The record-union., 1895-07-16

Dy electricity anu pToVlu0u Will d SteaIii
steerer and steam windlass. Space and
weight are allowed for these features in
the twin-screw boats, but their installa-
ton will depend entirely upon their pos
sibility within the price limit OF $50, 200.
The armament, being Identical III both
types, Will consist of six 4-lnch, four %
FOUNDERS, and two 1-pounder guns, all
rapid-hre, and will be disposed Of in this
order: -Four finch guns, In two bat
teries, port and starboard, on the gun
deck amidships, the two other 4-lnch
guns being carried on the main deck, one
at the bow and one at the stern, each
having wide arc of fire. The 6-pounder
guns will be carried on the gun deck, two
we'll forward, one on either bow, and two
amidships between the 4-inch guns, re-
spectively in the port and starboard bat
teries. The l-pounder guns will be dis
posed where the most advantageous. on
the hammock berthing. For the 4-inch
guns there will be 900 rounds of ammu-
milton. For the 6-pounder guns there
will be 2,002 rounds @ .mmunition. For
the 1-pounder guns shere win be 1,235
rounds of ammunition,
The character OF the services for which
these gunboats are particularly designed
requires that they be exposed to
musketry fire. and the housing Of the
MAJOR part of the battery by an unbroken
deck; besides adding materially to the
stiffness and strength of the vessels, gives
admirable protection to the guns crews in
action. The necessarily exposed position
of the bow and the stern guns is justi-
fled only by their arc of fire and possible
usefulness in running action; while for
river service. for which these boats are
particularly fitted, the disposition of the
gun-deck battery is all that could be de-
sired
Each Of the vessels will carry about ten
officers, l25 enlisted men and small
guard of marines numbering perhaps ten
men. The vessels are so commodlous.
much larger complement could be &C
commodated, or large number Of
refugees could De taken aboard.
Secretary Herbert, who is compelled
by law to have two of these vessels built
on the Pacific Coast, two on the Atlantic
and two on the Gulf, If possible, has in
vited bids under two heads Those based
upon the plans and specifications Of the
Navy Department, and those based upon
and not more than two OF the gunboats to
be built by one contracting party.
The framing of each of the boats, ac-
cording to the specifications, will be of
steel from the keel up to and above the
water line; the upper edge of the wood
plank will lap the top aide plating about
three feet. Plank OF Georgia pine will be
worked on the frames, secured thereto by
composition bolts in such manner as to
prevent galvanic action. The outside
surface OF the plank will be coppered. No
plating will be worked on the under
water body of the vessel, except the keel
plates, strip Of plating on each side of
keel plates under the boilers to form the
lower portion of water tank, and mar
row strips for the plates under the lougi-
tudinals and bilge keels. The entire top
sides will be plated as on steel vessels.
Throughout the machinery space an
innor bottom of platiug Will be worked.
giving added strength to This part of the
vessel, enabling the bilges to be kept
clean and atfording additional means of
safety should the outer bottom be rup-
tured.
SAFE GROUND TO BUILD UPON.
Report of Government Engineers on
the san Francisco Postof1ice Site.
WASHINGTON, July 15.-The official re-
port by United States Government Engi-
neers Mendenhall and Benyard, with
fourteen Enclosures as to the stability of
the site selected for the erection OF the
public building at san Francisco, was to-
day received at the Treasury department,
and with Secretary Carlisle's consent was
made public.
The report of the engineers, after Civ
ing The results of borings to depth OF
l49 feet, concludes as follows:
"Throughout the site the general indi-
cations are OF hill sand to depth of
about twenty-eight below the surface OF
the ground, and below that clay. The
coast survey chart of 1888 shows that the
site was q sandlOt covered with brush
and small trees; there was no indication
OF running water on the lot. 1t is only III
the northwest corner, for a distance Of
fifty to sixty feet along Seventh street
and along Mission, that the material is Of
such nature as to cause extra precau-
tions to be taken with the foundation.
ITO the first inquiry as to whether the
character OF the soil Is proper. we are of
the opinion that The building can be safely
erected upon it.
"As 10 tho inquiry whether the erection
of the building should be proceeded with,
III an engineering point OF view, we see
no reason to report otherwise. Ii re-
mains for us to state in general way
only the character OF the foundation. The
foundation should be on concrete. The
depth is given as four and one-half feet.
We have taken that depth for the main
columns, making the top of the founda-
tion two feet wider than the base Of the
wall and with slopes OF one to one. For
Ii length of sixty teet on Mission street
and on Seventh street. whore the soft ma
tcrial is found, the base of the foundation
is inclined to twenty five feet.
THE approximate estimate of the cost
of the foundation is as follows: Ex-
cavation of 9,52S cubic yards of ma
fnr oil md n nunl E
Gu bic yard. s4.764; 1882 cubic yards Of
concrete at s. 80. $50, 1870; pumping, $1,000.
Total, $50 .954 Contingencies, 10 per
cent, 50, 595. Total. $685.
EFFECT OF THE ORIENTAL WAR.