The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-05-09
QUE East NEW CRUIshR.
The Philadelphia May Lead the SeaeoinG
Vessels in Point OF Speed.


| WASHINGTON, May s.-Had the prelimi-
nary trial trip Just made by the unarmored
steel war ship Philadelphia occurred year
| ago its remarkable results would have created
| a sensation. But tho great speed achieved
| last autumn by her predecessor, the Baltimore.
had prepared the public for her performances.
It Is mono the less creditabe. however. that
this later product OF the yard OF William
Cramp 4 Sons bids fair to equal. II not to
surpass even the Baltimore. II the indications
OF her first unofficial test may be taken as q
guide to her capabilities.
Over course OF sixty-flvo miles, running
out 10 sea from Cape Henlopen and back the
new cruiser logged n maximum OF twenty and
three quarter knots. The chief purpose was
to find whether the machinery would work
continuously and we'll at high rate OF speed
and no trouble from heating, or any other
cause occurred during a continuous run Of
three and half hours. Tho test of speed from
throwing the log is not very accurate but It
was generally thought that the Philadelphia
was at least rs fast us the Baltimore. which on
her final trial made an average Of pol knots
during four consecutive hours. Nobody would
be surprised to find the Philadelphia oven
reaching an average of twenty and q quarter
knots on her official trial.
Like the Baltimore. the Philadelphia was de-
knots per hour; but the actual contract re-
quirements for the former were OF horse
power only. whereas this element will have
nothing to do with the premium or penalty in
the case of tho PHILADELPHIA. The latter must
show nineteen knots speed, and the amount OF
horse power necessary to do this concerns the
contractor. and not tho Government. AS to
the manner In which the speed shall be deter
nr ,nen mere or mas 5een mIGh question Inc
above or below the contract requirement is
S5O.OOO. SO that she might earn $2OO,U0O or more
evident that an accurate method OF reckoning
Is OF great Importance 10th to the government
logs would 10 out Of the question. 'At Ono
plan would DO { hat OF running two hours in
Ve Of the nG With ' eSm
for wind and currents by competent observers
stationed a'onS the course, which might be-
method actually. settled upon appears TO be
that OF ascertaining the speed and the number
distance and then ca Iculating the speed FROM
the number Of revolutions in four hours run,
wherever made. on this basis.
The Philadelphia is q protected cruiser Of
1921 tons displacement She has tripIe-eN-
pansion engines intended to develop an agGre-
Is that OF a three masted schooner Her curved
steel deck covers the machinery and maya
zines, and she is well supplied with air-tieht
compartments which can he drained BY pumps.
other modern ships. to give, additional protec-
bulwark OF coal when well filled. The main
battery, as in the san Francisco and the
Newark, will consist OF lively six-nch breach
loading rifles. The secondary battery will be
mounted in suitable places Including the
tops. Ventilation, drainage, and electric light
ing are Of course thoroughly provided for. Tho
Philadelphia will probably he the flagship OF
the European station, and II tho vessels in Adj
miral Walkers squadron are now looked upon
SO favorably on that side OF tho water certainly
q good share OF admiration may be expected
for this new craft. which will be three or four
knots faster than any Of them.
The present Philadelphia is the fifth war
vessel of that name In the records OF our navy.
One Of Thorn became famous in battle with the
sunk. A second was Batnbrdges famous
frigate of forty four guns. which ran upon rock
near Tripoli in 1903, and was captured by the
enemy. but atterward retaken and destroyed
by Decatur. Nodoubt the people Of the Quaker
City will take as much pride in the present
cruiser as Chicago. Boston. Atlanta, Baltimore,
Charleston. and san Francisco have shown In
the new war vessels named for their cities.