The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-07-14
TUrTRIALOF THE COLUMBIA.
,our INTERESTING EXPERIMENTS ON
1DIpJE-SCREW PROPULSION.

u,..r.. Crnn.p Contemplate Securing
Exhaustive Data ne TO sue screws nna
~. ship. Performances BEFORE Sending
,I.r over the Oteiai Course for Trial.
pa,,n.tpHrA. July 13-Itis very probable
-. ,hs Msssrs Cramp will conduct some in
ass.,lna experiments in the preliminary
~, a, the triple -scrcw cruiser Columbia. so
W. t,own as tho Pirate" The first trial
al V,,, ho held In about two weeks and there
W. IN .eyeral before tho Official trial is held
"a the actual capabilities OF the ship are
~ II Is altogether probable that these
,rio,s will he secret. SO that In the accumula-
.inn NJ data something definite may not only
y. Harmed as to the exact qualities OF the vos-
al hut also as to the operation OF screws on
vessels .,
Tho Co,um ba Is tho first triplescrew vessel
.,,hs now navy. 1t is one OF the half dozen
,rlnlc. screw vessels OF any size. merchantmen
a. naval. in tho world, and thus far is tho
i.rvost OF thom ALL 1t was thought advisable
% distribute tho enormous horse power Of tho
..ssol IN three shafts instead OF two. BY this
arrangement each shaft will sustain n pro-
railing force OF only 1000 horse power instead
ntlO 800 horse power, as would BIO the case II
IN. twin screw system was used. For cruis-
ING purposes also tho three-screw system. 1t
was thought. would be advantageous. BY using
the single screw at the stern post for ordinary
cruising much wear and tear and much coal
could be saved.
Itisniact that shpbullders have not yet
mastered tho science OF the single screw.
much less the mysteries OF the twin screws or
triple screws What is called the pitch" OF
the screws. or the proper inclination Of the
blades, is q matter OF guess work rather than
NJ exact scientific demons tration. The per-
formunce OF the same screw varies on differ
ant vessels. and exactly why 1t does or what
the mystery Is has never yet been solved The
case Of tho cruiser Baltimore Is one in point
On her first official trip she seemed not to
come UP to requirements. The Messrs. Cramp
changed the pitch OF her propeller blades. md
mn ie' than siC0.UUo for her builders About
three years ago q new screw was lifted to the
rN 10 M vsrnou Il resulted In am
Similar IaH H' screws were lifted to the City Of New
Increasing the speed retarded it.
The Columbia must show speed OF twenty
the required speed she Is to get a premium OF
s50f5OO. and for every Quarter Of KNIT below
@ Of s hi. tho 81
the screws the highest speed will be obtained.
actiy similar conditions to learn this, The ac-
emulation Of this data. too. may help to solve
a hs hnS
Is III. here Cramps ns s SssAo to xa Thy
shs9e w Re y tbs 'posy q
determining Tor their own satisfaction. II they
finally decide to conduct the trials without the
presence OF newspaper, men, whether they
have made success or failure in trip -screw
propulsion before inviting either public praise,
results Of their private trials. hut It is probable
that they may withhold tho details for seien.
a., ~ aatt f.Nrt N.1
vantage in the secret nf building ships.
M results Of the Official trial OF course; the
know all tho details Of the ships psrfornanee
on the official trip It VII remain nj with the
to the way the ship will 10 made to make her
record 1t is th,;rMGht however: that The
public. 1t has always been their policy to give
tothe. public the fullest details whore public
pronatly compile most careful amt exhaustive
data, which win; Of course. be eventually given
for this reason that the coming trial Of the
Columbia will be OF more than usual Interest.
the privilege OF ascertnining to their own salts
faction all the possibilities OF the triple screw
system before giving any opinion as to it's
merits.
commerce destroysr" il the world When
built to catch and PASS her. The Canpanit
was not known then. From the success OF the
Cramps with the New York, it IS safe 10 sly
that It is altogether probable that The Column
bla will make - knots. a knot in excess Of the
requirement.. and far surEass the powers OF
the Paris in speed. II she should equal tho
speed OF the Camp MIA or approach It closely.
h%pn Sr son e % Se saes
assumed hat the Messrs. Cramps will not send
her over the official, course above Cape Ann
until she : groomed to their satisfaction and
ism absolutely perfect condition.
1t was OF the Column Ii0 that Secretary Tracy.
under whose supervision she was planned said:
This rcssel il absolutely without parallel
among the war ships "f the world. Tile COM
lina'On there made unit-s u sufficient arma-
ment with complete protection against light
guns. while mt the same mo the vessel will
lay"n sea. speed and coal endurance hitherto
unknown in ships Of war. No merchant vessel
that she meets. armed or unarmed. can escape
from her"
4 New NAVAL Commander mt New London.
NEW LONDON. July 13.-Commodore Fyffe
this morning turned over the command of the
New London naval station. on the Thames
liver. to his successor, Commodore Samuel
Hslden. md Immediately started for the
thaTlpStown yard, to tho command OF which