New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-09-04
WORK AT THE NAVY YARD.
THE SQUADRON OF EVOLUTION.

TESTS OF THE TORPEDO BOAT CCsliINU-Mo'E
MENTs OF VESSELS.
Within the next week there viii be n marked chahse
I'm the naval fleets OF the North Atiahuc' ihe 'q"'
ron ~ Evolution. which has been under the command
% Acting Rear Admiral John G.. Walker LOT 'hree
roars and the North Atlantic squadron, winch mas
been commanded BY Rear Admiral Bancroft "herarui
for more than three years, VIII be meISeu INV ',o
under the command OF Admiral walker for 'ne
next month this united squadron VIII rehhS DC
so,adron of evolution inasmuch as 1t TO take part III
~, ocrommc ~ manoeuvres at the Naval War College
at Newport The squadron will consist OF the Phim-
dephia Chicago Atlanta, Kearsarge, Concord MIMI
tonomoh, Vesuvus and Gushing but VAC N"hooiu
and Kearsarge will not be at Newport for the reason
that both are away other duty, that OF pro'ocuhR
american interests In Venezuela and Honduras pend
ING tho Instructions in both OF those Repubcs Inc
Concord suddenly ordered to Venezueia last week
hecaus. Of the alarming reports from there concern
ing the unwarranted boarding OF the American s.eah'
ship Caracas by General Urdanetas iorces' anu ,ne
seizure of six refugees who had sought pro'eouoh
under the American flag. The kearsargc Is now Ill
the West Indies. having preceded Tue 'o",o'" W
nearly four weeks because OF the alarming SITUATION
=, IN. American citizens in Honduras due to the
Instruction there. .
In connection with the course OF lectures at the
War College 10 be delivered by Passed Assistant En-
g,neer Ira n. Hollis on Engineering and by Naval
constructor David w. Taylor on General Designs OF
War Vessels there be series Of speed trials OF
some of the ships Newport, to secure trustworthy
data for use I'm the future designing OF ships and en-
dnes and In order to obtain the greatest amount OF
Information four vessels Of entirely different types
will be- tried These will be the Chicago. Vesuvius
and the Gushing, and possibly the Philadelphia Inc
runs viii be over the measurcd'miie course ana Ill
the data will be taken with the greatest care ana
accuracy. There will be several runs with eaeh
q
speeds for different horse power revolution re-
corier the invention Of Passed Assistant Engineer
Weaver, and designed TO carry out Engihcerlh-'nie'
Mevtllc's scheme for contractors speed tT1"is' uy
which could be laid down speed curve based on uc
revolutions at various speeds the measured mile.
will be used. II Is believed that with tho dhta thus
obtained a curve can be Ibid down that Will enable
the speed of vessel 10 be accurately estimated there
after by simply ascertaning the number OF rcvohi'
lions which the engines arc making, ana thus the
trouble will be OF computing the tides or winds
or other disturbing clements which must be considered
In trials conducted by other methods.
The various topics upon which papers Will be read
and discussed will be presented BY officers, each OF
whom has proved himself q recognized expert In his
own field The work IS calculated to be means OF
study OF tho several professional branches, with all
the conditions favorable for the broadening OF pro
fessonal knowledge and the elevation Of the profcs-
sional standard Of the large number Of officers who
Hnal trials Of tho dynamite cruiser vegivius to do
,nine the actual capacity Of the dynamite gun. on
movable platform. for which preparations were nearly
completed at the navy Yard, will take place ut New
port the latter part Of the month and the officers OF
the feet and those studying at the War College Will
have tho opportunity 10 witness these trials and to
report upon them.
The torpedo boat Cushing left the YARD Thursday
and went 10 Peconic Bay In the Long Islnnd Sound,
to have series OF tests with the Whitehead torpedo
under the direction Of Commander George A Con
verse, and Lieutenant G. A. bradbury. the torpedo
board. The reason for sending her to Peconic Bay
was because the could not be successfully mnde
ut Bay Ridge. The experimental fnngs recently
made at Bay Ridge showed that the taken by
the projectles erratic. owing TO the strong
rent Then. too the muddy bottom made II difficult
to find the proIcctilcs when they took header, In
asmuch as they buried themselves ont of sight Tho
f. ". Bliss Company. OF South Brooklyn. has con
tract with the Government to furnish 100 Whitehead
torpedoes at cost Of $1,000 each. provided they
are satisfactory. The torpedocs made Of oneeghth
inch thick STEEL and are-cnch eleven feet long and
eighteen inches In diameter, having n capacity OF
cubic feet OF air compressed 10 pressure OF
1880 pounds 10 the square Inch. The two tubes
for testing these torpedoes were recently mounted
about five feet above the water-lne on the Gushing.
at the Navy Yard, and the first test was made on
Thursday. The torpedo is intended to he loaded with
100 pounds OF rin-cotton but at the test Thurs
day the torpedo she'll was weighted with sand Instead
OF an explosive and II left the gunube like a hugo
porpoisc. diving gracefully into the water about
fifteen feet from the vessel and then speeding along
900 feet at "A rate Of - knots hour the
face OF the water. II recovered by the steam
launch, and then brought back for another test.
There are also 10 be Of torpedo netting In
nectlon with the projcctile before the Gushing goes
10 Newport.
The Chicago. the flagship OF Rear Admiral Walker.
lct the Navy Yard yesterday her way to Newport.
The reports published that she hurricdy put In
condition 10 go the West indies had no basis IN
There has been 10 intention TO send her to Venezuela
one thing noticeable In Admiral Walker from the bc.
ginning OF his command OF the squadron OF Evolution
has been that he has swcr"cd from his original
plans II no could avoid II hence the Department could
always depend upon him. Whenever he sets day to
have thing done ship ready for the thing Is
done. When the Chicago went TO tho Yard three
weeks ago the orders thai she ready for
September Q. and everybody understood thnt
September any day thereafter would not be sub
stituted She was ready and she went. She will
reach Newport TO morrow morning. In the meanwhile
the Philadelphia will sail from New London for New
York Monday morning. and will reach here on
Tuesday, and soon aterward Admiral Gherardi win
haul down his flag and rellnquish command Of tho
North Atlantic SQUADRON which he has held for moro
than three and hall years. take charge Of the ar
engagements for the international naval review next
spring AS soon as Admiral Ehciifui leaves the Pa
dclphia Admiral Walker will be- put In command OF
the North Atlantic Squadron
The work OF construction and reconstruction Of war
vessels at the Navy Yard Is being pushed rapidly
circumstances Will permit. but the work has been
unavoidaby delayed through the strikes at Home |
stead and other places In Pennsylvania which checked
the manufacture OF the armorpate The principal |
work that Is beng done Is that Of completing the
big armoIed cruiser Maine, In the dry dock; the |
ttc turreted monitor Puritan, the double I'd
monitor Terror and the 3O0O-ton cruiser Cincinnati |
The launch OF the latter vessel viii take place early
next month. and this 1ill be an Interesting feature
lnlulIln. MIN. |