The next time I cross the East River and see the busy steamboats going
to and fro, I shall think of May watching the ships and steamers from
her front door. How nice it was to have your first numbers of YOUNG
PEOPLE arrive on your birthday, almost as though it had been planned to
give you them for a birthday present.
* * * * *
We think the following letter from a lad of twelve will interest many
other wide-awake boys who have never had the pleasure of seeing what
goes on in a navy-yard. We will be pleased to hear from our young
correspondent again:
I live in the Boston Navy-Yard. I thought it would be interesting
to the readers of HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE to hear something in regard
to navy-yards in general. I have lived in two yards, and have
visited several others. I think the Boston Navy-Yard by far the
most interesting. In it is a rope factory which is 1300 feet long.
All kinds of rope are made here. It is not only interesting but
instructive to watch the process. First the hemp is combed and
twisted into strands, then these strands are twisted into sections
of rope, then three or four sections are twisted together to form a
complete rope. Wire rope is also made here, which is used for
stationary rigging. A manila rope was on exhibition at the
Centennial which was made in this yard, the circumference of which
was 28 inches; this was the largest rope ever made. The dry-dock is
another very interesting feature of this yard. It is a place where
ships float in for repairs. After they are in, gates are closed,
and the water pumped out by a powerful steam-pump, leaving the ship
high and dry, so that even her bottom can be repaired without the
aid of divers. The dimensions of this dry-dock are 403 feet long,
99 feet wide, and 32 feet deep. It was begun July 10, 1827, and
opened June 24, 1833, and cost $677,000.