Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-10-16
The site of the United States naval

The site Of the United States naval
popularity known as the Washington navy
days was partially covered by the
waters of the bay-St. Thomas. East
of the bay reservation No. IA was laid
out in the lines of M, between 18th and
9th streets. on the Eastern branch.
This was the site first selected, but
during the administrations of Washing
ton and Adams, strong efforts were
made to locate the yard at the west
end Of the city. east of the mouth of
Rock creek. and it would appear from
the investments made in that quarter
by the officers and friends of the
Marine Corps, and also by the encamp-
ment of the marines on Camp Hill,
now the site of the Naval Medical School
Hospital, prior to quarters being pro-
vided in the yard, that the marine bar
racks would also be located there The
Eastern branch at that time afforded
ample facilities for large vessels, as
the water was over twenty feet deep
for four miles from it's mouth. and it
was navigab1e to small vessels for near
ly fifty years afterward. AS late as
1910 a steamboat carried several hum
dred men to a democratic barbecue at
Bladensburg. John Adams at the be-
ginning of his administration desig-
mated the present site for navy yard.
The Navy Department had just been
then living in Georgetown, as Secre-
tary. The navy had been reduced.
only nine captains being retained in
the. service: Nevertheless. Congress
having provided for building six seven
ty-fourgun ships. it was determined
that one of them should be constructed
here.
May %. 17go. the initial step was
appointment of William Marbury OF
Annapolis navy agent to contract. for
all the material needed. 1t was then
found that additional ground was needed,
and arrangements were made with the
commissioners in October, 1850. for the
and ss4, south of NJ street between
9th and 7th streets. for $4,000. and
thus the west line of the navy yard was
extended to 9Th street Josiah Hum
in October, 1899. to locate the wharf and
assist MIR. Marbury in its construction
and the building OF the ship. January ID,
1880. Capt Thomas Tingey. who had
been dropped from the list of captains
on the reduction of the navy, was ordered
the vessel and to give his aid and advice
In regard to the arrangement and i'm
provement of the yard. From his ac-
quaintance with foreign shipyards he
was regarded as the man for the place.
July following Mr. Marbury's Office
of naval agent was abolished and his
duties devolved on the superintend-
ent. The assembling of material for the
ship was entered on, the walls located
and the reservation was inclosed on
the east and north sides, water
being on the others. The building
now occupied by the inspector of ordnance
was built in 1901, and was the home OF
Capt. John Cassin. who was then in
charge of the ships lying in ordinary.
The house of the superintendent was not
completed until about 1905. Capt Tingey
In the meanwhile lived in a house on the
northwest corner of 18th and G streets
northwest. which had been purchased by
him. In 1904 Capt. Tingey was restored
to his rank by special act of Congress
and as comman1ant he served here Tor
the remainder OF his life, until February
y, 1929. Capt. Cassin remained IN