The morning call., 1894-06-27
A COSTLY SHIP.
Thousands Spent on the
Cruiser Boston.
AFTER TEN YEARS SERVICE.
She Commences to Fall Into Line
for Repairs.
AFTER TEN YEARS SERVICE.
SOME PRETTY BAD DECKING.
Poor Material Was Used and the
Decks Leaked-Unsatisfac
Turret Machinery.

port several months ago a1ter snort
cruise from Honolulu, at which port she
had remained during the Hawaiian excite
ment, the principal actor in the admins
tration's annexation farce, it was mooted
about at the navy-yard that the corrosive
action of the acid waters of the south seas
had eaten into her steel hull plates in such
a way that would require their being re-
placed bv new ones.
The Boston's plates did prove to be
''pitted," but fortunately the steel was not
eaten to such an extent that its condition
would render the vessel unseaworthy.
Something far more important than
pitted plates bothered the officers of the
Boston, and 1t has now come to light that
spick and span looking as the Boston ap-
peared when she was travelling homeward
through the Golden Gate, her trim hull,
white painted and clean. polished rif1ed
guns and natty crew were only the out
ward visible signs of an inward invisible
unsoundness.
The Boston came like belle to ball
room, attired in all her beauty y-creating
apparel, beneath which was hidden a
frame of shaky bones that would have
rattled woefully in a dance of death.
Had war been declared and the Boston
called upon TO hasten away to the scene Of
strife, she could not have done so any
faster than at seven-knOt pace. All her
buasted speed, that came up to the official
requirements on her official trial trip. had
gone up in ten wears of steam and smoke,
leaving her driving power crippled and
forlorn In comparison with the Boston of
1884.
The United States Government has just
spent over S60000 in repairs to the Boston.
hlr IL. - r-th In .f1sN
work has been done on her, but II vii De
a genuine surprise to the community OF
the United States TO know that after a
service of only ten years one OF the crack
ships of the White Squadron has fallen
into the same old rut of expensive repairs
that made vessels of The Pensacola, Ma
Tion, Adams and SWatATa type famous.
Taking into consideration the frequent
attacks that have been made upon Pacific
Coast built warships by the Eastern press
il is only fair that the truth should be
known regarding the Boston, and also in
cidentally a warning given the Govern
meHt against accepting vessels that are not
strictly frst-class in every respect from
their trucks to their keelsons.
Now comes the Vests time to growl and
no better opportunity is afforded than
right now when the news has been re-
ceived that The white cruiser Boston came
into San Francisco haTbor with part of
her boiler tubes burned ont, her decks
leaking badly, her engines worked loose,
her crank shaft in such a condition that
its removal was necessary, and her blower
engines working so poorly that the men in
the boiler rooms could hardly get sufficieni
air to sustain life If the ship was pushed
over seven knots.
Another new and startling piece OF in
formation. The poorest class Of material
was put in the Boston's decks and part OF
il had TO be removed altogether. Some OF
this work was done during the trip UP
from the islands as the decks leaked badly.
An officer of the vessel said to a re-
porter: The Boston is a fairly good
vessel, but she is not built as well as most
of the White Squadron.
Il attribute this fault partially to the
fact that when the cruiser was constructed
the builders of ships in the United States
were noi as well up In the art as at present.
1.-The Boston was one OF the original
new navy, and we cannot expect so much
OF her as we would of the Columbia or the
Olympia.
Il do not think. however, that there is
any excuse for her having needed so many
repairs as she did"
This is the conservative view of the sit
uation. Naval officers never express the
true inwardnes5 of their feelings.
Allowing for all probable errors in de-
signs and fer the newDess of such an un-
dertaking, the building of the Boston 8
machinery could not have been done on
strictly frst-clsss principles. Had she
been needed In battle she would have been
found sadly wanting.
At the present writing the Boston has
nearly completed her repairs. Her crank
shaft has not yet been placed ia her, but
this labor will not be accomplished until
the coming week.
A dozen defective boiler tubes were re.
I'D md ct4l4 I'D ka g.
turrets worked very unsatisfactory, and
all the machinery used 10 manipulate them
had to be overhauled, new bearings cast
and the turrets resdjusted.
A large amount of work was done in the
boiler-rOOm, as has been briefly mention ed
from time TO time in THE CALL. 1t seems
that the boiler coatings burned out very
destroyed. A score OF machinists had 10
look after them. the work on them having
been 10 progress tor nearly sixty days.
Yesterday inquiry was made regarding
the cruisers defective decking.
Poor material was the cause of all the
trouble in that direction" said a gentle.
man who Is posted on the construction of
the ship. THE decking was very poorly
laid too.
II wish TO call your attention TO another
point" continued he. II have examined
the joining and carpentry on both the Bos-
ton aud the Olympia very carefully, and ]
can assure you that the work done by the
Pacific Coast workmen is of much higher
grade than that performed in the Eastern
yards.
"The electrical apparatus on board of
the Boston is not nearly so servicable as
that on the Olympia.
"a Washington naval expert put in both
plants, but il the case of the latter vessel
all the labor was performed at the Union
Iron Works.
Il am afraid that the Boston is going To
be Il very expensive ship. l cannot see
why she should require so many costly re-
pairs and yet develop so little speed"
One of the sub-officers of the Bos-
ton said in defense of his vessel that it
should be remembered that she was very
barshly used by being comDelled TO re-
main at duty without being given chance
10 dock and clean.
'The Buston is all right even if she is
SLOW" said he, "aBd do not believe that il
will be very great expense TO the Gov
ernment to keep her steadily in commits
sion"
The cruiser Boston is partially
deck protected boat. She was built by
John Roach 10 Chester. Pa, in 1884.