New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-06-20
: NgW NhvY VESSELS NEARLY READY.
GEE CHARLESTON UNDERGOING ALTERATIONS
THE prTsEL LONG OVERDUE, But PROM
1sEp sooN-THE BALTIMORE ABOUT

1SED SOOSDVHE bAIIA"ShN 1890
READY FOR HER STEAM TRIAL
Washington June I8.--It now seems probable tha'
the United States Navy will soon have an snoi'oh
Of three new vessels long delayed In their compenoh'
irving Scott president Of the Union Iron Works at
san Francisco has given his word that the new cruiser
Cbares,on VIII be ready for another speed and power
trial In about three weeks. Under the terms OF Inc
contract tho Charleston was to have been coinpe'cd
and delivered to the Government on June 2s. 1883
Hsnce she will be mole than year behlho' anu
ponaltes for this delay will have accumulated to a
large amount. Her keel plates were laid August "a
1887 and the first rivet was driven september ioi
ovins Her contract price IS 100000 while the
Espiwa-Kan, after which she was modelled. was
butt In England for $83s,O00. With the exception
Of The crank and two propeller shats made by mo
KYuppS at Essen, all the steel used In her Is OF 40
mostic manufacture. The beams, outside pis'ihg Tor
The hull and plates for the protective deck. were
made at Pttsburg but the plsons and other forengs
tor tho engines the frames, and all the steel Castings
lor the hull and engines from the Pacific ROLLING
NILS At San Francisco.
Tho FIRST delay In the building of the Charleston
res csused BY the defective beams. Their weakness
waIch showed while being moulded into shape,
srouse from tho necessity of punching the required
tolt holes through the hsngvs Instead Of drilling them
In every instance Of fracture it was found That the
initial crack was at point IN the Circumference
of the punched hole. This punching OF the hOle> IN
instead Of drilling them in the Chsfestons beams was
IN reality test Of the material not called Tor nor con
templs,cd The present delay is caused BY the rsuts
~ her last trial about three weeks ago. Every thing
~orked smoothly under natural draft but as soon a.
,be was put under forced draft and run at hisn
need. ber guido shoes and motion bars heated ana
the engines had to be stopped New croSsheah gurus
AZ iron instead of Steel have been made and they are
now being fitted and new blades OF coarser p''ct
win be fitted to her propeller
At the Navy Department there Is an apprehehsiol
that some day word will be received from 'h'
columbian Iron Works. at baltimore, that the gun
hat Petrol is ready for bor official Inspection
and trial This vessel contracted TO DO completes
on or before December o.. 1887 but the ves'e nov
roore than eighteen months overdue Win large pen
allies Tor delay accrung. She has haa t~ S col H
trsctors, trials and II is now promised that she WI
Be- ready for trial By tho G9vernmc1l - oa 1 h
Ssvss The contract price FOR her was T24, OoO Dn
wiH Me deduction Of penalt es ateany rcru9u W ~
SwiiserS Will get less than 100000 for their W0rI
n IL promised that the cruiser 10 tmore paEiin
a. cramp 4 sons Philadelphia. Will DO turned owe
10 Tho Cjoyenment In a couple OF Woeks.o IL va
~, wa, CONTRACTED for on December II 1888, ana wa
10 have been completed Dy juno IL 1000 h'i W"
trsct price was sl,32o,oo"