The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-10-13
sHEArB1yG AND SPEED.
sussestive Facts Regarding the New steel
vessels and the Wooden OId-TIrners.

Successive Facts Regsrding the New steel
Vessels and the Wooden Oid-TIuerr.
WARRINGTON, Oct. 1a.-Attention has lately
been called to the report made by Commander
G.. VI. Thomas upon the remarkable differences
of speed and coal consumption shown by the
Bennington in two successive trips between
Acapulco and La Libertad. during the present
year. The first trip, n distance OF 8T5 miles,
was made when the gunboat was ordered to
Salvador on account OF the troubles in that re-
public. The time occupied was cighty-six
hours, or an average Of T.s5 knots per hour. and
the coal consumed was sixty-seven tons, or u ton
for each ten miles, making the cost of the coal.
at s?1.T0 per ton. st,453.Oo. But when she re-
turned to Acapulco, about two months later. the
vessel steamed only about go knots an hour,
and even in order to reach this speed had to
consume 40 tons. The distance actually run
was 6ss miles, thus giving the rate Of a ton for
5.33 miles. The cost of the coal, being the sam
per ton, was no less than So, 7o0.3O.
Here we have the extraordinary result Of
nearly double the cost of coal in running little
more than the same distance. and yet making
considerably lower speed. What Is the explana.
ton ? simply that the bottom OF the Bennington
was clean on the voyage out. and had become
very foul by n two months stay in a tropical
harbor when she started back. This is only one
among many illustrations of the great difference
In expense caused by the fouling of the bottoms
OF our steel vessels, especially when IL is neces-
sary to keep them up to something like a fair
speed. When the New York n few months ago
made a run to Philadelphia she consumed the
same amount of coal per knot as that which had
given her IL knots when she started for Rio
Janeiro last winter. The difYercnce was ascribed
TO her not receiving the docking and cleaning
she required; and a still more interesting state
ment IL that when she returned from Dhiladel-
phia to New York, after a trip with the Penn
sylvania naval reserve, she made about 12knots,
this gain being attributed to her having passed
a few days In the fresh water ofthe Delaware.
which loosened some OF the marine growths.
still another very exact illustration of the gen.
cral fact was furnished long ago by the trial trips
Of the two sister ships Atlanta and Boston. Their
contracts were for horse power only. and not
for speed, so that no attention was paid to pro-
ducing the latter. and the Atlanta was tried
with a clean bottom and the Boston with one
not nearly so clean. The Atlanta made 1915
knots on 3,345 horse power, or a little less than
her contract, whereas the Boston reached not
quite IA knots with 3. $50 horse power, or $50 In
excess, OF her cpntract; Again. the Charleston
able style; but on her return she accomplished
only about seven knots. although she was then
1 tims 81 found S@r S SrS's spe syfrs Reduced uns P 10 eight < Hno one
Baltimore, after being praised, md with justice,
for her great record. made g poor show OF speed
when, sent TO Europe, until after docking and
cleaning there.
Other vessels might be cited on the same point.
One notable case is that OF the Newark, which,
after going about nine months without docking,
Ter SLOW speed under full power she was at
Montevtdeo, on regular station duty. and the
p psSs /, irsS Of Ss clio " d fever lat at Rio dc ,aneiTo
ingly. she was sent clear across the ocean TO
Cape Town, and there cleaned. To the cost of
this journey and OF docking. must be added the
Of the absence OF the flagship from
her station for months.
trast in this respect between the new steel ships
and the old wooden, cDpper-sheathed vessels.
the Marion. Wien she went into dock at Mare
Island Sian L,d for repsirGs; not long age; an Official report
launched at Kittery over twenty years ago. II
was added that her bottom had not been cleaned
s spSaf" Z Re @@N3 A ens nePS %aiss a.n IN snao on I hss
V. GrlGiey, added these words; II believe there
Is no dry dock of consequence on this station
mously expensive in time and money to send
cruising vessels from remote parts of the station
TO be locked and cleaned. Al timer It Is imprac-
in efficiency and injury to their bottoms. II.
upon examination II is found that the Marion
the limit allowed by law. / strongly recon-
mend that she be repaired and assigned to
luls uIbn thc 1dNtiiuH bthuOn, where tile
trade winds, her sail power, and her cspper hot
tom will combine 20 make her more economical
than asteel ship. which must consume much of
her fuel and time In going To and coming from
dry dock"
The lesson In these various instances ia plainly
the advantage which the old wooden .sheathed
vessels possess over tho new steel fleet in their
capacity TO keep the sea very much longer with |
out needing to be cleaned. The adoption OF the |
policy OF not sheathing the new steel vessels was
deliberate. 1t was desired TO get the maximum
OF sheathing Is 80 much extra TO be carried along
by the same engine power. II is also so much
clear addition 10 the original cost. At that time, |
also, there were sOmedoubts as to the wisdom OF
steel vessels, on account Of the gal
yanic action which IL was feared would be set mp |
between the two metals. Finally the English, |
ON whose practice our first steel cruisers were
largely based, were In the habit Of making most
their steel cruisers unshesthed.
But such facts AS the foregoing have led some
Of our naval experts TO question strongly the
that the maximum speed attained by unsheathed
must he greater than II they were
yet, on the other hand. we see how
speed Is reduced by foul bottoms,
and also how much more liable steel vessels are
To fOuling than are wooden, Then as TO the
question OF cost, IL Is urged that this is In favor
OF sheathing, in consequence OF the greatly in
creased consumption OF coal, as in the case OF
the Bennington, already cited. To this must be
added the great cost Of more frequent docking.
The absence from duty for such docking is still
To have some sheathed gunboat or composite
raft for service in tropical waters. TIL English
have many such.