Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-11-22
YARDS AND DOCKS BUREAU
ESTIMATES SUBMITTED By
REAR ADMIRAL HOLIDAY.
Total of $9s5,o47 for Needed I'm
provements at Washington Navy
Yard-Increase Of Area.

the Washington navy yard, which are
enumerated as follows:
Paving. to extend, 5000; grading. to ex-
tend, 5000; storage bins for perishable
material, $1,000; purchase of land and
change in railroad system, 100000; la
trines. additional. $1,000: locomotive and
locomotive crane house, $61, 747; new foun-
dry Ito cost $500, OOCl, 100000; tools and
machinery for yards and docks depart
ment. 5000; fireproof general storehouse
for supplies and accounts. $4,000; raising
floor in north end of storehouse for guns
and mounts, 5000; quay wall. to COM
plete, $4,000; new floors in north and
south gun shops, east and west gun car
rage, and other shops. $4,000; quay wall
in front of old part Of yard, $S5.SUO: gravi-
ty return drainage system, $500; rewir-
chinery for power-plant extension. $4,000;
night watch time detector system, $4,000;
underground conduit system. to extend,
$4,000; electric-light plant extension.
900: extension and Improvement Of cleo
trio f1re-alarm and telephone systems,
$4,000; cementing basement floor building
No. lis, and fitting up stock room therein,
5000; completing large switchboard in
powerplant building No. lis, $500: foun-
dation in basement Of building No. lis for
2O0-kilowatt generating unit, $1,000.
More Ground Needed.
In regard to the estimate of $500 900
for the purchase of land and change in
railroad system Admiral Hollyday says:
THE law requires that January 1. 1908,
all railroad crossings shall be either un-
foreground or overhead. The bureau has
for several years advocated the purchase
of the property in order to provide an en-
trance and proper facilities for the rail-
road business of the navy yard. The
d.,
yard on its northerly boundary, and this
entrance must be closed January l un-
less the law is changed. The navy yard
authorities very much prefer the present
entrance, which has been so arranged
that where the Pennsylvania track enters
the yard all the main branches leave 1t
very near the entrance gate to go to the
various parts of the yard. Should this
entrance be closed, the track must enter
at the southeastern part OF the YARD
along the water front, and In order TO
have efficient railroad service 1t will be
necessary to have additional space, as
otherwise the Pennsylvania locomotives
must go all the way to the northwestern
section Of the yard to leave cars on the
sidings Should the law be changed, not
only will 1t be unnecessary to make this
appropriation of $291. $40, but the railroad
bridge and tracks appropriation author
lied by the last Congress can be turned
into the Treasury. Thus the government
will be the gamer by the sum OF 1881 ,ols
together with a better system than 1t
would have if the purchase were made
Not only the navy yard authorities but
the Pennsylvania railroad Is anxious for
the entrance to the navy yard to remain
as it isl
An estimate Of $4,000 is made for the
completion of the quay wall. "A new
quay WALL" Admiral Hollyday says.
should be constructed with sheet and
spur piling, with retaining wall sup,
ported by piling. BY this means the wall
will remain in position regardless Of any
reasonable weight that may be placed
behind it, and dredging can be carried
up to the face OF piling and to
sufficient depth to accommodate vessels
Of medium draft twenty-five feet) without
front. This wall is much needed for the
berthing of vessels visiting the yard and
also for sanitary reasons. At present a
high tide leaves a filthy deposit on the
from the numerous sewers emptying into
the Eastern branch. When 1t dries 1t
becomes offensive and dangerous to
health"
In advocating an appropriation of
$50, 800 for the quay wall in front of the
old part of the yard. the chief Of the
bureau says:
The present old wall Is in poor con-
dition, cracked and bullying in many
places. and at present there is quite a
depth of mud in front of the wfarves COM
prising the older water front Under
present conditions, the old wall Is not
being sheet piled, 1t is not practicable to
dredge out to proper depth In front, and
it is desirable to construct walls along
which vessels of medium draft can lie.
This construction will gain for the yard
about $3.50 square feet of space, as the
new wall would be constructed sixteen
feet farther out than the present one
The lack of a proper wall is preventing
the War Department from carrying out
Its plans with regard to the Eastern
branch, as by request of the Navy De-
partment the War Department has d.
rected that no material be dredged within
200 feet of the quay walls in front of
the navy yard for the present. and has
asked to be advised when conditions will
be such that dredging can be carried out
according to their plans