Year: 1875

INCREASED ACTIVITY AT THE BROOKLYN YARD


NUMBER OF FAST CRUISERS TO BIB PUT


INTO COMMISSION HOME SQUADRON TO


RENDEZVOUS AT NORFOLK.


While the most peaceful messages reach the public
daily from Washington close observers Of naval pro-
cecdings especially in the Brooklyn yard discern
good deal Of quiet but efficient work going in tho
way of nttng out cruisers and, in a general way,
strengthening navy, whether for defensive or Of
fensve purposes remains 10 be


The Ordnance Bureau Is busily engaged in pre-
pairing the armament of the trigates Colorado and Min
nesota, which being fitted out for sea service
Both ships are said to be In thorough condition for
cruising purposes and when their heavy guns
and crews placed board they
can be detailed for any duty they may
be required 10 perform All the necessary stores for
three years. cruise ready to be put upon them and
this labor can accomplished If necessary within
twenty -four hours The Minnesota Captain johnson,
win probably 60 TO the yard in few days as moving
ice looked for in the North River momentarily The
boys going through course Of training on this
fine frgate will be transferred to another ship in
she should be sent on mission.


Besides these two big frgates which preparing
for active duty the triple -turreed monitor Roanoke
six guns is now in the hands Of the workmen, making
ready TO go into comm ssion The Roanoke, as is well
known is turreted ship built upon the huh OF old
wooden frigate Of the same class as the Minnesota
Colorado and Wabash. Her and turrets
heavy enough to resist ordinary shot, and as q
ship for harbor defences, judicously anchored ia
the main channel she would prove exceedingly
formidable Her armament consists OF fifteen and
eleven inch smooth bore guns and 200-pound rifles As
she is inclined to "urn turtle when in blue water II
Is not at all probable that the Roanoke will ever be sent
outside the harbor


is progressing satisfactorily and will be ready to receive
her in ten days and sooner If required She is TO
be fitted with torpedo apparatus 70 be fred by cleo
versary tor heavy nonclad with her new elements or
offensive warfare


In addition to these vessels in hand at the Brooklyn
yard others to brought from the naval station at
New London, Conn, where they have been lay
ing up Gin ordinaryn for some time for the
Lieutenant Commander George W. Wood pro-
ceeds this morning 70 that point when
tug Catapa take charge OF the corvette Shenandoah
screw, eleven guns 929 tons burden, and the sloopo
war Florida second rae screw m WE'VE guns gun sds9 5
in the hands OF the workmen Of the yard The Shen-
andoah is handsome fast and efficient craft thor
oughly adapted for cruising In foreign waters The
Florida is better known the Wampanoag, built dur
ing the war and undoubtedly the swfest man of war
anoat On her trial trip she made seventeen nautical
miles an hour and it is confidently claimed that she
overake run away from, as the case may be- any
in the world. She was specially constructed
a fast cruiser to prey upon English merchantmen
when it looked as though our country might become
embroed in with the mistress OF the seas. While
4
which would make her formidable antagonist for
any wooden craft afoat In case OF war the Florida
may be counted splendid ship to gain prize
money.


The sdewheel steamer Phlox is also to be brought
the Brooklyn yard be fitted out for special service
She is 81 tons burden and will probably be armed
with Dahlgren rifles and Calling guns for river SER
vice. as she Is Of light draught and extremely handy


The torpedo boat Intrepid has gone to Newport to
ct out with torpedoes Her engines are by no means
up the mark, and IL is generally considered that
they sad failures Neither the Intrepid nor Alarm,
the pet torpedo boats, is success in point of speed
although they cost fortune


The vessels Of tho South Atlantic squadron and the
Congress and Junata Of the European squadron, on
their way home are to rendezvous at Norfolk, Va,
which will be the headquarters OF the North Atlantic or
home squadron whore pretty nearly all the servceabe
ships of our navy will be gathered before Christmas
As yet has positive knowledge Of the object OF
the government in eiecting this extraordinary concen-
tration OF naval force coast Whatever is in tho
wind will doubtless be developed when the President
communicates his Message to Congress-


Large quantities OF medical stores have been shipped
from the Naval Medical Laboratory, at Brooklyn, for
the feet now Citing out at Norfolk for unknown
parts" Every department or bureau Of the navy Is
just now wonderfully busy in preparing our navy tor
active operations a scale