The herald., 1912-07-25
NAVAL STATION NOTES.

the soutf-of the electric car line track, |
the Naval Station car has been going |
through since Tuesday, making it more
convenient for the lower coast peo-
ple and the few at the station.
The marine barracks and surround
ing buildings, also the old buildings,
near the coaling plant, and still occu-
pied by food sufferers.
All cattle, except those belonging to
a few people residing on the station,
have been driven out last Friday and
the gates ordered closed.
OF course, some people in the rear
of the station, who are still in the
flooded district, having from two to
four feet of water, have had to look
elsewhere for their cattle to Craze.
Several carloads of marble and
building material for the immigration
station have been unloaded on Behr-
man street, and are being hauled by
way of General Meyer and Merrill
streets in wagons to their destination.
It is expected shortly to dock the
lighthouse tender Magnolia, and
lightship. but we understand the re-
pairs will not be done by the naval
shops.
Such vessels as the naval militia
boats which were expected to be over
hauled by navy enlisted machinists on
board of the vessels and any machine
work which they can not handle will
be given to private shops.
AS July has passed and no special
appropriation having been made for
the New Orleans navy yard, the posi-
bility is that it will again be another
year before there will be any chance
of reopening A great many employees,
including some classified, were laid off
the first week of July, because no ap-
preparation had been made, and notice
of funds allowed did not arrive until
the Sth. In this week was holiday,
July 4, and those working on docking
and unlocking fruit ship previous to
July were uneasy about getting paid
for the holiday. However, we are in
formed that they received the holiday
pay; also some were paid for the days
laid off by allowing them the time out
of their annual leave.
There is a great deal of talk about
four submarines being placed at the
yard, which possibly may cause some
work, but great many of our people
are under the impression that the
Navy Department will have these YES
lies in first-class condition when sent
There, and as there are chiefly ma
chinists, boilermakers and other
tradesmen on board of these vessels,
the small repairs required will be done
by them, and should tender be with
them, there may be sufficient mechan-
tcs, tools and spare parts aboard to do
their own work, and when the machin.
cry would be altogether in bad condi-
ton II could be held together suffi
GENTLY to make a run to Charleston,
and there undergo the general over
hauling, and hence we can not see any
chance of reopening the navy shops
at Algiers.
II seems to us, and which has been
previously expressed in this paper,
that II the Navy Department does not
wish to use the station for its own use
why should 1t not be turned over to
some other department, such as the
engineers department of war, who
could remove their plant from uptown
and be more convenient to the navy
yard, where all kinds of constructio
and repairs can be done.
They have several dredges, steam
boats, pontoons, flatboats, etc., then
the idle machinery and buildings, now
deteriorating and decaying at the sta
ton, could be utilized, the dock could
also be maintained for use Of these
vessels. besides there are several ves-
sells and boats belonging to the light
house and revenue cutter service, ply
ing in these southern waters, not for
getting the naval militia boats, Am
phitrite, Isla de Luzon, Stranger and
Alvarado.
II the above mentioned work could
be authorized by Congress to be done
at the naval station, then New Orleans
could see chance of reopening. Also
Uncle Sans money could be distribu-
ted to some Of our mechanics, helpers,
ETC., all poor citizens and voters now
looking for work, instead of being
boarded in the United States treasury,
and our citizens in general could be
benefited.
The naval dock is almost self-sus-
tanning as to funds. because the sew