The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-05-17
DOCKING THE NEW WAR SHIPS
The Fine Dockyard at MRIta-The York,
towns PItted Plates.


towns FITTED Plates.
US. SQUADRON OF EVOLUTION, VALETTA
Malta, April 25.-The Atlanta and Boston have
been locked at Messina, on the Island of iSici.
ly and have both rejoned us here. The York.
town and Chicago have been locked here in
her Maiesty's dockyard. Some surprise has
been manifested at the condition OF the York.
towns bottom, more than dozen Of the plates
being very badly pitted. This question OF the
pittng Of steel plates. which is produced by
the action OF salt water on the steel. is ono
which has for some time been attracting q
great deal OF attention, as being one OF the
most important connected with the proper
care OF modern vessels. vessel like the York :
town is constructed OF thin plates Of steel, and,
II this pitting is allowed to go on too long. holes
are eaten entirely through the plates,
which are. OF course. totally ruined. The
only way OF preventing this action is by cover
ing the plates with one OF the numerous anti
fouling paints which, under various names. are
continually being tested and experimental
with. This painting can be done only when
tho vessel is In dock; but docking, unfortu-
natey, is an expensive affair. 1t costing to dock
the Chicago in Malta about $500. To do the
same thing in the Brooklyn Navy Yard in
spite OF the fact that tho dock belongs to the
Government, would cost about $1,000. Besides
this expense, docks are comparatively few and
far between. and SO 1t Is impracticable TO dock
our war vessels oftener than once in six
months. We're 1t possible to dock them every
month their plates could easily he preserved
The difficulty in getting up such paint ia to
find mixture with sufficient cohesive power
to withstand friction with the water for as
soon as the paint is worn Off the plato is ex-
posed and pitting at once recommences. Thus
the Boston. after her docking, came down from
n aratY, nod n IN
one trip wore Off a good portion of the paint
which had lust been put on IN dock. 1t does
not necessarily follow that at her next docking,
some months hence strong signs OF pitting will
be Observed but at least the chances Tor SUCH
thing would certainly seem 10 De good The
Chicago came out OF dock this afternoon. hav-
ing been in the Somerset dock for three days.
The condition OF her bottom was rather re-
ssGrnG as t WAS wspe sEb BUT f eW a ae
being affected to any degree. and none OF them
being in bad condition.
n yard as this, although 1t has occasioned
many comparisons very notifying to an Amer
lean This PARKWAY colonial AL doekyard is tar
ever likely to possess. England has evidently
gone on the principle that II is best to pay vel!
and geta good thing. and the consequences of
this policy is that she has here handsome stone
docks capable OF taking even the monster iron
elads that are being built t IN En tGs nov IN
workshops-is on the most massive scale and
with equipments as perfect as could be OBJ
pride in pointing out these facts, but wo are
always Obliged to tell hem with great deal
of modification. that the United States; with
lower taxes than any other country, and with
such surplus that they are Obliged u light
over the question Of how 10 get rid Of it, still
have no dockyard, not even one on the whole
10000 miles OF coast that Portugal. Greece.
Turkey. Brazil. or Chill, or even China or Japan
would cal first class.
The officers and mon OF the squadron are
generally Disguised at the report that is being
circulated by the papers that the present Con-
gress has authorized three new battle ships
and one additional cruiser. such an utterly
ridiculous appropriation as that, they say.
after the Dragging that has been done about
the navy that we were going to build, will pro-
duce no little amusement in Europe. Officials
here will. II the report Is true. oncs more have
an opportunity to use their favoi1te expression
Of vulgar American braggadocio" TO their
hearts contont.
Socially and officially the week has been well
filled ND with entertainments Of various sorts
and with visits to and from tho different
British ships here. Admiral Walker has ex-
changed visits with the Governor OF Malta, Sir
Henry Smythe. with MAJOR General Wilkie
and Major General King. commanding tho
forces here: with Nice-Admiral Hoskins, K. c.
b.. CommRnder-in nief OF tho British Med-
terranean squadron. and with Rear-Admiral
Alex. Butler. g. B., Superintendent OF the
dockyard. III fact. the amount OF visiting gone
through with Is extraordinary. and betokens q
very friendly feeling on the part OF the English
generally. for most OF 1t has been un-
official and has taken shape in dinners,
lunches and the like