New-York tribune., 1895-10-14

feet and an aggregate heating surface OF $50
SQUARE feet The shell boilers have been designed
with special regard to accessibility TO permit OF the
ready removal OF salt scale.
Exactly what economy may result at cruising
speeds by the adoption OF the novel machinery OF
the Nashville Il not known. but II Is thought by
the experts that ratio closely approximate TO tnat
OF economical merchantmen Will result Engineer
in-ChIef Melville has expressed the opinion that on
the vessel a horsepower will be secured Tor an
expenditure OF from 16 to is pounds OF coai per
hour An average speed OF IA knots per hour ~
to be maintained for four consecutive hours on
the trial trip Should her speed exceed u Knots
the contractors will ~ paid premium al the rate
OF $1,000 for every additional knot In case the Ves
gel fails to make II knots corresponding reuuo
ton will be made. II she should not MAINTAIN an
average speed OF 13 knots an hour the Government
may reject her.
In the design Of the Wilmington special regard
has been had for her service in shallow waters
Her principal dimensions and general features are
Length on load water-lne. normal displacement,
go feet inches: maximum breadth. moulded. " lee
inches breadth at normal water,ilne. n, 81 dr.'
inches: draught at normal d.spiacennen.L'
feet 10 inches freeboard. at bow. 10 feet inches
freeboard at stern. II feet inches; normal DIS
Placement 100 tons total coal capacty 20 Pr 'cns ns
speed contract 3 knots Her c9nPemqs * n rnes w' ''
Her hull Will he constructed of steel throughout
4 water-tght deck will be worked over the region
occupied by the machinery. magazines etc. known
in naval parlance as ships vita,s. Inc uech ",'
be placed about the level of the water-ilhe' win
s,opes extending 10 the sides below the water-hhe'
As in the case Of the Nashville. there VIII De
double bottom worked In the neighborhood OF tne
engine. boiler and magazine spaces. The iouoie
bottom will be OF cellular construction. when means
that the two skins must be pierced before wafer
can be admitted to the engine or ire room o"'"s
to the light draught OF the Wilmington, the use oi
ofaf riNa
which she is designed, her hull is of unusual shape
aft That part of the vessel is followed out INTO
two tunnels for the purpose OF admitting an easy
flow OF water to the screws ne WA Mas.e, .,,h
off5riing pro,ection to the screws against river
banks and against injury by other aa cratt lam i
crowded stream Her prOportonately great pTdttr pTtt
provides large berthing space for the cieM. cieM.,fino
space is augmented by &c c9vsrrd Srr ,snsth She w
nave twin rudders her light draugnt necsSssa.ads @ ,d
departure in the ocaton 81 b te ofSer and so ar
ranged that both will respond readiiy 10 b,re
the vessel has acquired headway. The rudoers are
strongly protected against damage wnen pdc
iii b " " Military mast however having two tops
In the upper top there Will pe TWO t'a'n no,5tiss
gun guns =" The mast is large enough to admit OF a
spiral stairway for access from peow 10 hepeaih
the lower top In the mast IS the ammunition ann
hoist through which CHARGES for the rspdipe 96r
guns will be raised 20 the tops Being designed lot
Service in rivers and in harbors likely to De
crowded with other craft, every precaut.oh, has hs
heen exercised 10 provide against fouhng, ana Du'
Sev, obstrurtions appear upon her sides. The spon-
are arranged that the gus g ar Sir rain
is in no manner limited on that account ne SAM
kind of coal protection s pr0yded Ep r H tbe Nash
Vile, the hunkers being placed upon 'he Slopes VI
ASie from the customary exhaust system OF ven
tilation The Wilmington will be provided win
fresh air throughout by system OF suppy nam van
tilat tors running from the main deck to the spaces
below. and further suppemented oy or hiring
portable electric fans IN not Weaenra' @ e,ant ~ ~
wet season. owing TO the SPECIAL arrangsnen' on
the awnings the main deck can be utiiized ior
berhng the men. -, ,..
The character and arrangement Of the batiterg
will be as follows: There will be four four-lheh
guns mounted in pairs two forward and two aft,
those at being placed on the main deck and those
lection than the usual gun-shields; four four-nch
guns mounted in armored sponsons on the gun
SRnted wo in i'm srmoTed sponsons on the gun deck
three on each side amdships; two six-pounders
FOUNDERS mounted in the lower top, two six-pound-
ers on the bridge. and two Gatlings In the upper
the rapid-fre type and provision has been made for
carrying large supply of ammunition for each'
The engines viii be two in number and Of ., the
inches % inches and 1916 inches respectively. with
an nch stroke sS for TOR 0 hErsepG%GeT pow
boiler pressure of $50 pounds There will be six
horizontal return tubular boilers In n two %stsrgnt
$50 pounds The boilers will be 8 feet inches
long by I feet inches in diameter They will
have nearly 100 square feet of CRATE surface and
fO7; feet OF heating surface. Provision has been
made for forced draught on the closed fre-room
system.
The weight of the machinery. including auxil-
ilres. water and spares. is 200 tons, which seems
heavy for modern machinery. This is due to the
boilers Owing to the peculiar service for which
these vessels intended. il was not thought ad-
visa ble to fit tubulous boilers Owing to the limited
draught and to the double bottom. the greatest
diameter permissible for cylindrical boilers IS feet
S inches which made necessary the use OF six boil
ers The exigencies of the case must be borne
in mind TO appreciate the results obtained In these
designs where the limitations are eXacting Com
mon to all modern naval vessels OF the United
States service these three vessels will be lighted
by electricity and provided with refrgerating plants
and other accessories which contribute 10 health,
comfort and efficiency.