New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-12-26
THE NEW CRUISER MAINE.
HER CONSTRUCTION INTERRUPTED BY A DE-
FECTIyE STEM PIECE-AN INTERESTING Ex-


HIBITION OF sHIP.BUILDING.
The adoption of a resolution in the Senate last week
calling upon Secretary Whitney to report upon tho
amount that had been expended on account OF tho
construction of the hull of the new cruiser Maine at tho
Prooklyn Navy Yard did not disclose It's significance.
But another resolution adopted at the same time,
calling for report TO the amount remaining OF
the appr)priaon made for repairs to vessels for the
fiscal year ending June 30, and charging that supplies
as well as labor at the Navy Yards had been pad for
unnecessarily, suggested that economy had not been
the rule.
AS for the Maine, It officially reported IN
January last that her lines had been laid Off In ths
mould loft the keelblocks and platforms had been
placed for building her the tools plant and material
had been contracted for. and the machine-shop and
storehouse We're well along toward completion. YET,
while the work has not made such RAPID progress
as was reported there has been considerable done,
and the progress Of building this modern war weapon
is interesting. True, the who have been at Work
upon her moved with dellberateness that is not OBJ
served in private workshops they stopped for con-
versation. and they seemed to display litte moro
ambition than to be credited with eight hour
day the payrolls
This vessel was designed by Chief Naval Construc-
,r 7. d. Wilson, and all her moulds and patterns for
stem and stern posts, rGdder frames and ribs have
been made at the Navy Yard. Her design Is that of
twn-scIew armOed turrct vessel. with a steel
protect her vital parts from the shot and shell Of the
enemy. In appearance she viii resemble the
brazilian armored cruiser Riachuelo type Of ship
in great favor with maritime Powers. ami whose
Dimensions will form the average targets in the fleets
Of possible enemies. Her principal dimensions
are to be 80 feet in length, % feet beam and 6.6i3
tons displacement
The Names beginnings partly finished keel and
five Of the midshp frames-is in the old ship house
that was occupied ior many yeats by the partly COM
peted ironclad Colossus, vessel that Congress mig
gardly refused appropriation TO finish and which
recently sold TO iunkdealers. There now
delayed in their work because of the defective steel
stem which had To be sent back V the works, and
which viii neceSsitate the making OF a now one. In
of the sheds piled the steel plates and frames
and numbers and letters TO denote IN what particular
part Of the vessel II Is to and which Will III no
other place. \ description of each plate Is given rs
the catalogue furnished by the stecl-makerS and tho
Navy officers IN charge Of the work enabled 90 pick
out the plate they want In an instant The method
and system OF the officers Is perfect. From this she'd
aii S r. w.s diluted @aa,is acid Xaor remainns In
the pickle few hours the plates arc put through .
process Of SOUNDING with steel dbrc brushes, Thus
removes all tho sQas 0Sttleniaat aud enstaes he
defects In the plate which may have escaped tho eyes
OK tho Inspectors at the steel works. This beng
finished the plates arc taken To the machine shop 10
which a labyrinth OF punches, shears, rolls dtus
and other machines. Here punched drilled tho
holes Tor tie riVetS. and the edges shcarcd or
plancd OF so that the joint may hc male perfect
ne bending shed does duty for the s"i age OF no
uhbelt STEEL frames. These 0ag sIcc, ribs, SOnio
shaped like I, Others like an l. and Others like
y, on their cross-sectons, are heated IN long BRICK
furnace and when this Is done are laid upon the iron
Frame is to be bent and then this part u the work
Is dens