The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-05-28

Its Advantages aud Drawbacks, and the
Current Movement In Its Favor.

Its Advantages aud Draw backs, and tho
Current Movement In Its Favor.
WASHINGTON. May 27.-It seems probable
that Secretary Herbert will signalize his en-
trance Upon new construction for the navy by
the introduction OF sheathIng in at least two
OF the three new gunboats authorized by the
last Congress-. Tho plans for these vessels
were substantially drawn up under Secretary
Tracy. and will require little alteration. They
are to have q displacement OF about 200 tons
and a speed Of perhaps seventeen knots. and
are to be constructed with special reference to
river service on tho Asiatic and South Amer-
lean stations. 1t has therefore occurred to the
bureau officers specially concerned In their
plans that they would furnish a good type for
an experiment In departing from the system
hitherto invariably adopted OF constructing
our new vessels without sheathing. They
propose. 1t Is understood. that two OF the
three should be composite vessels.
The question rs TO the relative merits OF
sheathed and unsheathsd hulls has been dis
cussed in our navy for the last ten years. or
ever since the new ships were begun. Chief
Constructor Wilson and Naval Constructor
Hichborn have always been strong advocates
Of sheathing. and they have presented many
but the actual. practice. as has been said. Is
thus lar the other way.
- - W 80 -
from iiabllity to rust. stee'hplls are sp%ecially
S Sssidss tho he f Tastlns Of y th ssop piases s1 tsrnpe sss
that have thus been eaten into. 4 fsw weeks
was that which was. presented Lyu the Atlanta
SaS nos been on e. .1s ! ~. el e.,Ds;d ma nsd i:' 5ss
knots on a345 horse power. while the latter.
with similar dlp.nsion. and Imsshinsry:
diff.rs;nss being that she Was aG"wed to 60 on
n$ Th ss' ias s,1@sst q 7 Ri. sort are srs" Ssr1 nu%
thst Of tn, baiti@orre. IN, her Day our crack
ff rom S:;v w Rolf e %f sw. e ,sme anoiher s sss. W Tas
that Of the Charleston; reck9ned an is-knot
sea speed should have been ~ " forced. and
~ ~ or u with economical, coal consumption.
and barnacles on her hull. The ,Doiphin;
plates badly pitsed In some places. although.
she had been hseled over and painted with red
, Mas,S st tins H.. dIElnF hcr soSss: around monn tss
pl4ts sss wors scf anis. 81 h.l "a an ' ih%ahi i tSiok Il It M mss
fh%sfs SUCH ! ' q s9osth m u ssrna Afa,s and de osh es. .aS-
stances on her. two years ago; that a speclmsn
Z, sSs p%-p wSs ssaen Fl The A Isat. aor wSiss as eS IN:
panied II stated that . years service, along, the
coast oflower California had covered the hull
with q layer from two to three inches thick;
De seen. therefore, mat the unsneatned
null Is liable not only to serious erosion put to
kick % sps.d i io an . sGGr'11Ihf! s a fact 'i IS 50 S wsil
Understood that Secretary Tracy laid down
stringent rules In regard to docking. cleaning,
ana painting such vessels. declaring that this
must DO done at least once In six months, II
But why. then. should not the vessels be
sheathed in the first insthnce2 The answer
Is that the shcathing Is 30 much ADDITIONAL
exnense; secondly. It is so much addltional
10 secure The same amount OF speed ~ ordi.
nary cruising: thirdly. the g~alvRnic action OF
tns copper mas sometimes been louhu 10 de-
stroy, IN: bolts. particularly where there arc
double layers OF sheathing.
But y 10 answered with great force that II
corroslon and marine g.owths bring down
the speed OF vessels SO rapidly after onlya
lew months Of service. the whole argument In
favor OF higher speed. and also OF diminished
expense. must vanish. The great aim nowis
II not high speed. and this is, bafiled by the
fouling OF the hulls. Again, the original sx:
psnse OF putting on q sheathing OF wood and
copper 10 Offset by a saving In the expenses OF
without the shsathihg. FinsIly., tho coal bill
becomes serious In attempting to drive a ship
whose hull Is net clean at q high rate Of speed.
On the whole. therefore. 1t Is likely that at
AZ least two OF the three new gunboats. will be
sheashsd vessels. or else Of . composite con;
with wood planking and sheathed With cop
Per. The fact that many foreign, nations now
resort to shsAthinR To- considered q suficient
proof that ths gaiv1niS actlon spoken Of can