New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-06-26
THE pBTLADELPHITS SPEED TRIAL.

Rarely has so much interest pcci IAN"
any naval event rs in the speed trldi III '"'
new cruiser Philadelphia, which TOOK P''Co
Yesterday off the eastern end OF Long lS"'"''
Tho rosult is not vet known but apparent!
tho cruiser more than fulfilled the contract
,oon;roment of a speed of 10 knots an houf'
rho trial is one which the Government re-
,,,;ro. the buildcrs 10 make in order To
demonstrate whether the specifications haNe
been fully carried out, ana Whe'heI ''o
vessel meets in every respect the CONDITIONS
Of tho contract This must be done before the
.hin can he accepted 10y the Government MOI
only has this trial awakened interest among
naval architects and cngine-builderS, but II mas
also raised the question whether the method
of GIVING premiums or cxacting penalties Tor
snocd and pover-a system developed uhuer
the administration of Secretary whitney,
should he indefinitely continued. IL Is pos
sihle that in the case of any two vessels inc
inferior one may show greater horsepower Oh
snccd than the other, on account OF superior
skill in preparation. This system OF premiums
hocan with the first five vessels designed when
Mr.. Whitney was secretary OF the NaNN-'hc
Yorktown. Petrol, Newark. Baltimore ana
Charleston; but it was premium Tor morse
novor 500 for each unit of horsepower IN
excess of the guaranteed stipuationS speed
trial is 4 much more practical test than power
trial.
To cite the case of the Philadelphia the
conditions Of the contractor trial arc as iaN"'
able as possible a 10 the character OF the coa'
used the employment of expert iiremcn' the
weather. and 50 on. When, aS in this case
bonus of $4,000 is added to the contract
price--S $50 ,000-for each quarter OF knot
made hy the vessel in excess of the guaranteed
,pocd. and a deduction Of $4,000 for every
ouartcr-knot Of deficiency. ii Is at once cioar
how great are the inducements To get results
ont of the vessel such IL may never again DC
achieved after she passes into Government
service The difference between Govern
mcnt test for official record and the contractor
trial for acceptance may be very great when
trials like those which Secretary Tracy ordered
for the vessel, of the Squadron of Evolution III
Narrasan>ott Bay. take place. they furnish
genuine and trustworthy record OF what can be
done by the vessels in actual service
One Of the objections raised against the pay
mcnt of premiums for speed Is that II i APP
10 encourage faulty construction. II 1t does ho'
lead 10 actual fraud. To offer a premium Tor
the development Of some one quality OF a YES
sci. beyond what the plans and specifications
call for. must naturally lead 10 the concontfa-
ton of effort upon the production oi that G"a'
ity. 10 the neglect of others. some constructors
maintain that the development of the guam!
Of speed may be- AT the expense OF 'tahlh'E.
There can he no question that vessel t'>t"d
for short distance and in smooth wafer can
not be expected to do 50 well in heavy sea on
= four-houl> stretch hence, if the Philadelphia
.hould have made a Snccd of u knots, or
> knots above the guarantee. the builders VIII
roam 4 harvest Of $500, 600 in premiums, hut
the vessel will probably never he called upon
70 develop the same speed again trial for
Spccd is a vast improvement upon tral ior
horsepower: Lut il is an open question "hcthel
the system of premiums ought not now to he
abandoned. II was a good thing n the outset
when the facilities Of the Shiplards for huld-
inc hgh speed vessels were rndcycl"pod I"
offer premiums. Bui now that there has been
4 marked advance in engine making ana the
mechanical arts Of steel Shipbuildng It may
be expedent 10 modify the system.