New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-04-30
THE PRACTICE CRUISER BANCROFT.


THE PRACTICE CRUISER BANCROFT.
advised by the Secretary of the Navy that the practice
cruiser building by us will be named the Bancroft
This vessel will TO q certain extent revoutionze the
education of the embryo admirals at Annapolis. The
first official recommendation for a Naval Academy was
made by Secretary Jones, under President Madison
ir report to the senate in November. 1914 n
similar recommendation made by successive Sec
retarfes but failure to have been the fate of
every effort TO secure the passage, directly, OF an
act establishing the naval school. 1t was reser7ed
finally for Secretary Bancroft DEVISE In 1643. an
economical and successful scheme for the organlza-
ton OF the desired institution. lie was enabled to
carry out his scheme by the transfer by the War De
parment, of Fort severn for school 10" nid'
shlpmcn, and he detailed Commander Franklin
Buchanan, who WIS dismissed for dcsertng ara JON
ing The Confederate service in 1861 and commanded
the ram Virginia {Mcrrlmac) in her fight with the
Monitor at Hampton Roads, as the first superintendent
1t WIS these facts in their minds that caused the
general desire Oh the part of officers OF tn Navy th
the practice cruiser should be named In honor OF George
Bancroft
Naval Constructor Phillp IIichborn, who recently
inspected the vessel SAYS that she is in excellent con
dtion and will be valuable addition 10 the Navy
she will be not only servccabe as training ship for
the Naval cadets but she VIII be equipped for general
service, with guns and torpedo tubes. FROM
the earliest days Of the Naval Academy the idea has
been train the young cadets on board ship in sea
manshp and gunnery but time has mad3 50 complete
a revolution in weapons aud the ships to nght
them especially in the great transformation from sail
10 steam power that the training Of the future will
be an entirely different thing from the training which
the present and past officers Of the line received This
vessel will give tie cadets opportunity TO learn the
duties aboard q modern ship Of war, and VIII always
be ready for active service shonld the emergency
arise. Instead of being expected TO lay aft and man
the braces to jump aoft with all hands TO reef
and howl nuli ~ Chi efn
the principle training viii be how to handle the ship
at sea under steam, TO manage the monster breech-
loading and revolving guns, and to manipulate the
Intricate mechanism Of the steam steering gesr and
other mechanism which controls the modern man-Of-
war.
The completion OF the practice cruiser means the
casting aside of the historical old sailing war vessel
Constellation, which vessel has been employed many
years the practice cruises This Is the sad fact
In the substitution Of a modern vessel for ship Of
the old Navy. But the Bancroft will not be ready
for service before next year the faithful old Constela
ton Will 20 on the cruise this with the cadets
A feature Of the coming cruise will be test Of
carrier pigeon service. The birds will be sent home
from various point the cruise along the North
Atlantic coast, each one bearing message to the Navy
Department.
Tho act OF Congress authorizing the construction
of tho practice cruiser approved September Z,
1888, but 1t not until July Is, 1890 that the
contract was awarded 10 Samuel l.. Moore a sons co.
except the armament The delay in giving the con-
tract was no fault OF the Navy Department Secretary
Whitney recognized that the vessel would have 10 be
built after he should retire from Office and c0urcOusy
left the completion OF the plans and drawings 90 his
successor. Secretary Tracy. When the plans were
completed, the advertisements published. and
the bids for her construction were opened mt the
Navy Department January D. 1890. The limit Of
OF this vessel fixed by Congress at 100000,
and the Elizabeth frrd alone bid for her construction.
It's bid not accepted because the company did not
then have, and could not show that ii would have
within three months from the date Of the contract the
plant necessary for the construction OF war vessels, this
condition being required by the act OF authorization.
Other advertisements were issued April >, 1890,
and the proposals were opened On June TO- The
Moore firm again put in a bid Of $25o0Oo, and the
only OtieT blu Was that Oi f. W. Wheeler ~ Co., of
West Bay City, Men, the heures being s24jOOO.,
This brought up question winch may lead 10 NOV
abrogauon of treaty made with England In 1sI7
with regard 10 the building and maintenance OF
vessels ON the lakes. After citing the number and
lakes, the treaty reads: All other armed vessels on
o issg ve small small IN b S or ed ana no
because OF this provision that the matter Of the bid
10 construct Tie practice cruiser WAS cnsdcgcd in
portant enough 10 ons before Cabinet meeting, with
the result, as stated ~ secretary IHcy's report, as
Mich, were the bwcst bidders, but the Department
could not under existing treaty slpulstona, award
ioe,ea' ''' '''1 ''''' p''p''"' "'' ''''''o'0 r.
ING pant oi inc fhZhUeth nfm was then again
the Navy Department became satisfied that the
plant had been extended and improved that the
bidders would be- able 10 build the vessel a con
tract was therefore signed on July Is 1880, for tho
construction Of the cruiser.
lire principal dimensions Of the Bancroft
Length Oh watcr-ne Isl IL feet breadth Of beam,
81 feet mean draught Of water, IL IL feet dlspace-
ment at cruising tam, s3S ions maximum Indicated
horsepower l,3OO; speed In knots, hour, H.
The liz Is that OF barkennc the Of plain sail
being about 800 square feet with centre OF effort
about foot forward OF the OF the length.
of fha critic ifxs, rt.I
cylinder. dhcct-acting. tipieeNpansiOn type
rights and let's and will be placed In common
wates tight compartment. There are also two
straight-way fire tubular boilers placed In IA common
OF the twin-screw type, which, next TO the triple
screw system that Is yet 10 be demonstrated. is the
best known. The coal supply at normal draft is 40
tons but the vessel has a bunker capacity Of 200
speeds with 40 tons OF coal are AZ 10 knOs
an hour Tor five days Steainimg 1850 tnOts: at 10
Knots hour (ten days steaming). 2.400 knots: at
knots an hour twenty days stcamlngj, 3S5O knds.
The armament VIII consist OF -four finch breech-
leading rapid firing guns mounted IN projecting spon-
sons. so as 70 give them an extended arc Of
carriage 70 protect The guns crew. as well as the
mechanism Of the gun and carriage. from machine
gun fire. and secondary bnttcry Of two G-pOundcr.
two 3-pouDder, and one lpoundcr rapid firing guns;
gun, all having the ordinary shield protection Tho
vessel mas two ab0yc-Nacr training torpedo launch
ing-tubcs. being fixed In the stern. and the other
mounted training carriage on the star6Oarl
provided and besides these tnbcs there will
be q complete outfit OF boatsrar torpedo gear
and charges. The vessel will BE- fitted with
q steam windiass and steam steaffng gear. and
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