The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1907-08-11

work has proceeded: more or less
rapidly, accordingly as the navy de-
partment ordered their progress or
delay. It will be several months YET
before the Machias is ready 20 go incn
scommissiOn, and, so far little or DOth.
Ting is known~of her future destination
A Dewey TroPhy.
The IslaS de Luzon, one of the Span
ish gunhoats captured bySDewey, then
came to the ward, and repairs have
progressed more OF less rapidly ever
since She is, OF thessane type as the
Macl1iaS, and being%of comparatively
light draft, IS, a .vefS useful boat fol
river work, etc She is somewhat
further ADVANCED fns repairs than the
Machas, and IS soon expected to be
available. Her sister vessel, the Isls
de Cuba, is now in commission.
The Vixen, another auxiliary which
was formerly the yacht Josephine
owned by P A B. Widener, is still
on the beach where, shey;was thrown by
the fearful force of the wind and
waves, and owing to <he mature Of the
ground. it may be months before She
is fioated. Her injuries are moi: sc
great a s1night have been expected
from the fact that she was thBowl
completely out of the water and rests
on jagged mass Of rocks and broken
piling. Some minor repairs have been
made, but very little more can be done
until she IS foated and docked.
Much Repairing.
During the past fall and winter, ex-
tensive repairs were made on the tugs
Waban and Accomac, both of which
were severely injured during the great
storm. Both of the tugs are now in
good shape and making their daily
trips to and from the city, as well
as the ordinary service required in
handling lighters, docking vessels, etc
During the winter various repairs,
more or less extensive, were made
on the tugs Osceola. Hercules and
Uncas, which were sent here in place
fthe Waabn and,Accomac while the
latter were4atd up.
About a year ago the construction
of schooner for inspection service
of the army engineer corps was au-
thorized- The schooner lis to be OF
wooden hull, about 20 feet long, and
will have an auxiliary gasoline engine
to furnish power when sails are not
available. The keel of this vessel has
not yet been laid, but work, when
once begun, will proceed rapidly.
About the same time the eonstruc-
ton Of a, steel-huH steamer TO replace
the old fRosss1l, of the army engineer
corps, was directed by the navy de-
partmefft. The machinery now in the
old hull will be utilized, with such
changes and additions as may become
necessary.
Dunng the year extensive repairs
haSeSbeen4zlrsde on the dredge Caucus
familiar sight oFPensacolians. Re
pairs were also made to the dredre
Charleston, now stationed at Gulfport
Miss.
Great Expense.
The cost of all this work, while not
enough y seriously pinch Uncle Sans
purse. stfn amounts, to a very respect.
able flglre, and has helped greatly in
the material progress OF the city. Some
400 of the employees of the yard re-
side in town, and their car fare alone
amounts to the sum of about $50 a
day During the year ending july
1St, one yard department alone-that
OF steam engineering-paid for labor
alone the sum of $1,000 per month.
and at times this was largely in
creased. Other departments paid in
proportion, that Of construction and
repair frequently exceeding the Sic.
600 mark per month.
Storm Damage.
Two serious drawbacks were ex-
perienced during the year, viz: The
great storm in September. which not
only seriously delayed work, but also
caused great expense sn refitting
shops, repairing buildings. ETC.; and
IN March, last, the fire which destroyed
one of the large buildings and entailed
a loss estimated al from $50, 600 TO
$4,000. The work of restoring the
yard 10 its state. before the storm.
has not yet been finished, owing part
~ 70 the necessity Of completing work
IN hand, and partly 10 the fact that
suggested changes in equipment build