The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-12-20
qHD FASTEST IN YHE WORLD.
The Great BaJtle-shlp "lhe Texas" En-
Joys This Unique Distinction.
Al EXCESS OF 400 HORSEPOWER
Over the Contract Requirement Developed
By the Engines which Were Built by
the Richmond Locomotive Works.
A Defect ia tho Governments
Work VIII Make Another
Test Necessary.
roMrKiNsvILLE. STATEN ISLAND,


n. y, Dec. i9.-Spccial.--The trial Oh
the engines Of the United States oatue-
ship Texas. which was deferred on ac-
count of dense fog yesterday, was run
to-day, proving that the horsepower vi
tins engines exceeded the requirement oi
the contract by several hundred, ana thae
the Texas Is the fastest oattie-sh'p on
earth.
ANOTHER TRIP NECESSARY.
Another trip will however, be neces-
sary. as. after thee hours most success
full run, the failure OF the drainage pipes
10 take off the water from the crank
pits caused Captain Glass to suspend the
further forced speed. This trouble does
not relate TO the machinery, and VIII be
corrected at the ndNy-yafu "heio INV
ship @ill be taken.
Yefterday had been fixed for the run,
but the dense fog which hung over the
ban until late in the evening. forbade
Moving.
I This morning was as clear as bell,
I and as Captain Glass had given orders
for an early move, Commodore George
W. Melville, chief of the Bureau of
Steam Engineering, accompanied by Mr..
W X. Trigg and Mr.. Joseph Bryan, left
the Castleton Hotel before day, ana
reached the ship just at dawn. She was
soon under weigh, and the sun showed
itself as the vessel was passing Coney
Island. The course laid out by Captain
Glass was down the coast to abreast of
Long Branch skirting Long Island,
about thirty miles from shore.
LITTLE VIBRATION.
The sea was smooth. and the move
ment of the. ship developed. even at
her greatest speed. less vibration than
the best steamers at sea or on river.
Her steadiness was wonderful
IL was ordered that at 1890 the trial
should begin but this seemed to mark
only point of time. The special OBJ
servati0ns of movement then began to be
taken.
The complexity of the machinery Of a
modern battle-ship is beyond the belief
of those who have not had reason TO
learn something about it,
The origin of all power is i'm the boil
ers. From this como the movement OF
all fans. ventilators. dynamos Che noble
ship Is lighted with electricity, pumps
lifts. etc. The power shown by the in
dicators on each of the six steam cylin-
ders could be reduced by Withdrawals Of
steam for these auxiliary purposes. So
IL was understood that proper allow
ance should be made for this diminu-
ton of the $500 horsepower contracted
for.
AN UNUSUAL TEST.
The conditions of the trial were I'M
usually onorous Under ordinary circum-
stances the trial Of speed and power
have been made of ships before their de-
livery TO the Government by the con-
tractors and before their equipment for
sctive service. The Texas had her full
compile ment Of guns, ammunition. coal
and supplies ready for sea and action.
She was even a foot deeper i'm the water
than she was when she came from Nor
folk. There was no light load In this
case.
When il was understood that the shin
was I'm the race. the interest of every one
was aroused. There were about five hun
dred people aboard-ohicers, engineers.
seimen marines-and all felt the ship
would make a record A scientific ell
gineer was stationed at each cylinder,
and its record was taken every half hour
and careful note was made of the
revolutions Of each shaft The oilers
were busy in keeping all movements
smooth. Though the great journals were
subjected to a terrific strain and friction,
they kept cool. In the engine room the
heat was intense and men in their over
ais moved In atmosphere laden with
moisture and OIL
WONDERFUL SPEED.
The first report was that the ship was
making l7S knots an hour. This was
nearly equal to her best previous per-
Torrance. The question was asked:
What is she doing now?"
The reply was:
She has made 12S revolutions, and is
going over eighteen knots an hour Just
20 TO the bow and see her plow the
ocean"
IL was indeed a sight A great wave
was rolled from her PROV and the sea
foam rose and spread away in spray
IL was a wonderful display of power and
speed. AT 1880 the speed was reported
as having reached lS.3 and for ten min
utes the log showed that the battle-ship
Texas. In fun order. had cut sea water
at the rate OF ISIS knots an hour, an un-
precedent performance for a battle-ship
Her average for three hours was 1872
A FAULT or THE GOVERNMENT.
AT 1885 Chief Engineer Muth reported
10 Captain Galass that the water had so
accumulated In the crank pits that the
SHAFT craks were throwing il about the
engine-room IN such volumes as 80 abso-
lutely prevent the men from oiling the
machinery. and that the pipes which were
constructed 10 drain these pits 10 the |
bifee pumps were either INSTRUCTED or in /
sufficient. and that IL was necessary 10 !
stop the engines i'm order to get rid OF |
this water or the machinery was in dan
rer of injury. The Captain al once gave
the order. and the test. after continuing
for over three hours, was stopped The
contract requires four hours continuous |
work, and IL was with the deepest re- |
greet that trial which had begun un- |
der such favorable auspices and con-
unued so successfully should for a rea- |
son which did not belong 10 the ma
chinery have been ended without finally !
fulfilling all the requirements.
MIR. Melton. the engineer OF the Rich |
mond Locomotive Works. has calculated |
from the Indicator cards and from the |
average revolutions OF the developed |
horse power. and found that this average. |
nearly $500. was against $500 contracted |
for while about 1900 had been reached /
al certain periods. The contractors get |
800 for every horse power over $780, and
1000 horsepower means $4,000 premium /
for the Richmond Locomotive Works.
A FAVORABLE REPORT.
II is understood that Captain Glass will |
make most favorable report TO the |!
Navy Department and will recommend |
that the Texas be taken 10 the Brooklyn /
navy yard In order that the drainage APP !
paratus which belongs 10 the construc- /
ton OF the Government. may be cor /