The wooden ships are mostly anchored
In the vicinity of Claremont. There are
as many as six moored together, side by
*lde, s'i close that It is possible to step
from tile deck of one ship to another
without any danger of falling overboard.
Skeleton crews are employed and the
only work they are required to do In to
keep the deeka and fixture* clear and
stand watches. They are called upon
sometimes to daubJa little paint on the
sides of the ship?, but Ave hours out of
the day they have nothing to do but
pluy checkers, eaids or Indulge lu any
other ;iaetlme they see fit.
There Is valuable machinery In the
ships that marine men say could be
t.iUen out and put to u?o in other vessels, i
Most of the ships arc equipped with tho
of engine*;, and the Oov<-mment, it !
is claimed, '/ hi!'.'. j?ali?.; ronjidcrabie !
money out of rhelt "ale. rihtpbuilders
say tho engines could bp Installed In
barge* that could bo uaed to transport
freight between Ualtlmoro and Philadel
phia and Norfolk via the inland water
way, or in freight oarr.ers operating be
tween Xew York, Provldfitice, Boston
and Norfolk.
CoaalractlTe riau Offered.
One shipbuilder meJcea this suggestion;
"Strip tho machinery from the wooden
ships, than organize a corporation, or
several corporations to build steel hulls
or bargee oil a comparatively Inexpen
sive plan and Install tho engines In
them. These bargee would be Invaluable
for coastwise trade or even for trade
with Cuba and could be operated at a
sost much loss tlian the present steam
ships.
