Evening journal., 1895-11-05
ArtleoI.l spesd RntInes.

That the trial trip Of maa-of-wsr or
other naval vessel goes for almost
naught as regards the speed Of such
vessel for practical purposes is forclbly
demonstrated In q report whish Admiral
Ramsey has presented to Secretary O.
the Navy Herbert The collation. Of "a
and 6rures Is made on the oroin.s,
cruising performances Of the new war
ships
Let us take the New York which is
rated as a 21-knot vessel. During the
past three months the best rate that she
maintained WAS IS knots. whish WAS
from Kiel to Gravesond, a distance Of
os5 knots. Her average for ths year was
but 10 knots.
The Columbls, while doing mueh
better Ia proportion, is not the % B..
knot vessel which she Is officially rated
Her average speed Ia less than IS knots.
whlls she only accomplished Is knots
on her record making run across the
Atlsntie. This ia equally trus Of the
Minneapolis. which developed a speed Of
2S OF kaots on hsr trial trip, bat whose
bost speed during the past year has not
excsedsd 143 knots. made between
Norfolk aud New York Consider the
Baltimore Her official trial rated her
at 30 096 knots, but, acting under
hurled orders in Chinese waters, while
flagship Of the China station, her
highest speed was 10 2 knots, naval ex-
ports claiming that she was doing almost
h8r bsst. With a record Of Is 10 knots,
the best time that the Chloago made,
before being laid upfor two years rs
pairs was knots. A maximum speed
of 10 . knots Is the record Of the Phila.
delphia which, on her trial trip, resled
of 10 SIS But this ia better than the
Newark. Her oriolal rating is 10 knots,
while her bsst actual accomplishment
since her trial trip has been but 81
knots.
Admiral Ramsey sums up his othor
comparisons in the following manner,
the higher figures showing tho trial
speed a1d the lower ones the tpied after
baing turned over to the governments
for practical use;
Monterey. 1876 knots, knots San Trau-
clsco, ~ 525 knots 1913 knots; Charleston.
lO 20 knots, l2 knots; Amphitrite, ~ knobs,
kuotr; Cincinnati, ~ knots. ~ knots; Raleigh.
10 knots n kno 3; Atlanta,l5 go knots,9 knots;
Detroit. Is II knots, 81 tuota, Montgomery,
1885 knots, 10 knots; Marbleheaq. IS. -
knots. N knots; Nohican, 40 80 knots, 10
knots bennington, ll.a knots, II knots;
tlncord, NJ knots. ~ knots; NerktoWn,
40 /. KNOTS, y knots; Dophis; ioog KNOTS. "
lVi knots, knoie; Castine. 10 81 knots, 10
knotsi Machlar. Is. "A knots, II knots; Alert.
DO knots, knots; hsngor, 10 knots. knott;
Nesuvius; q is knots, u knots. lsnuc, %
knote. Knots; Bnncroft, IA 3l knots,
knots. Michigan, 1913 knots, 10 ots; Pinta,
s.3 knots, 5 knots; Cushing, 22 knots, 10
knots.
Could anything moro forcibly demon
sirate the utter worthlessnels OF q rate
OF spesd based upon a trlsl trip with
picked men, picked coal, picked weather,
picked wster and picked course, con-
ttitutiug omponsnt. parts Of the rate
established The present system Of
Offering big bonus to contractors for
every knot or quarter knot shove q
given standard. seems TO simply serve
60 produce artificial ratings By artificial
means which cannot be used on ordinary
occasions. Such bonus is fattening to
the contractors, however, II IL does not
gige our ships OF war a stable speed
value as commerce destroysrs, or In the
pursuit Of or retreat from tho battle
ships Of other nations with whom we
should happen to be engaged IN war.