The sun., 1894-08-29
wow FOR sUB-AoUArIo BoAr.
The Proposal TO Construct Such . Cr.rt o.
Mr.. HOLLANDS Plans.


WASHINGTON. Aug. 2s.-To the submarine
boat project the failure OF Congress this year TO
authorize any new ship construction except
three small torpedo craft was perhaps bless
ing in disguise. With so meagre provision for
strengthening the navy and for the employ
ment of the countrys shipbuilding facilities, tho
temptation has been all the greater to put to
use any old appropriations for construction.
The last Congress voted 100000 for sub
marine boat and for experiments Herewith. Bids
were accordingly invited. and several designs
were submitted, but only two conformed TO the
requirements These two, however. were those
of much the best known inventors, Messrs. John
p. Holland and G. c. Baker, both Of whom had
actually built and operated submarine boats
Mr.. Holland was the earlier In the field. with a
craft constructed about fifteen years ago while
Mr.. Baker had recently shown boat OF good
promise. The Board. composed OF Commander
Sperry, Prof. Alger. and Constructor Capps,
concluded that the design of Mr.. Holland was
the better OF the two.
However. the Chief OF Ordnance. Commodore
Sampson, advised that the two bidders should
furnish more detailed descriptions, inasmuch as
they had assumed different degrees of strength
for their respective designs, and the resulting
difference in weight OF hull made It difficult to
compare them In speed and other particulars.
U
20 feet, which the Board. In fact, found TO be a
sufficient depth; whereas Mr.. Bakers provided
for a submergence of .l50 feet. The Ordnance
Bureau recommended that Mr.. Baker should be
required TO modify his design and description,
and that both bidders should assume the same
unit Of efficiency in their storage batteries. This
recommendation was approved by Secretary
Herbert, and tho two inventors furnished the
additional data thus required OF them.
The members OF the Board afterward saw the
operations OF the Baker boat at Chicago, but
adhered to their original preference for the
Holland boat. Secretary Herbert, however.
questioned the policy OF such an experiment
Just now. and this years navy bill, as brought
into the House, provided for using the old ap-
preparation of 100000 to build an ordinary
torpedo boat. Presumably the Secretary, in
view Of the small prospect Of obtaining any
money for new construction, considered It ad-
secure a torpedo boat OF type known TO be
successful reserving the experiment with the
submarine novelty for some future year OF more
ally pursued in the case of the appropriation for
a, second Vesuvius, which was diverted to sup
out that the provision for such a transfer in the
case OF the submarine boat defeated on
technical point, and thus the appropriation re-
,ta Accordingly IT. is not surprising to learn that
Herbert referred the question. is now dis
posed sd,,9; e use the apPr1pri1tiSn IN question
IL called FOR a boat about so feet long
and Of u feet beam, with a displacement Of
and water-tube boilers were 10 develop 900
Indicated horse power, producing speed on the
surface Of about l6 knots. When submerged
the boats would not use steam, except the re-
mains OF what was stored up, hut would substi-
storage batteries. Il is asserted thai a speed St
Knots would be guaranteed when wholly sub
merged II Is rather interesting 70 observe that,
for such craft, his circular required Is knots
an hour for period of 80 hours on the surface.
when wholly submerged. That the standard re-
mains practically the same as seven years ago
advance in submarine navigation.
Is IL likely that the Holland boat will need
sss havs Ss In Judging Sf .hs
which pushed about under the Hudson River
many many years years ago; Capt Sieard, Chief Of Ord,
" the Bureau WAS favOrably impressed with the
Holland boat" but at that time the necessities
the com mbined appropriation made for it and the |
submarine boat, so that the latter was not built.
design met fairly well every requirement
OF the department by mechanical devices |
inventors experience as being in his favor. il |
noted that, while horizontal ruddeTs were used |
LOT eHectlhg suDmergence when the boat was |
not IN motion. an impOrtant feature the |
use OF diving rudders TO submerge when under |
way. This method the Board considered 10 be |
more speedy and efficient than submergence by |
propellers, while its draw back OF greater risk Of
reaching dangerous depth seemed To be offset |
by automatic devices for maintaining the lOngi- |
tudnal trim. Accordingly IL recommended the |
acceptance OF the proposal OF the Holland Com
pany, and Commodore Sampson endorsed the |
report, provided guarantee was given 10
cure the Government against loss. This guar
antee appears already 70 exist, AS the circular
provided for giving only 500, 900 to the bidders
prior 10 acceptance, exacting at the same time
bond Of 10000 that the boat should do all that
the contract agreed 10 perform.
In the meagreness OF new construction for the
next ten or twelve months, II would he an inter
esting addition To have IA submarine craft begun.
Tue experiments at Newport. some months ago,
showed that an enoFlnus mass Of gun cotton
could be exploded under water not Tar from
boat without crushing Il or destroy
Ing life aboard the boat. This result favored
sueh Inventions as the objection had previously
been urged that the boat might be sunk By the
torpedo which IL exploded against an enemy's |
null; Several foreign countries, notably France
aud spain, have perslstently pushed their eX-
periments IN submarine construction. especially |
Tor torpedo boat uses and to our own country |
may possibly be reserved the honor OF achieving
The GROWING success