The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-05-04
ERECTING A BIG CRANE.
The Monster Hosting Machine
Soon to Be Ready for
Heavy Service.
WERE STRICTLY DISCIPLINED
That Seems to Be the Substance of
the Cruiser Olympia Crews
Complaints.

VALLEJO, CAL, May 3.-Mare Island is
now busy place and large number of
workmen are employed. The construc-
ton of new tug is one of the most inter-
esting sights, and the manner in which
the work is being done speaks well for the
mechanical ability of the persons en-
ployed. The keel has been laid and the
employees are engaged on the frame work
Once the frames are in position, the tug
VIII be rushed to completion.
In the dock is the monitor Monadnock.
She is being thoroughly overhauled and
painters have made a big change in her
appearance. She will shortly be taken out
to make room for the Olympia prepare
tory to her journey to the Hawaiian
Islands.
The erection of the gigantic glib crane is
difficult and tedious work. The car of
the derrick is in position and the boom
will soon be put in proper place. The low
ering of the turntable was neatly done,
and from a statement made by Superin-
tendent Harrington, who represents the
contractors in st. Paul, the crane will be
ready for actual service in six weeks. The
work is of interest to all iron-workers and
crane makes its first trip around the stone
dock. The working capacity of the ina
mense iron crane is forty gross tons at
radius of seventy-five feet.
The crane is capable of performing
operations of hosting, lowering, turning
and travelling, simultaneously or independ-
emily, without reversing or stopping the
engine, and of travelling around q curve of
sixtY-six feet radius. 1t is arranged by
differential gearing, so that the speed Of
the wheels on the outside rail auto
matically will adjust itself to the in
creased radius of curvature over the inner
rails. The travelling speed of the crane is
fifty feet per minute the speed of hosting
forty-ton loads, seven feet per minute; the
speed of hosting fifteen-ton loads, fifteen
feet per minute; the speed of revolving
the complete circle, two minutes. All the
gears are steel cast. The gauge of the
track is twenty feet; the total width of
the car body twenty-four feet. The height
from the ground to the highest point
when the boom is elevated is 81 feet.
The weight of the crane is 200 tons;
the weight of the counterbalanee 100 tons.
On Farragut's old ship, the Hartford, a
large crowd of shipwrights find employ
ment, and the historic vessel is being re-
constructed in manner that means faith
full service for years to come.
In conversation with Commandant
Howison it was learned that the arrival of
the Olympia meant the carrying out of a
large amount of work which had not been
completed when the vessel left the yard
for her practice cruise.
Speaking of her departure the COM
mandant stated that no orders had been
received and the movements of the Olym-
pia at this time were uncertain.
''There is much work to be DONE" said
he, ''and the vessel must yet undergo an
other trial trip, which must be satisfac-
tory to both the contractors and the Gov
eminent"
Regarding the complaints on board the
vessel Howison asserted that he placed no
confidence in them.
at is hard for me to say when the YES
sci will get away, or what the Navy De-
partment officials will do" he said. "The
work to be done here will naturally detain
her, but for how long / am unable to say"
A thorough investigation, conducted on
close lines, proves that the trouble on
board the Olympia during the practice
cruise was caused more by the officials
conducting naval regulations according to
the letter than by anything else. The
statement is made by a number of the
crew that all bands were called to quarters
more than once and a close inspection of
their clothes made, which warranted ex-
pedient measures being taken to keep the
vessel free of vermin. 1t is known that
more than one sailor had occasion to bor-
row clothes from another, as the officers
found it advantageous to cast the ''inhab-
tied" clothing into the sea.
Exaggerated stories of this character are
told, but close investigation diminishes
largely the amount of antagonism shown
by Lieutenant Sturdy, who was desirous
of and persisted in having the vessel run
according to regulations.