The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-10-25
IF 1T BLEW GREAT GUNS.
The Great Gums Of the ldaehias
H a.,
Might Make Her Unsafe,
THE SHIP HERSELF is STAUNCH
AND SOUND.

Navy Yard Gossip Concerning the New
Gunboat-she VIII Be All Right When
Her Top Hamper Is Reduced and the
Government Will Be Able to Avoid
Repetition of the Mistakes When the
Castine Is Fitted Up.
| Portsmouth, October "a. -"You can not
take small ship like the Machias and
make a New York of her, said an officer
attached to the Portsmouth navy yard.
This reply was made in answer to a
question as to the stability and sea-going
qualities of the United States steamship
Machias, of which so much has been
said within a few days. Tt is well
known fact that the officials at the yard
reported to the navy department their
misgivings as to the new vessel, and
draughtsman George Jackson, who is
well experienced in matters pertaining to
naval vessels, was ordered to report to
the commandant of the yard. On his
arrival here he found orders to have the
ship inclined and rolled. This was done,
and the result was far from satisfactory
to those who had the matter in charge.
Her metacentric hight was found to be
considerably below what is considered
good measurement for seagoing vessel,
although it has been stated that the
vessel possesses good stability. The re-
suit OF the metacentric hight measure
ment has not been made public, but it
was learned this morning from reliable
sources that in this case it was as low
as six inches. In order to make the
vessel thorough seagoing vessel her
metacentric height should be at least
twelve inches more, and this is claimed
can be easily accomplished by making
changes in the carft
1t is admitted by all that the vessel is
stanchly built, Of a good model and
easily handled. But on the other hand
the vessel, which is 1000 ton gunboat,
carries battery of eight four-inch rapid
firing guns, four six-pounders and two
one.-pounder rapid firing guns and ten
gatlings. The battery of the Machias
has been spoken of as being the pride of
the smaller craft of the new navy, but
it is said in naval circles that more has
been crowded into the little craft than
she can comfortably stand up under and
render her safe to cross the ocean. In
addition to the heavy firing battery there
are heavy steel plated shields that cover
the guns for the protection of the gum
ners. These shields are said to weigh
nearly three times as much as the COM
bined weight of the battery, and add
greatly to the topheaviness of the craft.
In addition to the heavy battery and
shields the Machias carries steam lunch
which weighs four or five tons, and her
present heavy spars. The vessel draws
only twelve feet of water, and it is
thought that the launch is unnecessary
for SO small a craft
The report as to the sea-going qualities
of the Machias was finished this morning
and turned over to Constructor Hoover,
U. S. N, and he will have it forwarded
to Washington today.
Those knowing the vessels build state
that since the vessel arrived at this yard
changes that have amounted to $1,000 or
$4,000 have been made. The protective
decks afford great deal of storage room
that is not used.
. The general opinion prevailing at the
yard is that when the changes are made,
with possibly the placing of the water
tanks which are now on line with the
protective deck, lower in the vessel the
vessel will possess satisfactory sea-going
qualities
That the board of survey will make a
thorough investigation is believed by
those at the yard as the Castine, the
sister ship of the Machias, is expected
here daily to be fitted out and go into
commission, and it is thought that the
department will be greatly guided
in the fitting out of the Castine by the
result of the survey of the Machias.