The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-11-15


the course is considered it is unsurpassed
by the navies of the world.
Edwin Cramp was jubiiant when an
Associated Press reporter greeted him.
Said he: 1.-THE Colrmbia has far exceeded
my expectations. She proved herself a
marvel. I am delighted at the manner in
which she reeIed off the knots. and espe-
cialIy with ber performance under natural
draught. There was not a hitch in the
entire proceedings, and the engines are
will do as well if not trifle better on the
official trial."
Quite as unique and remarkable as the
New York, though in different way. is
the great cruiser Columbia, better known
as the Pirate. The New York, it will be
remem bered, developed an astonishing
peed.
The Columbia was built by the same
firm which has produced the New York
and many other of the biggest vessels of
the new navy-William Cramp & Sons Of
Philadelphia. She is lighter ship than
the New York-longer, narrower and not
so heavily armed or armored. In fact, her
only protector is curved steel deck COW
erng The magazines and machinery, and
eteel shields about the guns.
The New York is fighting ship. the
Columbia q commerce destroyer. That is
the distinction between them, and yet in
an emergency the Columbia would be able
TO do some pretty lively fighting lon her
own account.
In length the Columbia is full 400 feet
the longest vessel yet built or designed for
the United States navy. Her breadth is
5S feet, normal draught %. and displace-
ment 74O0 tons, or some 700 tons less than
the New York. The speed of the Colum ba
was expected to be. and has proven to be.
extraordinary. Under the terms of the
contract her sustained sea speed was to
have been q knots, or fully equal to that
of the best Atlantic liners. and she was
contracted to have a maximum speed of %
knots for a short distance. She has full
filed these requirements in her preliminary
trial. and she is therefore the fastest war
ship of any nation afloat.
Not only is the Columbia fast ship. but
she is to be capable of keeping up her high
speed for a long time. Her normal coal
capacity is 750 tons. but her bunkers can
stow 1000 tons. which, at ten knots per
hour. would enable her TO keep the sea for
109 days continuously. to steam 26,240
miles, or, in other words, to go around the
world with out recoalfng. This is the most
remarkable ''coal endurance" as naval
officers call it. ever given to man-of-war.
The indicated horsepower of the Colum-
bias engines is 10000 at sustained speed
of q knots an hour, or %, 600 at the maxi
mum.
A unique feature of this vessel Is her
three propellers-the first instance Of the
application of the triple-screw principle in
America. France and Germany already
havs half a dozen vessels thus equipped,
so that the plan is no untried experiment.
One of the COlumbia's screws is placed
mat before the rudderpost. in the usual
position in the siDgle-screw steamers. The
two others are each side of it and little
fnrther forward, Ia the customary location
in twin-screw vessels.
The advantages of this Arrangement are
numerous. In the first place somewhat
greater speed, it Is believed, can be
secured from three screws than from two.
Then the strain on the shafts Is better
distributed when there are three screws
than when there are two, and they are
less liable to be broken. II twin screws
were used, over 10000 horsepower would
pass through each shaft. but in the Col
umbia each shaft transmits only about
$3.50. and the vessel has one more chance
in case of breakdown. Each OF the
shafts can be disconnected. so that the
Columbia can be run with one screw. II
slow-cruislng speed is desired, or at mod
crate speed with two, or a. high speed
with all three propellers. There are three