The sun., 1908-12-27
TANYCHANGESATNAlYYARD
FRO, ISION BSANG MADE ron
LARGER BATTLESHTPS.
New Pier 20 BE Built and Channel 10 he
cot 10 whitney Basin Thus Navy
Yard work WIN BE Facilitated Which
uouid ne Unnnaefant In Va. srt,,,.


cot 10 whitney Basin Thus Nav,
Yard Work WIN BE Facilitated Whlel
Would he Important In war Time
Extensive alterations will be started al
the Brooklyn navy yard possibly withir
tAs next week by which the topography
Of the entire plant will be changed, the
Vaabout channel, the principal watei
tboroughfare. closed, and the famous old
chain ferryboat. one Of the few In exist.
4 sncs, done away with. The prinoipa
work will be the building Of connecting
pier between the navy yard proper and
the cob dock and the cutting Of q new
channel through the East River into the
Whitney Basin through the narrow neck
Of land joining tho two parts Of the cob
dock. An interesting improvement " hloh
probably will follow will be the outing
on OF the easterly point Of the lower end
Of the cob dock 30 that ships Of Dread.
nought length may be able 10 pass from
the big No. dry dock. now being built,
into Whitney Basin.
There is an appropriation Of Sil4.7e2 to
start the work with and II more IL needed
It is expected that II may be got in plenty
~ time Heretofore much Of the eff
ciency OF the yard has been lost and q
GOOD deal OF time wasted by having to
take material roundabout ways to various
docking berths at long distances from the
machine shops.
This difficulty the authorities have had
10 contend with since the establishment
Of the yard II has been an easy matter
to get small castings and materials that
could be readily loaded across to the cob
dock by means OF the chain ferry, but all
the heavier work had to be hauled across
the length Of the yard and then the width
Of the yard and back again the length OF
it before it was finally landed 1T the cob
dock. The new pier, which will be of
stone and srched so as to let the channel
flow through, will have railroad tracks on
il and the material can be transported to
the cob dock in fraction Of the present
time This saving would be very impor-
tant il the country were at war and speed
was required in completing repairs on
Warehips.
The sides Of the new pier will serve as
docking berths for two warships, addi-
ional facilities within stones throw of
the principal part Of the workshops. For
instance, where the battleship Alabama
is laying now, on the south side OF the cob
dock though the site Is within q city block
Of the repair shops. 1t is across the narrow
channel and il would take half day or
more. as the heavy loads go, for large
materials to reach it. II the pier were
finished the same work could be accom-
plished in much less time and with less
wear and tear on the transporting appa-
ratus and great economy OF workmens
time.
With the cutting through Of the neck
Of land making the new channel, from
the Whitney basin into the East River,
the receiving ship Hancock. which has
been anchored ar that berth for many
years. will have TO be moved just
where it will go the yard officials are
preston is that it will be 70 an inner
tart Of the Whitney basin. There is
no necessity for the ship being at the navy
yard but officers say that there is a dis
tinct advantage for the recruits to get
the association that is afforded by it's |
presence there. Hours might be spent |
tails which could he understood at a
rlarrce in the navy yard. Likewise they |
would be nearer the various classes and |
workshops in. which they are required |
10 take apprentice courses before going \
aboard ths s5ips on regular cruises. 1
u has been definitely decided To throw
be new pier across a few feet south of
The cut for the new channel in from tile
Fast River. will be alongside the un-
completed pier that is located north
Of the receiving ship Hancock.
An interesting feature OF new work
at the navy yard will be the lining Of the
new. No. dry dock, which will be one
Of the largest In the country. with fac
pf "a Tsfta InQtaah nj nnnnrafa In
order to carry on this work Congress
increased the appropriation from ST.
no. 900 TO half again as much The bureau
Of yards and docks at the Navy Depart
ment at Washington practically adopted
the plan OF lining all new docks with
granite. and the dock at the Brooklyn
navy yard will he one Of the first treated
since that decision was reached.
Much Of the blame for the prolonged
trouble, and leaking at the No. q dry dock
at the Brooklyn yard has been laid to
the fact that its concrete lining has been
affected by the water and general damp
ness. Its neyt door neighbor. the big
but probably would have had not the
leakage been checked. IL was said that
this demonstration at the Brooklyn yard I
was responsible for the new order. An
other dock 70 get the granite lining will
he one at Puget Sound yard. which Ii
at present lined with concrete
II was learned yesterday that the new
be constructed considerably longer than
originally intended, TO be big enough
for the future battleship OF the proper
tons which seem likely to be reached.
The work now being done at the navy
yard will not interfere with resolving
any ships of the bate feet which may {
put IN here for repairs or securing