Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-08-25

stop q shot OF small size, while 1t wonId
not ignite il a shell eXplodes IN II: Inc
use of coal as q protection Tor t.e en-
zines. SC, has given to class oil SHIPS
the name OF "protected cruisers al
though that term also indicates the use
of a protective deck. This deck Is some
times. but seldom, merely over the en-
gines and boilers, in which case the YES,
sci is then called parilaliy-proiectei
vessel. The Atlanta and boston are Oh
this class of vessels
These cruisers have usually twin
screws, electric light, search-llgn's' ana
all the other appliances of the more DOW
erful war-sLlps, They have supply OF
machine-guns, and when not provided
with sail-poger have at least one "mili-
tary" mast-that is. q snort, stout mast,
usually of metal. with top containing
one or more machlne-guus.
Such stress has always been lad upon
speed in naval warfare that naval archl-
tects and engineers have constantly
striyen TO make each new ship surpass
its predecessors. Thus in 1868 we owned
the fastest ship adoat-the Wampauoag.
afterward known as the FLORIDA Tier
speed exceeded not only that OF any snip
atoat. but she made faster run IN TWEEN
tv-four hours than WAS made by any
war-ship until the latest Spanish cruiser,
the Rcina Eegente.
Such was the effect produced upon
England by the Florida performance
that that country immediate y built YES
sells to equal her. But no fngllsh snip
until those Of very recent date could
match the Florida. she WAS mass OF
engines. schooner-riGged, aud WAS built
OF wood. She could catch or rnn away
from any vessel afoGt. But she rotted
at her wharf. having been built of nm
seasoned timber at New London, and
was sold for q song Il few years -lnee,
while some Of the English ships, being
built OF iron. are still useful, though not
of any great eed.
To increase the speed Of ship 1t IS
necessary t. increase the supply OF
steam, and this requires hotter tires.
Artificial draught has long been used, but
Of late further Appliance has been
adopted to increase the drlught. Inc fire
rooms ol q modern ship can be closed
ND so as TO he nearly alright. When
new air is forced into such n closed FIRE
room by powerful blowers 1t OF course
PUSHES Though the furnaces and IN
crcases enormously the combustion OF
coal. By THIS so-callod forced drauRht n
/ ships speed can be increased at the cost,
however of an enormous ipcrease IN the
consumption Of coal. Thus vessel of
5000 tons with ,. S6l.9o-hors" power
with natural daught has maintained an
average speed for tour hours Oh I"5l
knot, with forced draughtthe hor-e-poY-
er was increased to 2,2JL95, aud the
speed TO - knots.
1t will Ire seen that it required 3,4'O-
horse power. or over one third of that
required to produce originally a speed OF
seventeen knots, to increase the speed
two knots. THIS results from the tnor-
nous increase III friction when Is vessel is
driven ,st. an It has required great I'M
proyeucnts in the lnesof vessel, amt IN
the construction of engines aud boilers
10 produce such speed.
4 he horsepower developed Is equal To
that required to drive aoolcn very large
mills. The quantity OF coal burned w-s
nearly two pounds per hor e-powcr pel
hour and the revolutions ot the screw
at the highest speed averaged lI3
minute.
OF course. such speed is not 10 he ox
pooted except under most favorable con
ditions. hut when it j. remembered that
except the very fastest merchant steam
ers. not oyere score ~ number, NO oceaI
steamers can average seventeen knots az
hour. IL will be seen that q man-of-wa
with such speed can become an Alabami
OF terrible effectiveness. 4 dozen suci
vessels well armed and provided viii
powerful engines could sweep an enc
mv's commerce from the face OF tn'
globe if that enemy were rot provide,
with an equal or greater number OF Hk'
vessels TO ward of attacks OF the others
There is, Of course, limit TO th'
speed of shin. bat as speed Is perhaps
tie most essential feature of a modeIl
war-ship. and a. each wear sees taste
vessels aA0nt, 1t is impossible To "a,
what the limit is to bee. Already larg'
war.ship has travelled nearly 500 mile
in forty-eight hours a rate OF spec
equailed by very few Of the so-calle'
ocean grcyhouuds.
The types OF war-ships are constant,
changing Each year one sees improve
. meuts in the engines "a well as the gun
of our navy. WITHIN year rapld-tiun.
guns of from four to SIX inches callor'
have been constructed, the ammunition
being prepared ready for use )or fixed
. as it is called. like the cartridge and bal
/ Of modem mu,ket.
What the best type Of ship Is docs no
, seem to hay. been decided by tho au
, thorti-s IN such matters but il Is an
courlging to feel that IN .pite Of Ton
ties the vessels butt for our own nay.
are considered by every one to be sue
, cossful