Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-27
The COMMUNICATIONS.

Latrobe said: "In the center of the upper
part Of the yard I propose that the first
officer of the yard shall reside, as does the
commissioner of the kings yard in Eng
land and the intendant formerly in France
From this situation the whole yard is I'M
der his eye. The second officer | propose
shall inhabit the building now occupied by
Capt. Cassin. If there be third officer a
house similar to Capt. Cassin's may be
erected west of the principal gate.
The plan received the approval Of the
Secretary of the Navy and was gradually
carried into execution, but with frequent
Interruptions. The house occupied by Capt
Cassin, as indicated, was one of the pio-
neer buildings of the yard 1t was built
under the direction of Capt. Tingey by the
firm of Lowering & Dyer in the fall of 1901
Secretary Stoddert appointed Mr. William
Marbury Of Annapolis, Md. naval agent of
the District of Columbia, May %, 1888 The
purchase Of the grounds for the site of the
Washington navy yard was completed Oc
tober 2. 1880. Capt. Thomas Tingey of
Kingston, N. J., was appointed superintend-
ent Of the yard January %, 1900 The in
structions accompanying his appointment
stated that Capt Thomas Tingey of the
navy. an officer of great merit in our serv-
ice, has been ordered to Washington. with
view to superintend the buifling of the
seventy-four-gun ship and to aid in the ar
rangement of the navy yard, the improve
ments Of which he will also superintend
y,
and having seen the navy yards of Eng
land, will be able to direct the layings of
that In Washington to greatest advan-
tage."
Upon the election of Mr.. Jefferson to the
presidency the new Secretary of the Navy,
Robert Smith of Maryland, abolished the
office of navy agent then held by Mr. Mar
bury, and included the duties Of the Office
In those of the superintendent, Captain
Tingey, thus very much increasing his au-
thority and responsibility. Under the new
order Captain Tingey was required to SUI
perintend all the public buildings and i'm
of all kinds He had various other duties
both within and without the yard. AS
compensation for such services he was
to receive 1.-THE full pay, without the ra-
thirty-two guns and upward. The pay Of
a captain in such command was 500 per
month and eight rations per day.
Unfortunately" 1t was stated, "the pol
icy inaugurated under the administration of
President Adams of creating and maintain
ing navy was violently opposed by the
republican party upon one ground or an
other"
The peace establishment of 1901 author
lied the sale of al the ships and vessels of
the navy except thirteen frigates. Under the
provision of this law there were lying at
lowing frigates:. The United states. "A
guns; the President. A guns the Congress,
SO guns; the Boston. "a guns; the Essex. 81
guns; the General Greene, "a aguns.
Capt Tingey in Command.
law was passed by Congress. March q.
1904, authorizing the President to appoint
a captain of the navy in command Of the
Washington navy yard Under the pro-
visions of this act the President appointed
Captain Tingey In command Of the yard.
At the close Of the year 1903 the marine
barracks were included in the command of
the Washington navy yard.
1t appears that through the pioneer eff
forts of Capt. Tingey the yard grew In size
and Importance. and the influence of the
impetus he gave the establishment was felt
through the successive administrations One
of the most thrilling chapters of the his
tory of the yard occurred while he was In
command-its destruction by the invading
British army in 1914.
Capt. Tingey died at the navy yard while
yet It's commander, February %, 1929, at
the age Of seventy-nine years. He was APP
pointed to the American service from the
English navy. in which he was midship-
man. It is related while in command OF the
Ganses. when a British ofiacer boarded his