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Show OCR tKAYY YARDSTAyD STATIONS. Commander Harmony Says Everything Every-thing Seems Tumbling to Pieces. Commander Harmony, Chief Engineer of Yards and Docks, in his annual report submits sub-mits estimates from the commandants of the varions navy yards for. the fiscal year enduing endu-ing June 30th, 1887, aggregating $9,666,698. , The amount to be expended upon yards and stations, he says, depends largely upon the policy which Congress may decide upon in regard to them. In order that the matter may be laid fairly before it, lie estimates for certain desirable improvements in addition to the necessary expenditures for repairs and preservation and maintenance. The estimates esti-mates of the bureau itself aggbegate only $4,416,978, as follows : For support of the bureau $11,980 General maintenance and contin- gencies . 340,CD Support of naval asylums .......... 196,661 Repairs and preservation 803,000 Improvements at navy yards. 3,068,337 Total '. . . . $4,416,978 He says that a large appropriation for repairs re-pairs are necessary because of the general state of decay resulting from the meagre appropriations heretofore; in fact, everything every-thing seems tumbling to pieces. Rotten docks, wharves, warehouses, etc. ALL ALIKE ABE DILAPIDATED. He adds that the appropriations generally have been well expended, but they have been so ' small that little could be done. There are in the different yards 505 buildings, some of them covering as much as 40.C13 square feet of ground, and three stories high. - In addition to these, there are several miles of wharves, besides stone dry docks, with their appurtenances. Many of these buildings were built 50 or 60 years ago, and from age a nd want of care consequent upon the need of funds, are in a dilapidated condition. For the care of this vast amount of property only $125,CC3 was appropriated for the last two years. Considering that the owners of property estimate at least one per cent, on the value of buildings aa necessary every year to keep them in proper order, and that the property is worth not less than $53,CC3,-CC3, $53,CC3,-CC3, and could not be replaced for that, at. once appears how inadequate the appro- ? nations have been. Not less than 800,C30 should be appropriated annually annu-ally for the next three - years to PUT THE PBOPEBTX IN GOOD CONDITION, And I sincerely hope that this amount may be given. Under heads of the different yards, Commander Harmony gives his views of such of the estimates as seem to him deserving de-serving of particular notice. The most important im-portant item mentioned for the Mare Island yard is that for finishing the dry dock, for which $191,295 is asked, to be immediately available. |