National Republican., 1883-03-15
THE STEEL SHIPS.
The Plans and Specifications for the New
Cruisers.
Points from tho Report OF the Advisory
Board.

The naval advisory board, in conformity
with Secretary Chandler's instructions, have
submitted to him report embodying the
general features of plan for tho 5000 ton
cruisers authorized by act of congress OF Aug.
8, 1882.
They say the principal dimensions of the
hull should be-
Length between perpendicular. 27O feet
Extreme breadth. 9s ieet ,-,
Mean draught 16 feet inches.
Displacement in SEQ water....... 1850 tons
The ship should have an open or single
deck, with poop and forecastlc.
The battery should consist of nine 6-inch
rifles, two of which should have direct head
fire, and one direct stern fire. Ports and
guns should be so arranged as TO admit OF
fighting five 6-inch guns in either broadside.
The board reserves the arrangement and char
acter of the battery for future consideration,
the weight Of the ordnance not to exceed 10
tons.
An allowance of twenty-eight tons should
be made from the weight Of ordnance for ma
chine guns, torpedoes, and electric gear
In the opinion of the board wood casing
and metal sheathing are neither necessary nor
desirable, and hence the board recommends
that they be not fitted.
The bow should be OF o modified ram shape,
and while not intended to develop full ram
power, IL should possess greater strength
than is applied to ordinary types OF unar-
mored cruisers
A double bottom should extend throughout
the entire space occupied by the machinery
and transverse coal bunkers.
1t is the opinion of the board that steel
deck, one and half inches in thickness,
should be fitted over the space occupied by
the boilers and machinery, the outer edges to
be about four feet below the load line
The magazines and shell rooms should be
inclosed by water-tight bullSheads and COW
cred by protective fiat three-quarters oil an
inch in thickness.
To havo no main projecting keel, but bilge
keels extending well fore and aft
The vessel should be bark-riggcd to top gal
liant sails. The area Of the plain sail should
not exceed 1900 square feet.
All main water-tight transverse bulkheads
to extend to upper deck.
To have complete system Of drainage
consisting of two large main drain pipes, one
on either side fthe vertical keel in the double
bottom and connected with u stand box
in each main compartment, which shall con-
tain valves and sluices opened by rods led to
the gun deck
The valves in the drains to bo so arranged
that water can be drawn from each compart
ment and the full pumping power concen-
trated on any compartment.
Sluice valves and water tight doors in all
water tight bulkheads, including coal bunk
ers, shall be arranged to work both from be-
low and from the berth deck.
The ships should have single screws, oper-
ated by horizontal cylinder engines placed
in separate water tight compartments be-
meath, and thoroughly protected by the steel
deck
The boilers should bo cylindrical and with
internal furnaces. To be in at least two dis
tinct groups in water tight compartments.
The draught should bo forced by means of
a closed fire room, a pressure above the atmos-
phere to be maintained in it by means of
blowers.
Accompanying the report is circular of
specifications for the guidance of persons who
desire to submit plans.
These specifications arc as follows:
Length between perpendiculars, go feet (;
breadth, extreme, 42 feet ; mean draught Tex
cluding keel), 16 feet inches r. TO irau
Displacement i'll sea water not less than
$3.50 tons nor more than 5000 tons; maxi
mum speed Of Ii knots in smooth water, and
maintained sea speed of 10 knots; height of
port sill above load water level, 0 feet inches
height of port sill above gun deck, | foot s
inches; spring of longest gun deck beam, A
inches height in clear on berth deck, 6 feet
q inches.
To be built with a double bottom for n
length of not less than that occupied by boil
ers, engines, and coal bunkers.
All principal transverse bulkheads to ex-
tend to the upper deck thoroughly water
tight.
The boilers and machinery, so far as prac-
ticable, to be protected by coal and q steel
deck, or other suitable means. The bunker
capacity to be ut least 800 tons coal. The
magazines and shell rooms to be protected by
a steol armoTed deck or other means. Tho
vessel TO be DIVIDED into as many water tight
compartments as possible, and each cOmpart-
ment to be fitted with drainage arrange
ments.
The battery to consist of not more than
ninc six inch brcech loading rifles, two of
which to have forward and ono direct
stern fire.
The ward room to contain not less than six
state rooms on each side. Steerages to con-
tain 600 superficial feet
To be provided with steam steering appa-
ratus, steam capstan and steam ventiiators
Provisions for $50 men for ninety days, and
water for twenty days
Information rs to the weight of provisions,
anchors, cables, &C., can be obtained on appli-
cation to the board.
The weight OF 40 tons must be reserved for
ordnance, and the ship shall be pierced for u
broadsde battery of not less than five guns on
q side, with such additional ports as may be
designated hereafter
The materials of construction to conform to
the law in every respect.
Memoranda relating TO the engines boilers,
and all their appurtenances proposed for the
steam machinery for an indicated horse power
of3,5OO or more accompany the report. sa
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PERSONAL. "
II, NJ Stevenson, U, s. N, is ut the Ebbitt
L. q, Ely, of Philadelphia, Is at the 81. James.
Dr Il Y ('Oatcs of AIvsiio Rfvor Copn 10 NJ a. =