The morning call., 1892-12-28
KNOTS.
The rIonterey Attains That
Speed Easily.
NOT HALF TRYING, EITHER.
An Official Trial rlay Be Made Any
Day - Figures as to Her
Accomplishments.

The coast-defense vessel Monterey has
received another unofficial test, and the
result is complete and satisfactory per-
formance.
Only few Of the gentlemen constituting
the official trial board were present, but
they were highly pleased at the result
and expressed great confidence that the
Monterey would not only prove equ;d to
the trying tests in store for her on the Off
ciaI trips, but would measurably exceed
them.
The course sailed over yesterday was the
one originally mapped out-from Hunters
Point to Red Rock and back. On starting
the propeller was gauged at 60 revolutions,
which speed was gradually increased to
100, at which rate she steamed for number
Of hours
A careful inspection was kept up by the
officers aboard for heated bearings or de-
fects in the machinery.
No defects OF any material character
showed themselves, and the speed was
gradually increased until the maximum of
157 revolutions was reached and speed of
ii knots an hour attained. On the last trial
prior TO this one the revolutions of the pro-
peller reached 130 and the speed 1874 knots
(estimated). but even at the increased speed
Of yesterday the engines and machinery
seemed to set with as much smoOthness,
and with even greater effectiveness. than
ever before.
With the propeller revolving al 157 revo-
lutlOns the wave at the bow arose fully four
feet above the deck. but the water thus
taken aboard all disappeared at distance
OF less than twenty-five feet from the bow,
and no water ever reached the forward tur-
ret. To persons familiar with the power
required to drive such a vessel as the Mon
terey. whose deck is only two and half
feet higher than the wateT-line, such a wave
Is not an unexpected contingency. In the
construction of the vessel such condition
was anticipated and provided for, and even
under circumstances where the deck Will be
lowered by opening the 200 compart tments
In the hull and filling them with water to
within eighteen inches of the water-line, al
In case of active warfare, the flooding of the
deck will have no effect upon the interior
Dor cause any discomfort to the crew, who
may be below.
Mondays trial was devoted also to more
careful adjustment Of the steering appa-
ratus. The plugs in the hawse pipes were
more tightly secured. and hardly a drop
found its way through this source into the
hull.
The men at the wheel were instructed in
their duties and under the careful oversight
Of the officers found that but little effort
was necessary in order to effect change in
the position Of the rudder by which the
great marine monster is directed.
10 the respect OF mlndng her rudder the
Monterey is practically great success.
The principal interest among the officers
on the trial trip Monday was the speed
made by the propeller. 1t reached 157
without strainng the machinery, as far as
ascertalned, in the least. The Monterey
must attain, according to contract horse
power OF 5400 How nearly she accom-
plished this is shown by an estimate that
had her propeller attained speed Of 160
revolutions she would have reached the
maximum of horsepower required by the
contract. As it is, the result assures the
contractors that they have nothing to fear
from failure TO comply with contract
needs, but have q reasonable certainty that
they will be considerably exceeded.
With the ease with which 157 revolutions
Of the propeller were made on Monday il is
thought that under favorable conditions on
the official trip the propeller can be driven
TO speed Of 10 TO 176 revolutions per
minute, and in this event the contractors
will receive large premium On the original
price of the vessel.
AT ITO revolutions the horsepower de-
velOped should be OLA. or an excess of 3I4
over requirements. In this case the con-
tractors would receive a bonus of S31, 400
or in case OF 10 revolutions the excess of
horsepower would reach 540 which would
net the contractors $4,000 over the original
price.
This determination of the horse-powe
developed by the engines is the result Of
highly intricate mathematical calculations
-
from the New York Navy-yard, where they
have been carefully tested, to the local
board of the Monterey. Every one of these
cards is calculated by two officers, and il a
difference of even .02 pounds pressure results
the computations have all to be made over
again.
The most extreme care and worry is In
volved, and 1t will take two weeks at least
before the true result can be reached. Then
these indicator cards have to be sent to
Washington, where all the computations
have to be repeated. The result must be
attained TO exact nicely, and no pro-
vision for errors is allowed.
The exact day when the official trip will
be made is still undetermined. 1t may come
at any time, and depends entirely upon the
Voition of the contractors. When they are
ready the official trip will begin.
Yesterday was too iDclement ana foggy
and al adjournment was made until to-day.
An order has been received from the
naval department at Washington to provide
the Monterey with wooden turrets, which
are to be replaced as soon as those to be sent
from the Homestead works are received.
This arrangement is done for the proiec-
ton of the vessel from inclement weather
on high seas in Gaze of a voyage abroad.
A 30-feot steam cutter has also been or
dered for the Monterey, in place of smaller
one as first decided upOn