New-York tribune., 1907-08-27
NAVY YARD HERE BEST
SO SAYS CH4IRMAN FOSS.
House Committee on Inspection Trip
Changes Suggested.

There Is no doubt about it, the Brooklyn navy
yard is the greatest and best of all that have
visited"
So George Edmund Foss, of Illinois, chair
man of the House Naval Committee, yesterday
He and his fellow members of the committee had
just returned the Dolphin lying off East Path
street, after a thorough inspection OF the navy
yard. which had occupied their time from CLOCK
in the morning until 2. The six other mem
bers visiting the navy yards Ernest W. Rob
erts. Massachusetts: George Alvin Loud. Michigan:
Arthur L. Bates. Pennsylvania; George L. Lilley.
Connecticut; w. Aubrey Thomas. Ohio and Albert
f. Dawson. Iowa They are accompanied by Ben
Jarnin II. Miller. clerk the committee. and Moses.
a negro stenographer.
Escorted by Rear Admiral Caspar F. Goodrich,
the commandant. and his aids. Lieutenant Com
naander Marbury Johnson and Lieutenant Robert
Henderson, and accompanied by Representatives
Fitzgerald and Calder, of Brooklyn the committee
inspected each of the buildings in the various de-
partments The members seemed much impressed
with the great amount OF work being done.
pecially in the construction of the navy collier
VestaI.
After luncheon with the commandant an execu-
i've session was held in his office. at which the
heads of the departments present 1t is the
purpose Of the committee in visiting the navy
yards. as II upon their last inspection. to
deavor to concentrate the departments much as
possible, thereby establishing reforms that will
suit in certain economies in the administration. and
the bureaus of equipment. OF construction and re-
pair of ordnance and OF steam engineering, be
combined under head. The committee found
that several of these departments have shops in
which the class OF machines exist-duplcate
machines. with a few IN each department to
run them The merging of the light. heat and
power departments suggested committed
last visit has been nearly accomplished. and It
works so well they say they believe a similar plan
VIII be profitably made with the bureaus men
toned
Luther E Gregory. civil engineer at the navy
yard. was asked to present his plan for the i'm
provement of the yard. He demonstrated that Il
was possible by making some radical changes, to
handle many ships than be accommo-
dated He suggests closing the present en-
trance to the yard from the East River and build
ing a bridge across It, connecting the mainland
with the Cob Dock. He proposed that a en-
trance be made by cutting away the north side OF
the Cob Dock between the coal pockets and the
berth pier, at which the receiving ship Hancock
lies. This wide and direct entrance.
with series of long piers extending west from the
wallabout. would he believed. relieve the present
congested conditions at the yard. The committee
Will consider the plans presented
The subject dearest to the hearts OF Brooklyn $
citizens-the building Of battleships at this
navy yard-was not brought up. for the reason.
said. all the contracts for ships author
lied TO date have been let. but II was the opinion
OF the committee that more big battleships are
needed. and from their earnest attitude on the
subject It regarded probable that recon-
nendations IN that direction would receive favor
able consideration at the hands of the next Con-
gress
The committee returned TO Its quarters on board
the Dolphin the navy yard tug NaIkeeta. in
charge OF Captain Bernhardt The Dolphin whch
is commanded by Lieutenant Commander Thomas
Washington will sail at p. to-day for New
London where the naval station Will be inspected
tomorrow On Thursday the committee VIII IN
spect the Newport station. including the war Col
lege training station and torpedo station and on
Friday the coaIlng station at Bradford. The navy
ward at Portsmouth. n. H. Will be inspected on
Saturday the Dolphin remaining there on sunday
and going 10 Boston Monday. where the Charles
town Navy Yard will be inspected Charles H.
schwab visited the committee on board the Dolphin.
Congressman Loud and several other members
Of the committee visited Coney Island last night
Without even a branch pilot 10 guide them clear
Of the uncharted rocks of Coney Island the mem
hers Of the Naval Committee inspected the Feast
of Belshazzar and went down into Dreamiand
Hell Gate while at Luna PARK they ehptesseu
their admiration for Miss Laurel OrTnohoe tue
heroine of the Great Western Train Robbery