The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-10-24
MERITS OF ALUMINIUM.
4 TEST DEMOLIsHgs SOME or THE
ELIB0RATE CLAIMS.
shown 10 be Exceedingly Susceptible to
the Corrosive Action OF salt water.
other News OF the Navy.

WASHINGTON, .. G., Oct. 23.-The
Navy Department has just completed
a test OF aluminium as material for
ship boats, with the object Of determining
its adaptsbility TO naval nses. with re-
suits that demolish some OF the elaborate
Claims made for the new metal. on
account OF its comparaii se!y hgnt weight,
rs utiiity on board ship wouid be almost
luestlmaole, II II Yero not for the tact
II mas been now shown 10 be exceedingly
susceptible TO the corrosive action OK
salt water.
Two sheets one-sixteenth of an inch.
were immersed for three months al The
Norfolk naYy-yaFd. one was stated to
be pure metal and the other was slightly
alloyed WITH nickel
CLAIMS NOT sUpsTANrfATrp.
f'he pure plate was thlckly covered
with large barnacles throughout It's sur
lace, and was more or less pitted by the
action OF salt water. fhe aitoyed plate
and was badly cocroded, being perforated
ana eaten away over much OF It's exposed
surface. This plate was as injuriousiy
affected as commission and iron and
copper would. be with the same exposure.
The claim that baruacles would not ad.
here to the metal was not suDstantiRted
I'm the smallest degree. In the opinion
OF uaVat experts, 1T will not be advisable
to build aluminium boats II they are In
tended TO remain any leagth Of time IN
the water. though its use may be adj
yautageous on account OF the great gain
In iightness for metal work exposed TO
salt water only occasionally.
The use of alloyed alunttuum cannot
be recommended near salt water under
any circumstances.
MuLTuM IN PhRyo.
\ cablegram received by the Navy De-
paFtment this morning from Nagasakl,
japan. indicates that great amount OF
Information car be transmitted at nsis-
nifcant cost. II contained but two words.
viz: acknowledgement but Secte-
tary Herbert learned from II that COM
modore Carpenter, the commander I'M
his flag on the cruiser Charleston, which
had just joined the squadron, and that
the vessel was sailing from Nagasaki
this morning, bound for Chemuipo. Corea.
where he will join the Baltimore and Con-
cord, leaving the Petrol at Nagasaki.
The Mouocacy IS still at Tlen Tsln.
THt NAcnIAs TO SAN FOR cBISA.
The cruiser Machias recently elongated
10 Increase her cOai-carrying capacity,
left the New York navy-yarh this morn
Ing and went around TO North river,
where she will remain at anchor until
her departure for China.
She viii be inspected tomorrow by the
board of which Commodore Seifridge Is
president, and, II reported In good order.
Secretary Herbert VIII at once order her
to sail for the Mediterranean, where she
viii deliver "A lot of ammunition 20 the
Chicago and proceed through the Suez
canal In company with the Detroit
soat sAvAL CHANGES.
chief Engineer III. n Stevenson has
been ordered 20 the Constellation, rellev-
ing j. 5. Ogden, who Is ordered 10 the
Atlanta
Medical Director T. g. Dubois has been
ordered to duty at tho Portsmouth IN.
H. navy-yagd and Surgeon J. q, hyFes
has been detached from that yard and
ordered to wait orders
Lieutenant a. b. Speyers has been or
dered to temporary duty as executive
officer OF the receiving ship Richmond.
Ensign Turner has been ordered to the
Richmond.