New-York tribune., 1886-05-26
.rxyvopu n.uy TRIB1NE WEDNF sDAY MAY &C. 1885,

As Secretary whitney cOnuucts IL """ ""' "
Roach, all reasonable suggestions made oy .,o
latter or his assgnccs should be complied Will
Chief Engineer Morley was unceremohiouS,y
taken of the Dolphin just before ner '''"',
because he knew all about the machinery an"
Chief Engineer Lowe was assigned to her' WHO
,,row nothipg about it. Such an unworthy
device should not be repeated. Captain L. NJ
p,,co who il ordered to command the Atlanta,
has already been used by the Department 10
cor denim the wo ID preserving process adopteu
for timber for tho Navy by Chief Constructor
II. ID. WILSON, who prepared the plans ior 'hc
bull of the Atlanta. 1t is worthy OF c0nsldcra-
tion whether CAPTAIN Bunce is not to be over
worked by his duty to handle the Atlanta on
her preliminary trial 1t should also be borne IN
mind that this will be only the preliminary
trial of new ship and that new machinery can
p.t be worked up tn it's highest speed for
pe,iod of six hours without great liability 10
temporary arrangement. BY the contract there
is to be a final trial four months later, after the
machinery has been in use by the Government
for that period, and the contractor and his
sureties arc bound to make good any defects to
the entire satisfaction of the Secretary OF the
Navy. Much stress WAS laid by the Beknap
Board on the fact that " streams OF water were
kept playing on the Journals to prevent
hcating"; to which Admiral Simpson replied ::
TO run water on the cranks is n precaution
adopted in all steamers running Mt high speed.
q All the higli-power Atlantic liners run water
on the journas from one side OF the ocean to
Z" the Other and we should never expect to run a
full power trial :of new engine without
water"
We also venture to state that perccptible
vibration OF a ship at high speed does not
show inadequate strength and stiffness. THIS
was about the only reason given by the Belknap
Board for declaring that the Dolphin was
weak. Admiral Slupson admirably disposed
of this pretcnce by quoting from the Institution
Of Naval Architects, "A follows:
All steamers wit exception, shake more or loss
when the en- zines are in motion. This phenomenon Is
usually considered natural that In most cases,
little or no attention Is paid to it, 1t VIII not nave
ESCAPED the OF those who have paid much atten
ton to these vibrations that not unconmony weakly
constructed ships with powerful engines exhibit only
,nall amount of shaking. and, conversely that com
paIaiiyely strongly bnlt ships are subjected 10
exceptionally violent vibration.
The foregoing warnings are more than juSti-
fed by the unfair treatment accorded by the
Navy Department to the Dolphin. One other
cautnn is added. The Department Kept
secret matters of evidence favorable to the ship,
but quickly made public everything der"gatory.
We trust there may be no more OF TINS. VI
telcgrams are sent to the Secretary announcing
the success of the Atlanta, let him give them to
the public. When the Advisory Board makes
a statement let it be published, even ii favor
able, and not withheld until a new Board can
br created to reply to it. Whenever the Sccre-
tary shows impartiality and fairness concerning
the new steel vessels now approaching compile
ton and trial the public will be disposed to
treat in the same way the additional war vessels
which it is supposed. although somewhat
doubtfuly 10 view of his long delay. that he
himself intends TO design and build.