Los Angeles daily herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1884-1890, 1889-05-07

me development of War-ship
RullAing.

start from san fTahCleeo Ao'
hara channel, where a thorough TEST Oh
her machinery will be made. some OIL
the Bay papers have shown dispositioh
IN unfairly criticise the machinery OF the
nav cyuiser. This was due, not to any
real fault in tire machinery, but to the
fact that the fat had gone forth that no
newspaper reporter would be allowed on
the trial trip. Your modern new Is
in honor bound to denounce anything or
anybody that restricts what he considers
his privileges; hence, when he was e2.
cluded from participation in the trial
trip he naturally ascribed it to the lear
that he would discover detects some
where in the vessel. So that, not being
allowed to discover them in due course,
he. of course, discovers them in advance,
and he hastens to lay them before the
public. We have, however, better auth
ority than the average San Francisco
nevepaper reporter that the machinery
of the Charleston has worked, 30 lar TO
the entire satisfaction OF men who are
experts in steam enginery. Mr.. w. n.
Eckart, a well.known mechanical engln-
Ger, formerly in the employ OF the Gov
ernment at Mare Island, made an IN
spection of the machinery few days ago
while the engines were being worked,
while the Charleston was lying at
Mission Rock. The vacuum gauge in
dictated that the mercury stood at 27s8
inches even while the steam passed
through the safety valves. The require
ment of the Government is 26 inches,
80 that the builders had done
better by nearly an inch and a hall
than their contract called for. The ba-
rometer ehowed that the pressure OF the
atmosphere would support column OF
mercury 30 $40 inches high. 1T is not
economy to get vacuum OF over 20
inches" said Mr.. Eckart, "and when the
papers asserted that because only "
inches had been obtained, the machinery
had failed, they jumped to a false con-
clusion, for We now see that a higher
vacuum than the Government required
has been had" "Do you think, was
asked of Mr.. Eckart. "that the cruiser
will make the trial trip all right, and
fulfill the official requirement? "4es,"
he replied. '1 see no reason why she
should not do 60. But do not remem-
her of any ether war vessel succeeding
ON the first trial, and if the Charleston
should have to make more than one trial
trip, it would be no indication that the
next would be failure"
There is mistaken impression abroad
that the trial test to be made in Santa
Barbara Channel will be one for speed
That is not tie fact. The test will be a
continuous run OF four hours, and will be
one OF power and smooth working. The
engines will be required to develop 1000
horse power, and this is a much more
stringent requirement than one Of speed.
A vessel that has only to do mile and
repeat at a certain rate has much
easier task, because at the end of the
mile her journals will have time to cool.
On the trial trip the Government
engineers will take the indicator cards
every fifteen minutes. The reading OF
these cards will tell the whole story.
We are not only interested as Ameri-
cans, but as Californians, in the COM
plete success of the trial Of the Charles
ton, and we are pleased to know that
competent men, judging from what they
have already seen of the working OF the
machinery, are sanguine that she will
perform what her builders engaged with
the Govern ment to make her do. 1t is
not alone that this success will be graft
fying to our State pride, but it involves
even a much more important considera-
ton. A dispatch two days ago an
nounced that the building of the great
three-thousand-ton ironclad has been
awarded to the Union Iron Works.
This vessel will cost 100000 and
will be one of the most momentous
naval undertakings yet given out
ty the Government. Ii We can success
July build cruiser of the dimensions
of the Charleston, we need not fear that
we will fail in building much larger
one. When that vessel is finished to the
putation in this line will be established.
and we may afterwards confidently look
for the award to this coast of the building
Of all vessels required in these waters.
1t costs a great deal OF money to send o
large armed vessel around the Horn,
without saying anything about the risk
incurred by the perrilous voyage. In
creating our new navy, very large part
of it will be required in the Pacific waters,
and if these vessels can be built
in California works as cheaply as in
Eastern yards, there is no reason why
they should not be awarded to Pacific
Coast contractors. The question of eff
cheney is now being tried. We have no
fear that our work will not compare
fayorably with that of Atlantic con-
tractors. As perhaps five hundred mil
lion dollars will be spent by the Govern