The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-08-24
TWIN TERRORs OF THE SEA.
The Minneapolis and Columbia Well
Fitted for Destructive Work.
Philadelphia Record.

Philadelphia Record.
While there is no immediate prospect of
the United States becoming involved with
any foreign power over the war in the
East, the struggle is being watched with
eager interest here. particularly in naval
circles. AS the combat will be largely a
marine contest, renewed interest is CEN
tered upon the new ships of Uncle Sans
SHOULD our navy be called on to fight
said a member of the great Cramp com
Dany yesterday, there are two SHIPS at
least that would accomplish some surprls-
ing things in the line OF work for which
they were created. These are the Column
bia and Minneapolis. Built essentially to
destroy the amount of damage
they could inflict in this way on an enemy
IS only governed by the amount of COM
MERGE which that enemy had af1oat.
Taking their trial trips as a basis on
that there is really nothing of any size
afoat which approaebhes them in speed
me ait C3lumoia .d ran rd Isl I Knots h an nour'
and earned a m of S5O,CO. This
was wonderful: but the Minneapolis put
The figures at 25.01 knots. or one-quarter
knot more. To do this. however, she re-
quired 10000 indicated horse power, which
shows the stupendous amount of power
necessary TO increase the speed a trifie.
Cape Ann course, which all naval engineers
know, because of the shallow water. depre-
ciates the performance of all high speed
ships from one to one and a half knots.
This the government, of course, gets the
advantage of.
Suppose for an instant that a condition
of war existed between the United States
and England and the Minneapolis was sent
several hundred miles off Montauk Point 10
watch for the feeteSt ships in England's
merchant marine. These are now the Cam
pania and Lucania, whose maximum speed
is about % knots an hour at sea. This
speed IS made at a time when the ships
are off soundings; or in water so deep that
they are not affected in any way by the
proximity of the bottom. The Minneapolis
ran over % knots on a course the maximum
depth of which vas 81 fathoms and the
minimum depth % fathoms. The same pow
er which drove her % knots on the north
east, or Cape Ann course, would send her
2412 knots in the water where the Cam
pania and Lucania make p.
The meaning OF this is that the crack
merchant ships of the seas are entirely
at the mercy of the Minneapolis in any
water of 100 fathoms depth. Should the
smoke of any of these great vessels be
sighted from the Minneapolis's decks at
daybreak, which would mean that the ships
were from II to IA miles apart. she would
have them under her guns at noon. There
is no possible question that off soundings
and in smooth water the Minneapolis can
run 2i1a knots an hour just as long as the
men can stand at their stations.
The question of adding even more speed
to ships is engrossing the attention of en-
gineers everywhere, but it has now reached
difficult in the extreme. In triple expan-
sion engines of the type used in the Mime
III { d0IllltIldl Twelve lnulCdlGu
horse power means an additional ton of
machinery. After the Columbia ran 22.s1
took 1900 additional horse power to give
the Minneapolis another quarter knot. To
have driven her one full knot faster would
have required 1900 additional horse power,
the strain of which probably no ship
structure could stand.
1T is doubtless true that the greatest
work of these great ships is gotten out
OF therc by our men. This is due to sew
eral causes. chief among which is the fact
that tho mon XUhn frpl the rrnncAr n-l
manipulated the machinery are of a very
different class from those who do the same
work in the navy. 1t is not true, as has
been stated in allegations which have
formed the basis of congressional investi-
cations, that we employ a special corps of
steamship hreren to run off speed trials
and employ them for that purpose alone.
On the contrary. the entire fire and engine
room forces who served during the recent
trial of the MINNEAPOLIS. numbering in ali
212 men. were without a single exception
permanent employees of the shipyard whose
regular duties had nothing 10 do with
speed trials.
The fire room force was made un O,
and men who work in the machine and
erecting shops at the yards. None OF then
were in any sense professional STEAMSHIP
fremen, but they are men whose duties
bring them in constant contact with fires
and give them the knowledge of the art OF
firing. Whenever a trial trip is in prospect
this class of men, who in the work of the
yard number about one thousand, out OF
Wnlcn only TWO nundreu can be taken
along, file their applications weeks in ad-
vance. The trip is TO them really an out.
ing. and, naturally. all are anxious TO go
| This state of affairs breeds in the men Z
| sort Of esprit du corps. the effect of which
is not easy 10 determine. but as they are
about the same men trial after trial theil
natural desire is 10 excel in each ~instanc,
al previous efforts"
In reply TO an inquiry as to the magnif
| cent work Of his men. Charles III. CramT
said recently: 1T is not necessary TO dis
cuSs the matter beyOnd sayinG that they
are a remarkable body of men. INSPIRED
by unusual fidelity. both 10 their own IN
terests and 70 those 90 their employers
which are identical. So far as | know. they
have no equals in the world"