Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-09-17
WASHINGTON VIKINGS.
Remarkable Success of the
New Cruisers.
MR.. WHITNEY CONGRATULATED.
The BaltimOre's Wonderful Feats-
No Pension Commissioner APP
pointed Yet.
Associated Press Dispatches to the HRgALD.

Associated Press Dispatches to the HEgALD.l
WASHINGTON, September B.-The gen.
eral topic of interest at the Navy Depart
ment today was the remarkable perform-
ancs of the new cruiser Baltimore on her
trial last Saturday. Early in the day
Commander Glass, who was member
of the Trial Board, called upon Secretary
Tracy and gave him some data relative to
the trial which pleased the Secretary SO
we'll that he sent the following telegram
to ex.Secretary Whitney, who procured
the designs for the ships hull and con-
tracted for her construction
NAVY DEPARTMENT,
WASHINGTON. September 16
". C. Whitney, late Secretary Of the Navy:
Permit me to congratulate you on the
magnificent performance of the Baltimore.
BENJAMIN F. TRACY.
What Commander Glass had to COM
municate were facts which will appear
more in detail in the report of the Trial
Board, but which in substance were as
| follows:
The Baltimore's sea trial for collective
indicated horse power commenced at
40 S. m. and ended at IL 40 p. M, Sat
turday, 14th inst. There was q light
breeze ahead, with moderate sea, and
an occasional long swell, the remains of
the cyclone. The distance run in the
four hours was 1873 knots; the average
speed per hour was 19 knots, and the
maximum speed for one hour was 20.2
knots. The remarkable circumstance in
| this connection, and one exhibiting her
perfection of mechanism is that the great
speed of 20.2 knots was made in the third
| hour, or after the boilers and engines
had been for two hours driven under
forced draft. In fact, says Commander
Glass, at the end of the four hours trial
the vessel was in condition to undertake
another such run without further prepar'
! alton.
The average revolutions Of the screws
during the four hours was 1I7.4 per
minute, while the maximum for one
hour ran up to 1877. The average
horsepower maintained during the four
hours was probably as much as, if not
more than, 10000, but the exact figures
cannot be Obtained until the compute
tions are finished. This is 1000 above
the contract requirement of 5000. and
will entitle the builders to premium Of
500 900.
After the trial the vessel was put
through evolutious to determine her
maneuvering powers. With both en-.
gines running ahead she made com.
plete circle of 750 yards diameter in
about seven MINUTES; while, with the
port engine going ahead and the star
board engine backing, she turned in q
circle of 239 yards diameter, in about
71S minutes. With full speed ahead
she stopped in eight minute s. and with
both engines backing the ship came to a
standstill in 24 minutes.
The Length of the vessel was loaded
down with pig iron to point even in ex-
| cess Of her draught when fitted with guns
and stores, and amply demonstrated her
strength. Her seaworthiness was par
ticularly excellent, and under full speed,
or at twenty knots, the vibrations were
| very slight, the greatest vibrations being
about the forecastle and pilot house, but
not noticeable on the lower decks. She
Was so steady in the seaway as to cause
the officers to compare her to the monitor
type, and this ensures q steady gun
| platform, one of the prime requisites of a
| man-of-war. Two men were able to
steer the ship at any time with the great
| est readiness.
Another noteworthy fact was the com.
| Portable condition of the fire and engine
rooms. A duplicate crew had been pro-
vided With the expectation Of relieving
the firemen in two hour turns, but after
| the first two hours of the run the first
| watch refused to quit work and insisted
on running the ship through the entire
| four hours trial.
SAN FRANCISCO, September 16.-Com-
modore Benham, Captain Watson, Chief
Engineer Kouts and Naval Constructor
Pnster have prepared their report on
the recent trial trip of the cruiser
Charleston, and forwarded it to the
Secretary of the Navy. The report is
unanimous and very enthusiastic. The
ship is credited with maximum horse
power of 1908, and an average horse.
power of 6,S16 for four hours run. The
maximum speed obtained was I8. rs knots,
and the average was 1874 knots. Before
the regular trial, on two hours' run iu
the bay, she made 1917 knots. 1t is
positively stated at Mare Island navy
yard that Captain George @. Remy, now
at the Norfolk, Virginia, navy ward. is to
command the Charleston.
WASHINGTON, September rI6.-Secretary
Tracy today received the following tele-
gram from Captain Kirkland, President
of the Trial Board which conducted the
trial OF the new cruiser Baltimore Satur-
day: "The trial of the Baltimore was
satisfactorily completed. The horse.
power is in excess Of the requirements.
The average speed for four hours was 10
6 10 knots. The maximum speed for one
hour was 20 2-l0 knots"
WASHINGTON, September 16.-Biils for
the seventh payment of cruiser No, s.
the San Francisco, building at San Fran
cisco, representing $12s,52O, were laid
before Secretary Tracy today. They will
undoubtedly be approved.
A bad STRIKE.