The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-06-15

would rather have the Baltimore. So it is
possible that later orders will be sent to
have the Baltimore here.
The Baltimore, which is the largest YES
sci in the navy. is much superior to her
sister ship, the Philadelphia. The two
vessels have exactly the same bulls, but
while the Baltimore Is extremely steady in
the water and rolls but very little. the
Philadelphia rolls and pitches good deal.
The difference is caused by the machinery
and its placing. The Philadeiphia's ma
chinery was designed in the United States,
but that of the Baltimore was designed in
England, and $4,000 was paid for the
plans The Baltimore's machinery is
heavier and is placed lower, so that the
center of gravity is low. In the
Philadelphia, on the other hand,
rolling is the result. The steel masts of
the Philadelphia have been replaced by
wooden ones-of Puget Sound fir, by the
way-and the overheavy top has been
somewhat lightened in this way.
The Baltimore has been cruising for
about two years. She started first for
Sweden with the remains of Ericsson, the
inventor of the Monitor, and then she
passed slowly along the coast of Europe,
and finally struck across to South Amer
lea, rounded Cape Horn, and was pres
ent during the Chilean trouble. When she
reached San Francisco she was overhauled.
but she was so admirably constructed that
not single seam could be found that was
strained.
The maintenance of one of these large
cruisers is expensive, for in addition to
the pay for all the men, the other running
expenses are heavy. The Baltimore con-
sumes six tons of coal a day, even when
lying in port. When running at her most
economical rate of speed she uses forty
tons day, and if she is making high
speed, from 100 to $50 tons may be burnt.
Then the bills for oil are large.
When a vessel starts on a cruise her pay
master is given letter of credit, with
which he buys supplies in the various
ports. In foreign port he usually has to
pay high prices for what he gets. The
merchants and tradesmen there will often
form combinations to keep prices up, and
if vessel is ordered in haste and has but
few hours to take on supplies, the COM
bination may be successful. In many ports
there is a tacit understanding among mer-
chants that one shall have the monopoly
of supplying the English naval ves-
sells that touch; another, the
French; another. the American. etc. In
this way the merchants will not interfere
with one another, and if sealed proposals
for supplies are asked for the proposals
will be sent in in due form, but arranged
so that particular merchant shall get the
contract. Against such obstacles as these
the discussing officer of a vessel has to
contend in foreign port. Coal will often
be $l2 or SIS ton, but coal must be had,
and the dealers know their advantage. In
long cruise vessel will spend from
$4,000 to $50, 900 at the principal ports.
The Ranger will probably start in few
days for Sitka, and from there goes to
China. She has on board half a dozen
sheep, which will be put ashore on one of
the Alaska islands. Later the Ranger will
touch there again and get a supply of
fresh meat-an article hard to find in
Alaska. A little black kitten, born the
day the Ranger went into commission
last April, sleeps cuddled up with the
sheep in their pen. She is frolicsome. and
during the day has a fine time playing
with the sheep. They seem to enjoy hav-
ing her lie on their woo!ly backs.
The Rainier Club will give its annual
party probably at the time when the Balti-
more and Charleston are in port, and the
officers will be invited. One or the other
of the vessels will go to Olympia.