The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-11-26
GEOPCE W MELVILLE.
Our Chief Naval Engineer and Some OF
His Works.

His Works.
Among the most noteworthy incidents OF
the reconstruction of the navy is the rapid
advance Of the Bureau Of Steam Engineer
ing i'm the art of designing machinery. Less
than five years ago the Bureau offered old
fashioned compound designs for the York
town and the Newark. They were not
adopted. but triple expansion engines OF
private design (by Cramp n SOns) were APP
proved by Secretary Whitney and put in
those ships.
Then came the purchase Of the Balti-
mOre's design, hull and machinery; then
Cramps design Of machinery for the Phila-
delphia; and then, again, the purchase OF the
design of the Texas, hull and machinery.
Meantime George W. Melville, who has
been fer year or more chief inspector OF
machinery at Cramps yard, superintend-
ing the construction ofthe Baltimore, York
town, and Nesuyius, was promoted TO be
engineer in chief, and had brought out
machinery design which Secretary Whitney
adopted for the san Francisco, and another
for the coast defence monitor Monterey.
Then followed in rapid succession the two
3,OO0-tOn, the three 2,OOO-tOn, the 5,3OO-tOn,
and the S,l00-tOn cruisers. Finally came
the machinery designs for the three battle
ships and the twenty-one knot 7,5OO-tOn
-
# is but fair to say that most Of the credit
for this rapid and gratifying advance on the
part of the Bureau is due TO the official en-
ergy and practical skill of MIR. Melville,
and it must be a source Of double satsiac-
ton 10 him that, simultaneously with gen.
eral public Acknowledgement of these great
professional triumphs, should have come
special act of Congress recognizing and re-
warding him for personal service Of the
most dangerous and desperate character in
the Inflated expedition of the Jeanette.
1t is generally conceded now that the Blu
reau OF Steam Engineering is not merely
quite abreast of the times in the matter of
designing man-Of-war machinery, but is ac-
tually i'm advance of the English and
French designers in many important fac
tors of detail. Melville is nothing if not
bold and original, and one of the
biggest responsibilities he ever as
sumed was his rejection of the horizon
tai engine and adoption OF the vertical
system for all classes OF ships, large and
small, armored and unarmOred. For small
and unprotected ships the vertical system
has the disadvantage CT exposure Of the
cylinder heads 10 some extent, but this is
thought 10 be more than counterbalanced
by the economy Of fore and aft space, re-
sulting from placing the machines abreast.
the simplifying Of valve connections, the
ability TO get more power on a
given weight and the equalization Of
friction and wear of the pistons and
piston rods. In large protected or
armored ships there has never been any
room for argument as 10 the superiority of
the vertical system. At the time Melville
succeeded to the Bureau but one engine of
Bureau design was under construction; the
ordinary compound engine of the little
Petrol. Now, within three years, the Blu
reau has designed and put under contract
the following engines, all triple expansion
and of the most advanced type in every re-
spect:
San Francisco, two, 5000 horsepower
EACH
Monterey, two, $3.50 horsepower each.
Cruisers 6 and I, four, 5000 horsepower
each.
Cruisers 5, 0, and TO- six, 1900 horse
power EACH
Cruiser IL, two, 5000 horsepower each.
Cruiser II, three, 5000 horsepower each.
Three battle-ships, six, 5000 horsepower
each.
Armored cruiser Maine, two 1900 horse
power each.
Armored cruiser No. ?, two, G,OOO horse
power each.
This is twenty-nine engines with a total
calculated power Of about 10000 horses,
distributed among and adapted to fourteen
vessels embracing no less than niue different
rates or classes; besides twOgun-boats and
aud "A practico-ship. We think that Mr.. |
Melville is TO be congratulated on having
done this great work, and we know that the |
country and the navy are 10 be congratula-
ted on having him there to do il. One of the |
best acts of Mr.. Whitney's brilliant admin |
istration was his selection Of George w. /
Melville TO be engineer in chief OF the
navy.
The "San Francisco" was built by the !
Union Iron Works, Of san Francisco, Cal,
and has within the past two months been |
severely tested over the measured mile at
sea. The result was In every way satisfac- |
tory to the Board Of Inspection, and as
compared with the baltimore" ship Of
about the same dimensions, designed by an
English firm, is as follows-yiz:
San Fran Bain-
ciscO more.