The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-07-10
THE MONTEREY.
Why the Trial Trip of The Ship
Has Been Delayed.
Progress on Cruiser No. 6 and the Oregon
and How 1t May Be Delayed If the
Armor Plates Do Not Arrive.

Through the courtesy of Robert w. Steele,
naval constructor, United States Navy,
now stationed at the Union Iron Works. a
reporter was permitted, under his super
vision, to make an inspection of the present
condition of the vessels being built for the
United States Navy AT the works. Besides
the coast defense iron-clad Monterey. there
is the protected cruiser known AS Ne. 6 and
the battle-ship Oregon. of 1900 and 10, 800
tons spectively. The Monterey is, of
course, the most advanced, and a recent re-
port was 10 the effect that in six weeks she
would De ready for trial trip, but this re-
port was evidently based on erroneous ln-
formation, and from present appearances it
will be at least as many months before that
contingency is likely 10 occur. One reason
for this delay has been owing to the change
made by the Bureau OF Ordnance of the
United States, doing away entirely with
the slOping turrets, which were first de-
eided upon, and replacing with vertical
ones. The cone turrets were decided upon
on the suggestion of the Bureau of Con-
struction, but the Bureau of Ordnance
finally prevailed, giving for reason that
the conlcal tuTTets would not afford room
for the working of the great guns which are
to be placed in them. hence the vertical tur-
rets were finally adopted. This important
change neccesSitated delay in the furnish
ing of the protecting plates for the tuTrets,
which are being made at the Carnegie
works, and upon which progress has ceased
on account of the trouble there.
THE BELT PLATES
II is also unfortunate that one OF the
belt plates, aud the LAST, is ready for
shipment at Homestead. Pa. but is de-
1aved, ana it Is uncertain when IL will
reach the ship. These belt plates ale
enormous masses of steel. feet lcug
and ID inches thick. They cover the entire
circumference of the Monterey, and have 10
be very carefully fitted before putting them
into place. The method OF boiling these
belt plates is an interesting one, ana was
carefully demonstrated by Mr.. Steele. Each
one is secured To the side of the ship by IS
bolts A hole. the same in diameter as the
bolt, Is bored into the plate, and thread to
ft L corresponding one on the bolt is care
fully formed. The bolt is then screwed
into the plate. and precautions must be OBJ
served TO keep il free from the entrance of
moisture. A rubber washer is inserted,
and then steel sleeve is drawn on over the
bolt at the outer end OF which an iron
washer, covered by another rubber one is
affixed, and against which is the Cuttr nut
which is screwed tight and when all is
done nothing on earth except the shot from
a l00-ton gun can loosen il. In a YES
air, light and ventilation rust neces-
sarlly come from above, and 10 Sc
cure these the deck is provided with
dozens of grated deck holes which In
the event Of au action can be closed bv iron
plates. In such an emergency artificial VEN
tilaton is provided for and is secured by
mechanical devices operated by particular
engines. The arrangement and operation
Of tie 80 compartments constructed be-
tween the outer aud nuer hulls of the Mon
| terey seems perfectly simple when demon
strated by Mr.. Steele. Nothing but an extra
| ordinary eventually could sink her.
THE COMING TOWER.
The means of the protection of the con-
| ming tower and the apparatus for the gen.
! eral management of the vessel was also
! shown, as well as the ingenious apparatus
! for shutting down the plates protecting the
| matches and for steering.
| The ordnance for the Monterey is siili iu-
| comDlete. Only one of The two great turrei-
! guns has been received, and whether the re-
MANI one is on the way OF not is not
! known.
| Greater progress has been made upon the
| protected cruiser No. 6 than upon the bat
! tle-ship. The protected deck of the cruiser
has been laid and wOrkmen are placing in
position the great stern-post- Rapid pro 2
| ress IS also being n ade in plating the hull.
! On the Oregon hund redS of men are hard al
| work, but the result seems only 10
have reached the preliminary stage. In
the event OF long continuance of the Car
| Degle Lockout. WORK on the Oregon is likely
| to be seriously delayed, owing to the diff
Guilty of procuring the plates for protectin 2
| the hull.
Mr.. Steele pays a high compliment TO the
! Paclnc Coast when he states thar mo steel
| made at any works in the United States
equals or hardly approaches in quality that
| produced by the Pacific Rolling Mills at
| Potrero. During the molders' strike in this
city, he said. the Union Iron Works were
| compelled 10 order the stem and stem posts
| from Midvale, Pa, as the local works could
| not undertake them on account of a lack OF
hands. The Mldvale could not, as the Pa
| chic could have done, cast these immense
| blocks of steel in one piece, but had TO
divide each of them. All Of the posts have
| arrived. and contain many minor imperfec-
tlons, which would not have been the case
| had they been made here"
The engines Of cruiser No. are now In a
nearly CONT leted state aud are being set up
| at the works.