The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-06-19

the importance OF the new principle al opted In
the American navy, and the advantage of add
ing vessels TO The English navy which could
effectually compete with the Wampanoag and
her consorts. In designing the Inconstant the
chief points kept In view have necessarily been
similar to those held by the American authorities
high speed under steam, large coal-carrying
power large spread of canvas to enable her to
keep the sea- and to insure manpuvring power
under SAIL
In addition, she was intended to carry an
armament greatly exceeding in power that OF
the American ships. It was also felt that since
she was intended to keep the sea for con-
siderable time, the maintenance OF her hlgh
speed necessitated the adoption Of some efficient
plan for the prevention of the foullng OF her
hull below the water-line and that this could be
best accomplished by covering her bottom with
copper sheathing; at the same time owing TO
the ships great length, 6neness of form, and
great engine-power, her structural strength
required that she should be built OF iron.
Hence 1t is that the lnconstant is an iron-bult
ship, having an outer coating of wood planking,
and upon the latter the copper sheathing has
been fastened, without fear of any galvanic
action resulting. In her principal dimensions
the Inconstant measures:-Length between per-
pendiculars, 337 feet inches breadth, 81 feet
BIZ inches; mean draught of water, %
feet inches; burden in tons, 1906; load dis
placement, $3.50 tons. She is about two feet
broader, and of 300 tons greater burden than the
Pompanoosuc, the largest vessel of the American
Wampanoag class and her load displacement is
also greater than that of the POmpanoosuc by
about 1000 tons. She is a loftier ship out of the
water than the American ships, as she will carry
her main-deck guns ii feet and IL feet out OF
water, while the Wampanoag and her consort
only carry their main-deck guns feet and 8
feet clear of water. This must obviously give
great advantage to the lnconstant as regards the
power OF fighting guns in seaway. KeNe'tng
here to the form of the Inconstant In con-
nection with her estimated speed, 1t may be
observed that she is not so fine in her lines
as the Wampanoag, yet she is exceptionally
fine for ship of war; and that while in the
Warrior the proportion of length to breadth
does not exceed 615 to 1, in the Inconstant
it is nearly 6% to 1. AS far as form and
proportions are concerned, therefore, the condi-
tions appear most favorable to the attainment
by the Inconstant on her trials of a very high
speed. The intended speed of the mconstant is
10 knots per hour, and the engines manufactured
by Messrs. John Penn and Son, are of such
character to render the attainment of this high
rate of speed almost certainty. The engines
are OF 1000 horsepower nominal and are identi-
cal in their arrangement with those of the Belle
rophon; and like those will indicate power ex-
cceding 5000 horse. The Inconstant has been
furnished with greater boiler power than the
Bellerophon, and, considering that the latter YES
sci is nearly 40 feet shorter, feet broader, has
about 100 tons greater displacement than the,
former, and has been driven Mt speed exceed
ing ii knots IN six hours sea trial, II Is but
fair assumption that the Inconstant, with her
additional boiler power, will fully attain her esti-
mated speed of Is knots
The Wampanoag class were intended to at
tain about the same rate of speed, but in all in
stances, except that of the Wampauoag herself,
they have failed to exceed thirteen knots. The
Madawaska, a duplicate vessel to Wampanoag,
and with duplicate boilers only reached 1877
knots; and the Chattanooga, smaller vessel
but with great engine power, only reached thir-
teen knots.
Mr.. B. F. sherwood, the Chief of the Bureau
of Steam Engineering at Washington, in his
reply addressed to Mr.. Gideon Welles, the Secre-
Alden's report on the trial of the Wampanoag,
draws attention to this loss of speed by the
Madawaska and the Chattanooga as compared
with the 1877 knots per hour made by the first
named vessel and distinctly asserts this loss was
owing to the engines of the two vessels being on
the direct action principle, while those of the
Wampanoag were geared.