The herald., 1911-12-14
MEYER & MEYER.
UNITED STATES NAVY YARD OF
NEW ORLEANS.


then to be of great importance to our
city and State, will now see what de-
struction can be done in few months,
in its closing by another Meyer
\ great many people are not aware
of the size of the Navy Yard. 1t is
about $500 feet deep lover a half
mile) by about $500 feet long lover
two-thirds of a mile). There are ten
most substantial and modern brick
buildings, nine of which are OF steel
framing and resting on piling and con
crete foundations. These brick build
ings cost about $3.50 10000 Then there
are several modern-built wood frame
buildings, with latest improvements.
such as the four Navy Officers Quar-
tiers, the Marine Officers Quarters, the
Marine Barracks, the Dispensary (un-
tinishedl, the Commandant's resid.
ence; also the wireless station and
about nine other minor wood build
ings, aggregating S75,00000. The steel
floating dock, its approaches and
wharves, uncompleted to coaling plant,
about $l,000,000.00. The machinery,
tools and shop equipment in the foun-
dry and machine shops, about $780,
100000. The lighting, heating, sewer
age and drainage systems, with other
additions and improvements amount
ing TO nearly S400,000.00, besides the
filling of yard and grounds, making of
streets, concrete sidewalks, paving,
etc, which would nearly make about
$4,000, 100000 expended, in order to put
the yard into working shape to han
die all kinds of repairs.
Now-when use could be made of
the yard-the parties in authority do
not wish TO favor it by giving the
yard the necessary work, such as the
ships which are always in the vicinity
around Southern waters, rather eX-
pend several thousands of dollars,
burning fuel, use of oil, etc, TO send
them miles away to the Eastern yards.
Sometime ago there were dispatches
from Washington, ID. c., intending TO
show that the New Orleans yard was
not closed Well, anyone here in the
vicinity knows better, and anyone can
see for themselves what buildings are
in use. The storeroom, which is one
of the finest fire-proof buildings, and
which at one time was filled with
stores of all kinds, several clerks, fur
niture, etc, is now completely empty
everything shipped away, the employees
laid off and the building locked. The
same of the commandments building,
only one officer left as custodian, a
carpenter, L. S. y. All the officers
quarters, including the commandments
except one, are closed; also the Marine
officers Quarters and the Marine
Barracks. The Equipment building,
which at one time was filled with lum-
Der and stores, has also been cleared,
and is closed.
The coaling plant, dispensary, the
there frame buildings, near the COM
mandant's building, also the crews
quarters and kitchen, are closed and
Abandoned; likewise the new power
house, which at one time was used for
the heating system, is closed. The
office of custodian is in the Y. & d., a
large building, and contains one clerk
and a janitor, with corner for the six
yard watchmen. The wireless station
has a crew of two, a chief electrician,
L. S. ~, and his assistant. In the
hull and boiler shop are two house
carpenters, machinist, an electrician
and about three helpers; in the ma
chine shop is the chief machinist and
two night watchmen; on the dock with
the dockmaster is crew of one ship
carpenter, a rigger, painter, three ma
chinists, four firemen and the three
ship keepers, who act as watchmen.
In the yard are some two or three col
ored laborers, cutting grass.
The machinery and equipments may
be removed, same as the stores have
been, but what is to become Of the
large brick and steel framed struc-
lures? They will either remain to go
into decay or they must be torn down,
or else the whole yard sold, unless
some interest is taken to have the
Navy Yard put to some use, by all OF
our Representatives and congressman,
not only of LOUISIANA, but by the
whole of the Mississippi Valley. 1t
seems as if all labor organizations
should be interested in this matter
also, as all trades are represented in
naval work. Moreover, it would bring
work here and make our city more
prosperous. In the Navy Yard in New
York, Philadelphia, etc, labor organic
atoms take great interest in having
their Representatives and Congress
men to work for the building of bat
tleships, GOLFERS, etc. Why not be in
terested here in getting repairs for the
Navy Yard.
We understand that naval collier
is expected sometime this month to
take away the coal that is stored at
the coaling plant, preparations are be-
ing made to operate the power house,
by having a tank of oil sent there, and
the machinery at the plant has been
tested, and made ready. Now, if this
coal is taken away, then there is no
chance of ever seeing any naval YES
sells here, especially for repair, coal
ing or for stores. The collier Sterling,
which was expected to come here, ac-
cording to dispatches has met with an
accident by collision. However, the
damage may not be much. 1t is
strange that this coal must be taken
away by a collier, when, for economy,
ship or two requiring coal could
easily be sent here and provided with
same.