New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-09-06
STOPPING UP LEAKS
VISITORS WATCH DIVER.
Hard at York on Nary Yard Dry
dock-Turbines for Baftleships.


Drydock 2 has furnished the main feature
of interest at the navy yard for the last 1e"
days, interested group of spectators oeihs
always on hand to watch the operations OF the
diver who is calking the leaky places at the Sill
where the big oaisson rests with what IS teen
nicaiiy known as lead wool" substance
which. when properly tamped, fills mole as
completely as would melted lead
While this Is being done the grout filling OF
the space behind the sea wall is being pushed
rapidly and it is hoped that by the end of the
week it will be possible to swing the caisson
back into place and pump the water out OF the
big inclosure. But with that all done there
is no telling how another weak spot Will
appear. and the structure which has already
cost the government almost as much as stone
dock would, is by no means to be depended
upon.
The Baltimore still holds the fort in Drydock
3. The gunboat Dubuque is in the stone dock
with her propellers off. and from the hole in the
ground where Drydock will be some time the
blue clay being taken is being used to fill in
behind the sea wall between the two wooden
docks. At the time there are signs of
tivfty in connection with the old suit of the
Simpson Drydock Company against the govern
ment, which, 1t is understood, is now to go be-
fore the Court of Claims.
IN FAVOR OF TURBINES.
There is still some quiet discussion among
local naval people of the recent naval confer
ence at Newport. and much satisfaction has
been expressed over the report that the new
battleships are to have turbine propulsion. The
conviction is strong that, although there may
be differences of between the engines of
battieship and those of an Atlantic liner the
present advantage of the turbine for the
Nhn mt chi {c
Grafton. as the constant improvements in tur-
bine motive power make it without question the
best one at present available for ships Of war.
This seems to discount the tests soon to be
made of the Chester and the Salem, the tur-
bine scout cruisers the former OF which ar
rived at Hortai Azores, on August 81, and
proceeded on her voyage, with Commander VIII
son delighted with the ship and the way she
worked.
Another evidence of the growing confidence
in turbines is the fact that bidders last week
for the new destroyers proposed to install tur
bine of much the same type as the Curtis with
which the Salem is fitted, but which has several
admitted improvements. An incentive for con-
tractors to bring out the best there is in modern
engineering will be offered when they are asked
to present their designs of turbines when
putting in bids for the new battleships.
NOIES IttE 1ARD
The New Hampshire is all ready for her
ceptance trial trip and will leave the yard this
afternoon for Tompkinsville whence she will
go to Newport and from there to the place of
her final run. She is in fit condition. and Cap
tain Winslow expects to spring surprise when
her final figures hung up
The Massachusetts, is rapidly losing the dis
heveIled appearance which has made her any
thing but an ornament to the main sea wall
for so long, and is beginning to look more like
a battleship than a floating junk heap. There
are still several weeks work on her, however
before she will be ready for commission
Lengthehing and strengthening the ways for
the Florida is going on apace, more tnan TWO
hundred piles having been driven already. 1t Is
not expected now that any change will be made
In the yard buildings in consequence of the in
creased length of the ways, although Dock street
will have to be bridged with structure
strong enough to hold the weight of the battle
ships STEM which will be about sixteen feet
above the roadway where 1t joins the keelplate,
while it's top will into the air above the top
and within two three feet OF the side of Build
ing 1T. This plan will prevent any Interrupt
ton of traffic in the street and will give visitors
! the novel experience of walking beneath the
keel of battieship which is under construc-
ton.
LATE REAR ADMIRAL GLASS.
The death of Rear Admiral Henry Glass on
Tuesday last brought up lot Of "reminiscences
at the navy yard, for it was from the yard that
he sailed in the Cincinnati November 16,
1894, and brought her back the next day with
large section of her bottom torn TO pieces q
sunken wreck Execution Rocks, in Long
Island Sound, she being at the time in charge of
a Sound pilot Later he was at the yard in
command of the "hoodoo" ship the Texas which
achieved fame in various ways, one of which
was to settle comfortably in the mud at the Cob
Dock wall, with her engine room six feet
deep with water. owing to a sea valve having
been left open.
Commander r. 7. Hall, at the head of the
steam engineering bureau, has returned from
his vacation and will assume charge of his
Office on Thursday of this week Lieutenant Com
mander w. S. Crosley. of the ordnance bureau
who has been to the Adirondacks also has re-
turned.
The Mayf1ower is coming to the yard from
Puerto Cortez, Honduras. for overhauIing
| the Des Moines taking her place along the Hon.
duras coast looking after American interests.