ntofs, 5; stable keepers, 2; hired
carts. %; laborers, first class, 63; laborers,
second class, III.
The Plans Adopted.
Plans that have been made for the
spring and summer work were described
by the commander. The principal opera
lions Will be the completion of building
NO. lle known as the electric power house.
This structure was partly. completed last
year. and the walls were constructed about
one-thlrd of the way up before the freez-
ing weather set ,in and prevented further
work. Workmen, are now engaged on the
walls, and the outside work will soon be
completed, it Is said. The steel work is
all in.
Machinery for this building is beginning
to arrive. The first arrival was a large
th1rty-fve-ton crane with span of nine
ty.eight feet. This colossal piece of ma
chinery Is soon to be installed for the
purpose of handling the engines and cleo
trio generators which are being manufac-
tured under contract with the Brown-Cor-
liSS Engine Company
Commander Bowyer said only one-half
of the maehinery~h has as yet been con-
tracted for, including four 500 K. w gen.
orators. WHICH will be sufficient to supply
power until an additional appropriation
can be obtained to install similar sets on
the oppositeside Of the building.
Extension of Sewer.
Other Important work that has been
started is the extension of the six-foot sew
er ninety feet out into the river. so as to
connect with the new sea wall which is
being built on the newly established bulk
head line. This sea wall is also in course
of construction in front of the recently
acquired line known as 1.-The western ex-
tension of the Washington navy yard" This
extension contains practically fourteen
acres, It is on this line. too, that the new
power plant is being established.
south of the electric power house. This
boiler house Is to contain twenty 300
horsepower boilers, making a total of 5000
horsepower in Ssall. Ten OF these boilers
have been provided for by Congress
South Of this building the coal-han-
ding plant modern in every particular.
It consists of an elevated structure, with
locomotive crane. side dumping ears. 1t
handles coal from the coal pile underneath
and transfers 1T to the 1,0O0-ton coal pock-
ct overhead in the boiler house by the lat
est approved conveyor system-an endless
chain of buckets operated by electric pow
err The coal feeds from this overhead
pocket down into hoppers in front of the
boilers, thence onto CRATES which are Ope-
rated by mechanical stokers.
The ashes drop below Into a pit, and
thence are removed by the conveyor system
and placed in an elevated ash pocket at
the south end of the building, under which
either cars carts may be placed to run
the ashes down and cart them away. The
system is thoroughly up-to-date and will
be an interesting process when in operation.
Other Improvements Later.
Additional improvements will be COM
menced on July /, when the new appro-
system is thoroughly up to date and will
be a still larger increase In the force of
mechanics and lahorers.
At that time operations will begin on the
annex to the new electric power house,
which will be in the nature of a machine
shop for repairing the electric motors and
other machinery, also work on the new
building to be known as the telephone and
fire station and naval prison, and which will
be located on the site of the present watch
house, near the main north entrance to