New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-08-04
WORK AT THE NAVY YARD.
THE YoRKTowN's TACTICAL TRIALS.

tha first Of the new vessels designed, contracted
for and built under the Secretarysh'p of William
& Whitney. has had her official sea trlal, 'hs
one prescribed in the contract requirements
She nroved herself TO be stable craft, althcugh
There WAS some surprise that the screw developer
a slip of about % per cent. In other words uho
vessel travelled through the water at fS'e
o. per cent less than she should have done accord
ing to the work done by the screw. but "iich
Chief Engineer George w. Stivcrs, the memoer
of the board appointed to observe the "orNi"e'
nj the mechanical department of the vessel colh-
plctes his report il will probably be shown uS'l
this loss in the speed is due TO the foulness OF
tb. vessels bottom His report will also snow
the horse power developed, the consumption oil
coal per horse power. and the stsamlns qualiueS
Of the vessel although no attempt was mace lor
q speed or power trial.
The report of Commander Beinbrdge, thc cha'r-
man of the board, will show the eihciency u
the gun battery at different elevations ana ua'n-
iogs and with the various charges of powder
The tests will he reported as Satisfactory WIZ
tho execution of a few minor defects. The report
will also describe how the guns are moun'eu
ord tho fac, that the waist guns have an arc
If fire 20 degrees forward and 40 degrees aodiU
the beam that the two forward guns concentrate
Z
two guns 300 feet abaft the vessel, and tf'o
do. onns on enc side can be concentrates
NJ a noint 100 feet from the side of the Vess1
Naval Constructor Steele will report upon the
behavior of tn, vessel in the heavy seas ana
uron her construction. One SPECIAL defect upon
which stress will be laid 10 secure change VIII
be the present cramped quart rs Tor tAe omcc'S
The ward-room is no doubt thc smallest upon
any vessel oil the Navy. Owing TO tn hafi0Whcs9
of the vessel in that part OF the SNIP the N"i"-
room prcper is hardly wide enough for the OiIlcers
10 sit down com lostahly AT their meals anu 'ii0
s,atc-rooas are hardly large enough no permit
an officer 10 undrs The statc-rooms CANNOT
be- enlarged. but the warl-room NAV DE- iehs,hen''
The Yorktown Will hc the next vessel al'er
the Atlanta 10 undergo series OF lufh'1s ""'
tactical trials al N,wport. The Boston Is now
,,o i,,cr. s,il.,- the Nc~porter> by her p'rioFm-
a,.crs 0! waiting and all sorts OF 'ounH u'hc'''
The results of these trials will he ptihi'u III
rms AM given 10 the future omcefN Oh I'LL
,hip,. 50 that they may learn Just what 'h'Y
may bc depended upon to do under any gwen
circumstances
The Gal,ua was GontCd ont of the drv-docN OH
E,iror and iu>t rs prep ,ration> were being mlde
to nut tho Yorktown in an order came from ASH
iur,on TO pu, the Despatch in the dock to have
1,,. ,,r,,,cilr, il ID, s,rightened This Will prob
ably he completed tomorrow, when thu Yorktown
viii he pui into the dock TO have her bottom
cleaned and coated with an anti-barnacie pant.
She will then Dc ready 10 90 to Newport.
The Chicago will be pat into the dry-docK
,cben the Yorktown comes ont, tn have her nun
e>nn,ined and her bottom cleaned and painted.
She will then put about fifty tons OF New RIVER
coal in her bmnkcrs. and be ready 10 go to New
nor, about August D. Her capSian engine whcn
has been repaired and ieadiusted arrived al t'e
vessel Yesterday \ few alterations Will nave u
he made in the new bIat-c.ndlcs, but ths' VIII oe
done before the end of the week
canaan John A. Howell, commander OF the Al
,,n,a returned from hi, gun-caIriage expert
mental duty al Annapolis on Friday, ana ye>'er-
d,v started for Newport with the Atlanta. In
,,,,d of taking the usual route up Long Island
S,und he took the vessel Oh the outside course
and viii reach Newport this morning. lie to'i
Commodore Ramsay that he had been delayed 50
long that he had given up the idea OF having
target practice at sea at this time. Then, too the
weather was 80 bad and thick that ~ Woul"
practically have been waste of powder ana sho'-
Upon the request of Commodore james a.
Greer president OF tine board appointed 10 m'hc
a thorough reorganization of the drill ana mc'ics
NJ the Navy several officers have sent their written
opinions as 10 what changes might be maze 10
advantage One or two Of the most experienced
commanding officers have sent interesting papers
as TO bow the men may be improved. 1t is recon-
ma,,ded that the seamcn in the Navy who have
come from the training service may he detflled
for the responsible positions among the crew, 10
encourage and instruct others who are unfamiliar
with naval tactics, and thus improve the entire
service. Another important work OF the Doaru
will be the reorganization of the drill with small
AIMS and the ships battalion VIII De connheu 10
the regular working force OF the ship; IN other
words, the stewards. cooks and servants who are
now compelled TO go shore with the landing
party and TO work on deck when all hands aIe
call led TO furl sail or 10 perform any Other routine
drill will be exempted from all other duty than
that for which they are shipped.
An order of Secretary Tracy has been received
at the Navy Yard that in order TO insure uni
formity the following routine will be observed
at the hosting of colorS in the morning and the
lowering Of them in the evening on vessels of
war in commission and at Naval stations: The
band will play, ut morning colors. " The Star
Spangled Banner" and at evening cOlors. " Han
Columbia" Every officer and sailor not 80 en-
ployed as 70 render il impracticablc Will face
toward the colorS and salute as the ensign reaches
the peak or truck in hosting, or the tailrail or
ground in hauling down.
A board, OF which Commodore Charles II.
Ioring ex.Chief of the Bureau OF Steam En-
Cineerng. is president, has been appointed for
ihe purpose of examination and test of coil boil
ers The other members OF the board,
who are now on duty at the Navy
Yard are Chief Engineer William 4.
Windsor and Passed Assistant Engineers J. J.
Harry and G. r. Howell Under date Of August p
1855 the department invited proposals for lLrnISl.-
ing coil boilers for the Navy, and the boilers of
the four firms which are considered as possessing
sufficient merit TO warrant the expense - testing
them are instructed 10 furnish the boilers and
prepare them for test at tnelr own expense either
at their own works At such places 90 may F! e
approved by the Department, and 20 communicate
with Commodore l.crIng wLcn they ready.
Boilers of the coil type have as yet been little
used in naval vessels. The Bellevillc boilers
have for several years been used on
hoard vessels of the French Navy, but
the Department las no records Of Their
performances under force draft coalitions. The
ihorurcroff iCicr j. said 10 have proved
highly successful in torpedo boats, and boilers Of
the coil and sectional types have long been sue
cessfully used on steam launches. yachts, etc. he
importsnf reduction in weight which would be
ERECTED by their use if practicable led the Bureau
of Steam Engineering 10 suggest competitive test
10 ho.i VIII he Inale