New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-11-27
The CHARACTER OF THE HURON.
AyY OFFICERS IN wAsHlNGrON SAY TIE VESSEL
WAS WELL CONSTRUCTED.

10y TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRIBCSEl
WASHINGTON, Nov. 2G-Mr J. W Eastby. Chier
~ the Bureau of Construction and Repairs Of the
Navy Department. said to-day: " We have no rea-
son to believe that the Huron was not well con
structed. The iron plating Of the ship has been re-
gar,led as heavy for a ship of her tonnage It being
ive-eighths of On insh thick. Our officers are gen
orally Of the opinion that she was not well adap'eo
for war vessel, but a. Il vessel she was stronger
than many Others IN the iieet'
Mr.. WIN. II. Shock. Enq1neer-iu-C Chief Of the Navy
Department, says Of the Huron: up to the time
she was repaired last month, she was con-l
sdered rather slow. Her minimum speed
had not exceeded eight knots. She was
ordered to New-Yolk and locked, her bottom
thoroughly cleaned and painted. her machinery
repaired. and a new screw-propeilor designed ana
fitted to her, When ready for sea. trial tilp OIL
four hours duration to test her machinery was MADE
upon the Hudson River, the results OF winch were
in the highest degree satisfactory. Her speed was
found to have been increased TO an average Of ten
knots during the four hours, an increase Of two
knots 10 the hour over the best speed she had preF-
ousIv attained" Mr. Shock believes the disaster
could not have been caused By defective machinery
and says that the fact OF her having made e.Shty-
two miles under steam in such weather, during the
time which elapsed between her leaving Hampton
Roads and her striking, bears him out in this belief
A STATEMENT By THE CONTRACTOR
Slr. John Roach, the builder Of the Huron
stated yesterday To representative Of THE TRIBUNE
that the Huron Of the three iron soops'-"ar
known a. tho Alert, Alliance and Ranger, tae Llo OK
tie Alliance being attcrward changed 20 Hiron liri
dimensions were as follows: Length, i7J feet oeal 81
feet and depth, Is feet inches from which VII 'e
cen that the vessel was well Troporuoned The plan
and specifications were prepared oy the Navy Depart
tneut i'm All the details and the ship was built uloef %
everyday inspection u naval constructor The null
contained fully 80 per cent moro weight % material
than would be required by any Underwriers ral
FOR merchant vessel o. the same dimensions. "aeu
completed the vessel was ~ me strongest OF hei
ze IN the world TIE hull offered rom tA)-e ol- Tor
e merchant service that there was an inside ~ wei
AZ an outside plating leaving space OF e---ltA -ees
between the two. thus forming practically Two huii'
Tho y.ater-tIsht compartments and orlkleaS were
l,Dpad and double-rvetted which is required %
merchant vessels. Tie snip was supplied "l'h III IRON
deck, not required in vessels Of THIS size.
The machinery was als) designed By the navy -
parlmaut Before being finally adopted p-.ns were
submitted % cn-neer by an advertisement asking 100
suggestions and Improvements rom ans engineers Ou
side OF the Department. and premium was offered Ioi
any such suggestions "a m-ht be made available WIKI
one few alterations the plans submitted by the Navy
rr.rtraut rece we'd the unanimous recommendation ~
rho com petug cheers and, finally adopted were
furnished u she contractor in detail, AMI no
modification or deviation allowed therefrom.
with regard 20 thc fict that the ma5ts OF
thr Huron were decayed Nr. Roach SAID thar hSe 10
y.her with the anchors chains ana an oi,t Wlt NO.
contained IA ns contract, but were fIrn 'led % u" u
rtmeuf AL the Navy Yard sIb,siusn 10 tue complexion
of the contract bIt he understands 5l-t a.lar D.- UT
s.-yi,s about Two years. 4 new IOfeua5t Va. pHI r.
emily NJ the Ne-N0rk Navy Yard some dtieSt nav ing
bepn developed IN the Original spar When the g'htiat
f,r the vessel completed, size WAS fti"Fr o. ,.-
pbiadepbia Navy Yard. and, under tae coup''l- con
rro OF naval officers trial or enc machinery VS.
made fol consecutive hours 40 as 10 deFcOt ~ ct
cent more pOv ar than anticipated. ,
RrVarding re repairs made NJ tlo New nth sttH
sror-- ureyious 20 The vessel starting on tlf u1lpt
tr..tf voyage Mr. Roach sad that thr Fen-'i was Pu
INTO dock % pain. the lOuom change Jle scr" iIo' ~
,ccout " any defect, but 10 note tue difference pa r.
glt- with one ~ different moe), aad pa. lh LAr hN
roulast referred above. Tho machinery -.Ler ~
.lso xamined " that 10 was Ii perfect of-'t -
Is tle universal custom beiore proceeding OF 'oun
As to the cause Of tic vessel going t.
p'eces a. she sonS INTO TIE se1FHt
~ cruise OF some length, she had u
Arg, ouantity ~ coal stores prov e'c on Ool
AMI when she struck boy the euormohs force Oh lAe
e and sea: tcd add pounded In manner tdat no Fes-
.I sn Ioldad could Withstand. Our uOuf Wouit hi'c
,,c-r eject upon vessel under these crcun' ancis
hau n She were % bo IN this position fog six MONTHS ia
ordinary weather. IL fact 10 ls imp5sape TO loih @uy
idea OF the strain ald power Or tlo blows SUE w, 'D
ct 10 undergo. Nr. Roach IS convinced th.t tle uu-
I'm va. property les gued Tor strength. was pint N
substantial manner, aud would have Weaelete+ Any
storm when = vessel Is expected 10 meet