The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-12-04
SHALL OUR VAR SHIPS BE snEA1Hrp,

SHALL OUR WAR SHIPS BE sHEA7HEp,
The Proposal 10 Make q New Departure 4,
Our Methods OF Naval Construction.
WASHINGTON. Dec. 3-Chief Constr,,c,ov
Theodore ID. Wilson and Constructor phllIn
Hichborn. who is likely to succeed the former
officer at tho head OF the bureau In due TINA
have united In an important recommendation
Il is that hereafter oil our cruising vessels oi
above 1000 tons displacement intended 10,
general service shall be shoathod. and thar
those under that limit shall be OF the compo,
site type-that Is. OF steel framing. wood inside
planking. and copper sheathing.
Tho ground thus taken has long been held
by portion Of our naval experts. headed by
tho two authorities Just quoted: yet not one OF
our now vessels is sheathed, nor have arrange.
mepts been made to supply sheathing to any
OF those now under construction.
Tho argument In favor OF sheathing is based
upon the liability OF vessels not 30 protected
to more rapid corrosion by rust and foulng BY
marine growths The experience Of our own
new ships Is instructive on this point It was
found OH one occasion that the Dolphin. after
being thoroughly cleaned and painted. Ind In
few months accumulated such quantity Of
barnacies and gross on her hull as to reduce
her speed to eight knots: and In order to
maintain even that rate she had to use an
enormous quantity OF coal Tho Charleston.
In homeward run from Honolulu. had her
speed reduced to seven knots: 80 that her sea
speed under natural drnuglit Ind been brought
down to much less than one-half what it
should be. after being in commission only five
months. The Baltimore. In hcr voyage to
Europe with tho body Of Ericsson. gave very
DISSEMINATING exhibition Of speed. due lareely.
We have seen the San Francisco Withdrawn
from Callao. at q time whOn reNnforcements
x xsrs sc 'Ss wSsi sSafs
scraped ind painted at Mare Island. Orders
s To- bs Gsns to Ssr s'd E ss s
NJ further IilustratiSns are needed to show
and also how i'm rortlnt IL the item OF expense
Tor more 1 Er,s,.qent decking cleaning anI
s ss ySSss j @ sSs. in
animal and vegetable growths on huIls. Tho
matter is all the more inportant to our coun.
Tx since it. has sun no cei dntI or regn ot
lished. And apart from Interruption Of eff.
cient service. perhaps at an urgent moment.
ser 1s @ sonsider%tioe. @sen fon III tat
double thy sh Of sSs to give
sneo ' 81 the vessc or her rSdus q scton Is
Tho qasstiop; therefore; wlIl occur why .ls
matter was discussed eight or ton years ago:
sSIit SIsSSt s,Ssathd|SSK, + i ssSiSus; Z e.
Weight to sss HIT . Rqsh d sss.
bhe pSs Ssfs
viii be the faster; Again. it has been found
that ealyanic action between copper and stee!
ships. This effect has caused efforts to be
made to substitute single layer Of wood
the state Of the matter is such that even up to
the last contract for large war vessels given
out IN our navy there was no provision for
The hope. also. has been entee, q, 2: for
been tried. with varying degrees q success
sa6stsnee emHloysd on tie Kf being
the
is to find In them u means Of avoiding the no.
e On Tie other hand. Chief Constructor Wilson
out Of every four Of Great Britain new vessels
81 sF
Rs 3 se ss:s
;$s% s y saar e. e Sslsi Soa:t;asssF y Il
tects. referring to two trials OF sister shipsthe
Medea and the Medusa. under identical oondi.
rough and foul and the latter clean:
In the Medl. 500 horsepower had been required to
the Weduss = speed Of lis knots. and 1000 horse.
power gave her speed oe II knots Al lower speeds
Msdea With rough coating required nearly 2oco
Medusa with smooth skin It will be erstood that
the condition Of the Medea not nearly bad
gwen illustrate the mportanSs Of rreansnt docking
speed They also furnish strong argument in favor
OF tho course taken by the Admiralty in giving wood
and copper sheathing to large proportion OF the
cruisers now building.
At present, however. the policy. OF our de-
partment is against sheathing. and according
ly the controversy between the experts on this
subject Is likely to continue.