New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-12-06
BIG PREMIUMS For SPEED
MORE THAN 100000 EARNED BY SHIP
BUILDERS.
THE CRAMPS HEAD THE LIST WITH eG1o'ooo-
LARGE AMOUNTS FOR OTHER FiHMS-THh
PAYMENTS A GOOD INVESTMENT FOR
THE GOVERNMENT.
fry TELEGRAPH TO TIE TEiBUN-

fry TELEGRAPH TO THE TEiBUN-
v-ashirg,on Dec The remarkable speed OF
the Columbia. 22S knots. her official record anu
the large premium. $4,000. won by her contTac'o'S'
the Cramps for excess OF Is Knots over c"H-
tract requirements direct attention to the subject
Of premiums and penalties paid to or exacted from
builders by the Government In the progress oil re-
facilitating the Navy Secretary Herbert has caused
TO be compiled for us" In his annual report II
statement giving interesting information on this
subject. According TO the statement, premiums
are paid or penalties exacted on account Oh po'h
specd and horse power development OF vessels. Inc
amount OF premiums so far won for excuses III
sneed including that gained by the Columbia. IS
slOiOo0o The sums won by the several contractors
are: The Cramps stO.c0O; Columbia Iron Works,
$4,000; Union Iron Works. 100000: Bath iron
Works $4,000 and Moore Sons & CO.. Sbw"'
Should the olympia as now seems probabIe' make
n record Of % knots. two knots more than her
contract calls for the Union Iron Works would
receive a further Of 100000 the largest single
premium 50 far won by any firm Of builders
TO the Castne belongs the distinction OF nav
ing made the greatest excess Of speed Her score
is GO knots over contract stipulation. The Machlas
ranks next with record OF &c knots. Following
in the order OF premium scores are the Bancroft
9S7 knots Detroit. LII knots; New-York, knot;
Phladephia .Gs knot. and san Francisco. ~ knot.
The amounts OF money won by the contractors
varied according to the rewards specified In the
laws authorizing the construction or the seVeral
ships and the terms OF their contracts. Rewards
for speed excuses were greater FOR the larger
more important vessels Although the perform
ances Of the Castine ana Machias. gunboats Of
only lc50 tons displacement, put them at the Top
Of the list OF the ships which have exceeded speed
requirements. their builders only received *"ow
and $4,000 respectively. on the results. Inc
amounts won by other ships were: The Newly ork
500 600: Detroit $4,000. San Francisco Slv"o'
Philadelphia. 10000. Bancroft N5.Wo The N"suvi-
us EXCEEDED requirements for speed by 10y KNOTS,
but the contract for her construction pfoVided LOT
In no case has any one Of the new ships failed
,Hereforc' been cxactcd from builders for failures
in this dlrectos. The requirements IN the cases OF
twelve Of the new ships called Tor sbtcinc nor ~.
power 10 bc developed without providing FOR any
particular Sped aacr ms h'a and asnni,I
in the sum OF s67.Os2 exacted The cramps h"ye re-
feEed % Si iaf c e Th psnn h have been
been paid by the Union Iron Works ana the Coiuh-
~ The names Of tho vessels which have exceeded
horse-powcr requirements with the amounts OF
29s -: Baltimore. l.@i42: Newark '|soa; ooncoru,
SO and Bennington. 500 The money value OF
Baltimore slo ~: the Newark. s3G ST. the Concord
1853 and the Bennington. 500 The vessels Mhlch
,ogcther with the amounts Of deficiencies and the
penalties forfeited. Were: The Dolphin. g. no
s ssssss '''" r'''gi' 'N w. anu "' ." ,'
In
az the Navy Department contains interesting ht'a
concerning the amount OF steam pr"ssur" carrier
In Tho hoilers Of the new vessels during their oHcaI
trial trims also expert testimony relating 70 ue
effects thereof the speed OF th~ snip ana w. III
~ the engines only nvr vessels have registered
rress,lres in excess 81 the amount which they w"r'
designed 10 carry. The names OF the shipS ana me
ouantlfv Of oxcess are: Cas,ne. pound; MachihS'
nnrnds. Bancroft. : pounds. Detroit 10 pounds
and New York. y pounds. ,,,A,.,
In the opinion of chief Constructor Iichborn
and Engineer-in-I 'hIcf Melville, whose remarks
1ccornpaiy the departments statement no ihJu'y
-, no ufs Of IN. engines other damage resulted
frorn carving increased steam pressure ms,
nicer say that the ships boilers were hcslth.u
win large factor OF safety. ana that previous !"
rial they wer, subjected 10 prcssurrS OF :" p,uniS
10 the square inch. In the case OF me Nv~ tn
Tho steam was thrOttled AZ the engine. WIN tno
T,efroit the increased pressure was necessary III
rd.r that the engines might Work on all steam 'n'
Roller would furnish. The officers mehtloh'n 40
M, believe that the practice OF carrying an eAcess
~ s,egm pressure has resulted In an increas" Oh
ercod of the vessels A. matter OF TACT. they say
,bat premiums are paid on the basis OF St"tn'
,reee,,re which the ships were designed 10 carry
Iiberalty to contractors In ms dlf"cuon - d
Gin In the Government they think as contractors
,,ith the nope OF securing large premiums loI III
creased speed. submit lower proposals III plu'i"b
for the construction OF vessels