Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-09-15

not have to pass through thickly pop
| illatcd districts in going out to. or re-
turning from warships: that the river
is rarely closed by ice and could be
kept onen even in the coldestsof wealth
or. Tho magazine will e;avaiiablo
for the use of ships at. both the
CharcstoUn and Portsmouth, navy
yards. according TO the naval experts.
For buildings the plans now cali for
:he expenditure of about 1926. 600.
There are to be four powder maya
zines. four shell houses and two fixed
ammunition houses, each one hundred
by sixty feet and one story high. They
vii! +" Of brick. uitH timed or copper
roofs TIE floors VIII be of concrete
shcathed with wood and there will be
lightning conductors, X Especial atten-
tion will he given to the ventilation. as
much trouble has occurred in naval
magazines of the country and abroad
because Of defective ventilation. Tho
largest building is to be two story
brick .Sorchousc. $50 feet by GO feet.
with steel trusses ard slated roof
The three filling houses are to be one
story high. built of brick and will
measure 30 by 20 feet. Other buildings
planned are: one-story gun-cotton
mousse. Is by % feet; .. decorator build
ing, brick. six feet each way: an office
building. one story high, of brick, and
10 by 40 feet; a cottage for the gunner.
four double cottages for the watchmen
and principal employees: a stable and
wagon shed. a small power house for
gas engine and fire purposes. To
equip the magazines it is estimated
$4,000 will be required.
When this magazine is finished and
ready for use it will relieve conditions
that have long been embarrassing to
the Navy. as there are absolutely no
facilities on the New England coast
for the storage of powder and other
ammunition in sufficient quantity to bo
of any use, warships having to go to
other yards or stations for their SUD-
plies of ammunition.
As Soon as the new magazine Is
ready. the old one, which has been
but little used for many years on ac-
count of its proximity to tf1ickly set
tied districts and because or the near
ness af a large manufacturing plant,
will be abandoned and sold. and the
money thus obtained will be devoted
to developing and improving the United
states Naval Hospital grounds and
buildings on the bank of the Mystic
River in Chelsea. directly to the north
west Of which the present magazine is
located
This was provided for by Congress
when it passed the act setting apart
the additional s200,O0O. but only a few
people know of it.. This particular pro-
vision Of the act follows: That when
the naval magazine on or near the
New England coast provided for by
an act of Congress approved April ~.
1894. is completed the Secretary of the
Navy shall discontinue the present
magazine in the city Of Chelsea, Mass.
and sell such portion of the magazine
and Naval Hospital grounds in said
city Of Chelsea as Is undesirable for
hospital purposes by public auction or
private sale, upon such terms and
onditons as shall be satisfactory to
him and the money derived from such
sale be applied to remodeling and
the buildings now on said
hospital grounds. and the balance Of
said money. IL there be any after said
and undermining. shall be
placed to the credit of the hospital
fund of the Navy
1t Will be seen by this that when the
site Of the magazine. which even now
is almost useless. Is sold the hospital
will come in for handsome sum, and
there will be plenty Of chance to de-
velop and improve II greatly, a thing
Which naval medical men have long
deemed dcSirab BILE.