New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-01-14
HOW THE NEW CRUISERS BEHAVED.
THAT THEY ARE EXTRAvAGANT OoAL-BURNERS
Is DESTROYED BY EXPERIENCE-THE RECORD
al, rrrr,,n r,nnc,r trn A " An. MTG VOYAGE

Is DESTROYED BY ExPERIENCE-THE RECORD
OF THEIR FIRST TRANSATLANTIC VOYAGE.
Lisbon, Dec. o9.-It was about the time that the
Souadron of Evolution sailed from Boston that the
entire people Of the United states were alarmed with
rcports said To be official, relative to the coalcon-
sumlng qualities OF the vessels OF the new Navy.
They caused an impression that the entire surplus
in the Treasury would be wiped out In few years by
the cost of coal to the cruisers and that there
danger Of exhausting the coal mines Of the
world before the end Of another generation For instance
it was estimated that it would cost than 100000
year for the coal alone needed for the cruiser Bat
more. In other words, 1t was stated that the Baiti
more would consume an average of 300 tons OF coal
day, and the gunbOat Yorktown would require 100
tons day When Secretary Tracy was asked for
explanation Of these figures he declared them to
be misleading. and said that the Baltimore would steam
at tcn-knot speed with about twenty five tons a
day, the Atlanta and Boston would burn about the
same, and the estimate for the Yorktown was about
eleven tons day. But the pcssimsts disputed with
Secretary Tracy and declared that experience would
di,provc the statements OF the Navy Department and
show that the new vessels large coalcOnsumers.
But the official reports of the engineering departments
Of the vessels Of the squadron which recently arrived
here show that the Navy Departments estimate is
practically correct.
The estimate Of coal consumption OF the Chicago,
for instance wa, forty tons per day for speed OF
ten knots. That this estimate practically cor
rect is shown in the fact that her across the
to this port she averaged speed of little
than eight knots thirty four tons per day
And this Included the amount used for heating, cleo
trio lighting and dstilling water for the use OF
The ship. That every thing worked satisfactorily is
shown by the reports of the different departments OF
the ship. OF course with the ship put to her full
speed OF sixteen knots she would consume about 195
ton, Of coal every twenty four hours. but this Will
rarely be necessary.
The estimate Of coal consumption Of the Boston
and Atlanta, by their builders, was thirty tons per
day for a ten-knot speed and eighty three tons per
day at full speed, fifteen knots an hour. mat
tins. too was fair estimate is shown by the log OF
the Boston. which records speed OF a ntlIe more
than eight knots with expenditure OF an average
Of twenty nine tons per day. THIS includes the coai
used for auxiliary purposes. she would nave burned
two OF the boilers on the run over Her machinery
not only behaved well, however, but she proved
herself excellent sea boat .
The Atlanta not quite so economical as tho
day. This included the coal used for auxiliary
purposes, rs we'll for the engines.
The Yorktown did not do quite 80 well as the dc,
sgucrs calculated, but she i not an eHtTavaednt
coal burner by any means. Her designers estimate
WAS co!,lm ptlon Of about eleven tons per Gay lot
a ten-Inot speed, and siNtyoac tons per daN ior
She consumed nineteen tons a day for speed OF
little above eight knots. But this larger consumption
Of coal was i'm part due to the bad weather Wh!cn
She experienced. She got into hard gale, N when
and at time She was hovetQ on accpnnt OF an
accident TO her rudder. After the rudder was pro,
drag was put overheard to ste+r by' DtI Ne Ne
hlwser parted and then the vessel swung into INC
trough Of the sea II had not been for this acct
dent She could have well kept mp with the other
vessels, and probably would have burned less coal