Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-06-27
THE NAMES DOCK TRIAL.
Something About the Latest Addition to
Our Nave

Something About the Latest Addition to
Our Navy.
Preparations are now being made at the navy
yard, Brooklyn, for the dock trial Of the battle
ship Maine.
This differs essentially from the usual sea
trials Of speed and Of horse power. 1t is to be
solely a trial Of machinery in a steel ship built
in a navy yard instead Of private yard, al
though the construction Of the machinery was
given out to a private firm. the Quintard iron
works.
The Maine was built in pursuance Of the act
of Congress Of August 8, 1886. which author
lied the construction of two sea-going double
bottomed vessels Of about 5000 tons displace-
ment, designed for a speed of at least sixteen
knots an hour, with engines capable Of forced
draught. and with complete torpedo outfit
and effective armament For the Maine the
government adopted the design of Chief Con-
structor I. D. Wilson. which was based upon
that Of the famous Brazilian armored cruiser
Riachuelo, built in England. and considered
one Of the best vessels Of her size and type then
ahoat
THE DESIGN.
The design was subsequently modified, and
as she exists today tho Maine hns length on
load water line Of 318 feet. a breadth Of 81
feet and mean draught of q u feet, giving her
n displacement Of 6.648 tons. She has twin
screw, vertical, triple-expansion engines Of
1900 maximum indicated horse power, which
are TO give her speed Of seventeen knots an
hour Her armament consists Of four 10-inch
and six 6-inch breech leaders, and q secondary
battery OF twelve six-pounder and six one
FOUNDER rapid-hre guns. with four Gatlings.
The side armor Of the Maine is IL inches thick,
while her two steel barbettes, containing each
two Of the 10-inch guns, are IL inches thick,
with the turrets inches thick.
TtaN Maj, hol ha-1 LA l. i.
were duly invited for the construction Of her
machinery according to the specifications Of
the bureau. These bids were opened March
10. 1889. They proposed high pressure
cylinder of S51s inches, an intermediate Of 81
and low pressure of SO inches in diameter,
with a common stroke of SO inches. The re-
quircd 5000 collective horse power was to be
secured at 1872 revolutions per minute. There
were to be eight single-ended steel boilers of
the horizontal return fire tube type, with 149s
feet outside diameter and 10 feet long. having
a working pressure Of 1875 pounds per square
inch. They were to be placed in two equal
groups in two water-tight Compartments The
total heating surface to be IL, 800 square
feet and the CRATE surface 553 square feet while
the two three bladed propellers were to have q
diameter of Is feet.
The only bid WAS one of s735.OO0, made BY
\. f. Palmer. Jr., Co. of the Quintard iron
works, and this was accepted. The contract
| for the side armor was made with the Bethle-
| hem iron works. The first steel stem was cast
in Pittsburg, but was sprung or warped and q
new one made by the Standard Steel Casting
| Company of Ihurlow. Several changes in her
details have since been made. but her general
| features are rs already noted. She is TO have
| three-masted schooner rig insteed of the barl
rig at first intended. Her armored tops are
protected by circular steel shields. The limit
| of cost fixed by Congress for hull and ma
! chinery $4,000 900, and calculation some
time ago indicated that they might be built fol
50. 4S4. SOB Since the Maine designed
great advances have been made in our armored
vessels, both of the battle ship and cruiser
types. Therefore ii is not likely that her type
will be repeated in our navy. Nevertheless shf
will form an effective source Of reliance in case
of need and fully demonstrate the wisdom o
| her construction.