The herald., 1912-08-08
U. S. NAVY YARD NOTES.


The power plant, having been in op-
Grafton from p. m. to midnight for
some weeks, furnishing light and wa
ter for the flood refugees in the Marine
Barracks, was closed down last night,
and those sheltered there must now
look for other quarters.
The L. S. light vessels Magnolia and
Head Bank were released from the
naval dock last Friday morning and
the U. S. dredge Galveston locked the
same day. Naval Constructor Duboes
from Washington superintendent the
work.
The work on the Magnolia and Head
Bank was done by the Stems Foun-
dry, while the work on the Galveston
is being done by the Johnson Iron
Works.
The hulls of the Magnolia and Head
Bank were cleaned and painted by the
government employees, and the paint
ing of the Galveston was done by Mike
Walsh.
1t appears strange to see that all
government vessels are being locked
at the naval dock, moreso since the
closing down of the station. This is
the first time that the Galveston has
been locked there, she twice previ-
ously was locked at the New Orleans
dock, which no doubt was preferable
to the contractors, owing to the near
ness of their shops.
Possibly the last eight-hour law just
passed has something to do with it,;
again, the actual cost to all govern
ment vessels is only eXacted, making it
preferable to the government to dock
at the navy dock.
While docking all government YES.
sells and contractors are compelled to
only work eight hours on government
work, why not have the repairs done
there?
| We are informed that the revenue
cutter Davey and a yacht belonging to
the War Department, also two more
light ships, are about to undergo ex
tensive repairs; why not have all these
vessels locked and the work done al
the navy yard?
III, as previously shown in these col
umns, all the government vessels could
be compelled to dock and repair al
the navy yard, there would be sufficient
work to keep the yard in prosperous
condition, giving employment to nu
merous citizens, whose votes are now
being solicited by those in authority
from the President of the United
States down to the lowest.
Between the different Federal de
partments represented here, there ar,
about twenty large vessels, beside,
minor floating equipment, ETC., in thi,
locality, such as dredges, tenders
lightships, revenue cutters, yachts
gunboats, pontoons, floats, barges. etc
that could be compelled to be over
hauled there.
Here is good chance for our sena
tors and representatives to investigat
If they desire to see the naval station
shops opened up. There should be.
law enacted in Congress, that all gov
eminent vessels should be overhaule
at the nearest navy yard or govern
ment shops, and whatever department
can not make use of it's shops shoul
be compelled to relinquish same t
some other department that coul
make economical use of same. Sue
as the Navy Department at presen
claims, it has no use for the New q,
leans Naval Station, why not turn |
over to the engineer corps of the Wa
department, who could make good us
OF same, while government vessels @
other departments could also be ovel
hauled under the personal supervisor
OF their own representatives, same a
government inspectors are sent to DR.
vate shipyards to superintend the col
struction of government vessels. repr,
senting their own departments.
/