The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1911-07-06
NAVAL STATION NOTES.


Ing notified that the funds for the com
ing fiscal year of 1912, which begins OF
July LIST, were so low that it was neces
sary to reduce the force TO meet tht
funds.
For the information of our readers
who possibly may not know, We desire
to show how the funds are appropriat
ed for the several navy yards, etc
Every year the commandments of the
different navy yards and stations SEND
in their estimates of funds required fol
the next fiscal year. Each bureau Their
makes a report to the secretary of the
navy who, in turn, requests Congress
TO make the necessary appropriation
in a lump sum. Sometimes they are
approved as sent in; in others cases
they are cut down a great deal This
year Congress cut the appropriations
for the navy somewhat, and hence as
the secretary has the disposition of the
navy appropriations, he in turn had to
cut somewhere, and as he was neces-
sarily in favor of closing some OF the
yards, therefore he made the cut at
those yards and stations.
The officers at the head of the differ
ent departments here, such as Sup
plies and Accounts" Medicine and
Surgery Department of Public
Works" previously known as the "Y
4 d." The Manufacturing Depart
ment," Hull and Machinery Divisions, -
send in their requests about the 18th
of every month for the following
month. These requests are sent in
through the commandant to the chief
of the respective bureaus, who in turn
either approve the requests as made,
or cut the allowance as they see fit
The Department of Public Works (Y. &
d. received about One-half of what
they requested; the Manufacturing De-
n
S. F., received a little more than one
half of their requests; hence the reduc-
ton as low as was stated by the local
papers.
The Y. & ID. Dept. have had to lay
off in addition to the employed me-
chanics, laborers and helpers, their
civil service employees; the three
the craftsman, and their
foreman machinis and electrician
They have but one man on their rolls,
ne being the clerk. The department at
Dne time had over 200 employees. The
{. & r. Dept. have had TO lay off one
half of their force, having sufficient
1nly to run the power house and oper>
ate the dock. The S. E. Dept. had to
ay off the only three mechanics they
had last week and now have but three
helpers and the janitor, with orders to
white lead and tallow all the machin-
cry, and ultimately to close the shop.
Such has become the condition of a
navy yard which had such a bright fu-
ure few years ago. when Gen. Adolph
Meyer had appropriations made from
'ear to year, and brought the shops
md dock into such a condition that
work could be done, and since equip
,ed, the navy department could not be
made to send a vessel or two here for
general overhauling whereas they are
aid up at Northern, Eastern and West
I'm yards, and are obliged to wait their
urn, or else in many instances over
ime becomes necessary, to have the
essels ready for their annual cruise. !
The only vessels that are allotted here
re the Stranger, Isla de Luzon, Alva-
ado and Amphricite, and very little is
lone to any of these; then some maya
ines and papers have the audacity to
tate that several thousands of dollars |
re expended annually at the New Or
cans naval station, to do a few hun
red dollars of work. Where is the |
ault? Not at the naval station, or It's
Ocal management, as the commandanI
nd all other officers are competent |
nen, and only too willing 20 do the
york, if the navy department at Wash
ngton will send it here. The work |
an be done as cheaply and as well as
nywhere, as the best of mechanics
ould be available, besides the other
help, if only chance were
iven the station.
The Isla de Luzon is to be locked !
his Thursday, and outside of the dock
lg, there will be very little work done.
The tug Wicomico has been laid up
Dr. sometime and the gang OF carpen-
ers that were working on same last
eek have been laid up owing to lack
funds, hence it will be slow work to
omplete the boat.
1t is reported that the commandant,
apt. J. NJ. Helm, will soon leave the
tation for other duties; it is to be
egretted that Capt. Helm will not re-
4