New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-10-29
NJ WORRY OYER THE MAINE.
SECRETARY HERBERT SAYS THE AL
LEGGED DEFECTS AMOUNT TO
NOTHING

TRIMMING TANKS AND BALLAST WILL MAKE
HER RIDE LEvEI.-THE OFFICERS on BOARD
ALSO UNCoNCERNED
Washington Oct 2s.--secrstary Herbert this after
noon made the following official statement about the
defects in the Maine
THE Maine designed to be on an even ksei al
her normal iraught OF twenty-one feet six nches
with 4OD tons OF coal on board. She has now oeen
fully loaded with over 500 tons OF coal. ana hef
iraught forward is two feet five inches greater 'ha'
aft This Is not nmon. Many other ships "hen
fully loaded are down By the head more or iess.
When the ship has been at sea for Few DAYS 'n'S
will be corrected in great part at least by using 'he
coal. which is generally taken from the Ior"ai
mart OF the vessel Il would OF course be preefdo'
that she should not be down by the head quite so
much AS she is but this Will I've corrected by the use
Of the after trimming tank provided for this pu'-
pose and by shifting Of stores to the aft rooms
not now used. II perhaps may be a.so necessary 70
add some permanent ballast.
las to the listing OF the Maine to starooard th's
is not a matter of importance. 1t can be easiy CUT
rected b. adjustment of weights in loading The AZ
lanta and Boston both proved TO be very ser ,
yicesble ships but In eacn OF these there - !" 80
corrected by loading These vessels both list when
unoaded about seven degrees or nearly u1uo Ets
which was a splendid vessel in her day, was re-
quirsi to be trimmed twenty-eight inches oy "e'
head to get her full speed
Officers az the Brooklyn Navy Yard and on poaTu
the Maine not disposed TO discuss the reports
as to the condition OF the cruiser yesterday De-
yond relterating the assertions made on SUNDAY
that the ship all right. 1t was expected th'''
some Sigh, changes in the disposition Of weights
on board the ship would be made. and as she dio
not sail yesterday Gardeners Bay as II h"u
been announced she would. II is likely that the
shifting Will be done before her departure she
was ready sail hours notice. hO"eNe'' -
the fires banked under hef DoHeis' anu INV
question Of steam was OF only a snort t!Hle.
Her trimming tank has not yet been hlIed, nor
has anv change been made in the disposition OF her
stores and ammunition. In conversation IesdauiIs
her being down ny the head one OF her orlceIs
called attention the fact that there was notiinh
in that which called for alarm. and cited the rae
Ericsson back TO his native lanc she was apou'
three feet deeper al the bow than AT the slSli
The Atlanta and other vessels OF the Navy hdu
had complaint. and attacks had Deel Hlsue
an many Of them at various times without impair
ing their efficiency. The Philadelphia had peeh ue
no1nced as topheavy. the Gushing had been termed
a marine crazy-quilt and other cases were Iie IN
toned. ali the vessels, however having SHOWN Dy
service that they all right. IL was pointer
out that when the Maine was comparatively eHpey
she WAS on an even keel. and drew water iorWdro
10 slightly greater depth than ait, showing ina
what trouble there could be laid entre!y 70 tne
Si.nosltion OF the coal ammunition and stores on
lust when the ship would sail or her trip east
orScers who would speak Of the matter all were OF
the opinion that her delay would be short ana u sne
sailed In her present condition she Wouio oe al
light as soon the coal was taken from me ioI
They were indignant at the statements puosheo
rsgardnQ the deficiencies and defects alleged TO ex
,sf and were not al all alarmed at the prospect OF
going 10 sea on board the ship.