The morning call., 1894-05-13

$50 tons (normaD displacement. But
these delays have been in great part un-
avoidabe. The first bids were opened
early in the spring of 1S91-one from the
Cowles Engine-building Works Of Brook
lyp, and the other from the Herreshnffs.
Both bids were rejected by the Secretary
of the Navy for sufficient reasons, and
new bids were advertised for. The de.
signs for the hull, machinery and arma-
ment were absolutely those of the three
respective bureaus of the Navy Depart
ment, and the dimensions give a boat
longer and broader than the Cush-
ing designed by the Herreshoffs),
without drawing so much water by
foot. and giving greater speed. When the
new bids were opened some astonishment
was caused by the discovery that the
Dubuque Iron Works was the lowest
bidder. anG before the award was made a
commission Of naval officers was detailed
to inspect and report upon the capacity Of
the works TO build such a vessel complete.
1t was found that the Western lakes and
rivers were well supplied with works
abundantly able to build all the smaller
class of naval vessels. 1t will be re-
called that among the bidders for con-
structing the Dolphin ten years ago was a
firm In st. Louis, and the reason 1t did
not get the contract was because the pro-
posal of John Roach was the Lowest and
most acceptable. In 1890 a firm of ship
builders in Michigan put in a bid for the
construction of the Naval Academy prac-
tce-ship Bancroft, and it would have got
the contract but for the restrictions of the
lake naval agreement of 1917 between the
United States and England. which pro-
hibited the building Of such vessels on the
lakes.
The Cowles Company were bidders at
the second opening, but the Dubuque
works bid was S113,500. or nearly $4,000
below the Cowles bid !; hence, they secured
the contract. The conditions were that
extension of time could be granted in the
event Of delays caused by strikes of work
men, or by fire or flood. The firm was de-
layed two months in its work by the spring
floods on the Mississippi. and the Home
stead strike of 1892 caused delay In the
delivery of material; therefore. an exten-
sion was granted, but penalties have ac-
crued amounting to $685.. A few changes
from the original plans, but none of ma
terlal Importance. were made, land, finished,
the vessel is one of the most efficient ter
pedo-b boats af1oat, aud a much abler fight
ing craft than the Cushing. One of the
changes made was the adoption of the
Thornycroft boilers.
The general construction of the vessel
is on the transverse system, and special
attention has been given to the longitude
nal strength and stiffness by the use of an
ipfa toI
stringer plates. Al the bow turtle-back
deck WORKS into and terminates in the
conning-tower. The armament of the YES
sci will consist of one fixed tube in the
bow for firing the Howell torpedo. two
divergng tubes on a training circle aft for
the firing OF the Whitehead torpedo, and
four one FOUNDER rapid-fring guns. The
tnrtle-back deck is also worked in a way
TO accommodate the torpedo tube and load
ing gear in the bow.
The vessels motive power was designed
by the Bureau of Steam Engineering, and
consiots of two propeling engines (rights
and lefts) of the vertical. inverted, direct
acting, quadruple-expansio type, and
placed in common water-tight compart-
meDt. These are calculated to give a
speed to the vessel OF about twenty-three
knots, working at 412 revolutions minute
and under steam pressure OF $50 pounds
to the square inch. The weight of all
machinery, boilers. uxiliaries and con-
tained water, but exclusive of all stores.
spare parts. steering gear and capstan, is
less than fifty-two tons. An electric plant
for lighting the vessel by the incandesce Mt
system and for operating a search ligh
has been provided. This plant is installed
in the engiDe-room. Every means for the
comfort OF the officers and crew In the
eramped quarters allotted to them has
been employed. the fact being borne in
mind that the radius of action OF torpedo
boat is limited rather by the endurance OF
the people on board of her than by the
amount of coal carried in the bunker.
Two staterooms are provided for the
officers, aud large room extending the
entire width Of the boat, containing four