The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-06-05
r;sb of a, IN 1e.yennx Powell. Covt Report Aug ~ 1885,
RH.a!:,!:!! B BSxd:s,
ABSOLUTELY PURE

attending TO special work they have been as
SIGNED To such work the object being, 70
re1ieve the skilled men Of all but skineu
work. The strikers say that such proGie-
dure will cause general reduction III 'H0
wages Of all employees r. .bo TeYas
is at least twelve months behind Inc con-
tract calls for the completion OF the ost
in three wears from May 1888. During iast
spring a serious fire which destroyed tne
boiler,shops of the Richmond Loco
motive Works seriously injured I"eHao a..
naces intended for the Texas. All
of the twenty-three furnaces have oeeh
condemned bv the Government inspectors
Chief Engineer Brooks and Passed-AsslstanU-
Engineer Pickrell. The managers OF tn9
works. in consequence of the hre, nave asheu
of the Navy Department one year SEX ISL
i'm time on the contract period Chel-Ensiee
neer Brooks has recommended al extension oI
only six months. The matter is now DeioIe
the Secretary of the Navy.
So far the works have completed five OF the
six cylinders and are now at work on me
sixth All the shattlng except the cIan ram
shafts are on hand. The several pieces nave
yet to be turned down. The columns are al
on hand and have passed satisfactory
test before the inspection board. Inese
columns are Y-shaped and of cast steer.
They were made by the Solid Steel Casung
remembered that the twenty-four columns
for the machinery of the armored cruiser
Maine were originally designed 10 be OF cast
steel When cast twenty OF the columns were
found defective. As q result Commodore
Melville directed that forged steel columns
should be furnished the Maine. The success
full test OF the Texas columns Is sad 10 be
very gratifying 10 the Navy Department. as IL
was feared after the experience with the
Maine that forged steel alone would not stand
the test.
Since the contract was awarded the Rich
mond Locomotive Works several changes III
the original machinery designs have been
authorized by the Bureau Of Steam Engineer
ing. An entire new design has been gotten
up for the eight feed and two bllge pumps
The new design, which is kept within the
original weight. admits of a greater flow or
water, owing TO new arrangement or the
valves and ports. and allows Of higher
speed. The original half Worthington
motion has been dsregarded and crank mo-
ton introduced The new design has stroke
of nine inches and, in general dimensions Is
slightly larger than the original. New con
densers have also been designed, the water
being admitted at the top instead OF at the
bottom, as in the original design. Inc orisl-
nal arrangement Of the DETECTING plates mas
been slightly altered. In the case OF the
piston valves a new feature has been nitro
duced in the addition OF an extra exhaust
port.
All the brass work for the Texas is being
handled by the Richmond Locomotive Works.
The establishment proposed TO cast the pro
pellers. They will be four-bladed and Of
manganese bronze. The construction Of such
gigantic machinery as that demanded by the
new battleship is an entirely new undertaking
on the part of the Richmond Locomotive
Works 1t is thought that the company's ex-
perience will not be happy one. Indeed,
those who are in position TO know are Of the
opinion that the Richmond people will find It
losing work Such a result will be deplored
by the Navy Department, as it is understood
that the Secretary of the Navy is particularly
DESTROYS Of encouraging the Richmond estab-
lshment.
From a military point of view it is highly
important that the Government should be
able 10 call on Southern establishments 70
undertake heavy work The position OF
Richmond with relation TO the sen makes 1t
wellnigh .impregnable. In the event OF war
with a foreign power construction work at
Richmond could be carried on without inter
rupton. The machinery for the Texas Is in
general dimensions very similar to that now
building for the Maine. THERE'S difference,
however, of 400 horse power in favor of the
latter vessel The contract price for the
machinery Of the Texas is over 100000