The morning call., 1892-08-29
FROM MARE ISLAND.
Work Being Pushed on the MOni-
tor MOnadnOck.
A Quser-Looking Boiler-The Repairs to the
Charleston Nearly oomplsted-The Bal
timors to Go On the Dock.
Correspondence of TIE MORNING CALL

Correspondence OF TIE MORNING CALL
VALLEJO, Aug. 28.-Each day shows
rapid advancement in the work of COM
pleting the MonadnOck. In the construction
shop the machines are kept busily engaged
on various parts of the work. The trucks
for the big guns are being planed down and
the fittings for the dead lights are receiving
the necessary machinery TO make themcom.
pletc. The military mast and top are near
ing Icompletion and the smokestack now
under course of construction is nearly
finished.
IN the steam engineering shop is a queer
looking boiler being constructed fer a steam
launch belonging 10 the receiving ship H.
dependence. 1t is a box-like affair, the
opposite sides Of which slope both ways
from the eenler Tubes are set in the Inside
of this boX, one end entering the inner sheet
below the &c nter Of the side and extending
in an angle 10 the opposite side above the
center BY this arrangement the inside of
this QueeT-lo0king boiler is filed with tubes
crossing each other, one end OF which 10
filled with the cooler water aud exposed to
the most Intense heat from the fire. while
the other end is farther from the FIRE, but
contains The hot water and steam. ADOys
the tubes is a horizontal steam drum ex-
tending the length Of The boiler, and around
this Tie heat not already abs rbed must
pass on its way to the smokestack. This
style of boiler, while expensive in its con-
structlon, Is a rapid steamer and quite light
in comparison with the common form cir-
cular boiler. 1t is known as tie Town
boiler, and was designed by a naval eDgi-
neer OF that name. When placed In the
launch II is confidently expected that it will
prove the fastest boat of its kind that has
been seen at the yard.
HE Charleston is still dopE
bottom has been thoroughly cleaned, and
already two coats OF lead has been put on
with two more TO follow, which, when
hnished. Will make her almost as smooth as
glass. The tail or propeller shaft has been
disconnected and drawn OutbOaTd a dis
tance OF 20 feet or more aud its bearings
found TO be In excellent condition, showing
cUnclusiyely that the shaft is strong enough
10 stand more abuse than can be transmitted
from the pTopellers, the blades OF which, as
heretofore stated, were badly bent. Lying
Oh the ground near the cruiser are several
great piles Of old boileT-tubes that, owing
TO their useless condition, have been taken
out, and the work Of retubing the boilers
strengthening the smokepipe, etc, is being
pushed along as rapidly can be done. A
large force OF men OF different trades is at
work upon her. AS soon as she is ready TO
come out of dock the Baltimore will be
taken In Tor the purpose of having her
bottom scraped and painted. In accordance
with regulations this has TO be DONE If pos
sible. every SIX months. 1t is good for the
employees at the yard that the ships come
In as often as they do, otherwise work
would be very scarce, as but little outside
of the MonadnOck is being done. OF the
$50 odd men employed at the yard fully zoo
are at work on the monitor If the money
holds out she will for some time yet stiI
continue to employ great many men.
When the Baltimore goes into the dock
she will hll IL pretty well, though nothing
compared TO what 1t will be in case one of
the large battle-ships goes in. The stone
dock at tue Mare Island yard and the tir-
Der dock now being constructed at the
coaling station at Port Royal, South Caro-
lima, are the only two in the United States
that will admit the largest battle-ships at
the aximum draft. The proposed dock at
Port Orchard. for which new proposals Ito
be opened next month"; are asked, will be
large enough 10 admit OF the largest ships,
it being over 600 feet in length. The total
length Of the granite dock on the floor is
459 feet and the width of the floor so feet
During the last warm spell il was almost
suffocatiDg to be down In the bottom OF the
dock, and the men at work there at times
were nearly overcome with the heat
When the Baltimore was here a few months
ago considerable work was done upon her
and done rapidly, wOTkmen being employed
night and day upon her machinery, etc. All
of the work done at that time has stood
well and given entire satisfaction except
the white metal In the piston shoes of the
main engine. The office OF the shoes Is 10
carry the weight of the pistons and take
wear that would otherwise fail upon the
plstons proper. These shoes are made ad-
Unstable. so that when worn, allowing the
piston to travel below its proper position or
center, II can be adjusted and the piston
raised TO Its proper position again. Piston
shoes are made in different forms and of
different materials according to the judg-
ment of the designers. On the Baltimore
these shoes are OF cast-irOn, having pockets
cast on Its surface into which anti friction
white metal is cast and hammered until il Is
firmly fixed In place, when il is turned to
ht The cylinder. 1t has been found difficult
10 get metal that will stand successfully
the combined forces Of friction aud heat.
The metal put in The shoes was supposed to
be the very best for the purpose. but it has
proved very unsatisfactory and will have 10
be replaced by fresh metal of another
brand. This, together with slight repairs
10 The steam-launch machinery and berth.
deck blower engines, is all the work the
machlnists at the yard will be required to
do. This of itself speaks volumes of praise
for the character OF the external repe rs
made TO the Baltimore when here.
Each OF the ships In port requires n gGod
quality and large quantity Of provisions To
60 round. The meats are supposed TO bs of
the best. The officers are very strict in Ihis
particular, consequently the crews are veil
fed and contented.
The San Francisco Is expected 10 be she
next ship to arrive. She will probably. be
here for some time A force of sailmskers
In the equipment loft here at work on some
OF her canvas fittings.
Commodore j. r. Bartlett, u. S. N, cal ed
at the island the fore part Of the week, bav-
ing just arrived from Yokohama aud on his
way 10 Washington.
The fittings on board the tug Ivy have all
Deen taken on shore and carefully stoyed
away. She will be hauled in the stream be.
fore long and laid up in rotten row.
Quite large number of visitors from the
upper part OF the county visited the yard
Saturday and were agreeably entertained.
To many IL was their first visit on board of
modern vessel. All seemed to be con-
vinced from the extensive plants at the yard
that 1t was fully equipped for the building
OF new ships equal 10 none, and expressed
their hopes that ship could be ordered
built here, This opinion is Of course the
wish OF ali people residing in Vallejo. as
when times are good at the yard the Visible
effect is soou felt by our merchants and res
idents In general.