The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-04-21

Armor- Ciadh and Gunboats Coming fof'
WARDROBE Royal Dock--Powders'

lON, ~. ~ <Nf'--
other months progress on the new snips
| is noted by Chief Constructor Hichoorn'
and it shows the batteships Massa-
cbusetts and Oregon and the monitor
Terror to be practically done, with w.
| 0s. and 30 per cent. OF compieuoh' re-
spectively, marked against them. Inc
Puritan closely follows, with W. per cent
The armored cruiser Brooklyn ana the
Iigbt-draft gunboats Nashville, Whining
ton. and Helena are over three-fourths
done with II per cent. The sea-golng
battleship Iowa. now well advanced. mas
| 5s per cent 1t would seem reasonable
to count on using all these new vessels,
except the Iowa, i'm case OF need, as
work upon them could be hurried during
the interval which would elapse before
any of our present international reia-
tions could possibly be strained to the
point Of actual war.
OF the remaining new vessels the most
advanced are the three Newport News
torpedo boats, which are nearly one
third done, or 30, 81, and 81 per cent,
respectively The Seattle torpedo boat
is also credited with per cent, while
her contemporaries. building at Bristol,
have nothing yet done. OF the six COM
poslte boats, Nos. IL and II are $40 per
cent. advanced. and the four others not
at all. steam Tug NO. % Is OIe-ilANli NOh''
II seems likely that, instead OF carrying
fourteen guns of the 5-inch calibre, the
Kearsargo and the Kentucky may have
about ten G-inch substituted, as Captain
Sampson Is In favor Of the larger caliDre.
The four l3-inch and four s-inch VIII be
likely to remain as originally fixed, pro-
vlded the superposed turrets are used.
The report made of the Port Royal
dock by Commander Rockwell, command
ing tho station there, is very hatterlng
10 its efficiency. He says that the Indiana
did not receive so much as scratch IN
getting In or out, as far as Is known,
and that tho use of the dock sis easy
and feasible at all tines This last
statement is, of course based on the as
sumption of there being sufficient water;
and perhaps I'm a choice for the heavy
battloships between the Port Royal and
the new Brooklyn dock, the latter Would
be generally preferred. 1t seems clear
that other large docks ought to be con-
structed for the Atlantic coast.
Although the navy bill as 1t passed
tile House makes no provision for new
dry docks. Senators Gallinger of New
Hampshire, and Walthall, of Mississippi.
propose amendments for yards at Ports
mouth, y. H., and Algiers. La, respec-
lively, with appropriations OF 100000
each to begin work. The Algiers dock
IS not TO cost more than 81, 1000, bu;
If the foundations and surroundings were
all right. it apparently would not need
10 cost over half that sum.
on the return from Port Royal to Hamp-
ton Roads the Indiana showed good
steaming. with natural draught, and also
n remarkable absence Of heavy rolling
under broadside sea. There is no doubt
that she and her mates are good service
vessels. The Indiana now has heavier
battle matches. replacing those that were
injured by firing the l3-inch guns.
Very few changes have been recon-
mended by the board which made the
final report on the katahdin. The ma
chinery all worked well, and the only
need Of much consequence was that of
guanIs around the matches to keep the
water from entering. The proposal of
Chief Engineer Melville to give her more
speed is not likely to be carried out now.
The report on the monitor Monadnock
finds some fault with the hydraulic appa-
ratus, and says that various items of
minor work are yet TO be completed. The
heavy southeasterlY gale she encountered
on her run from San Francisco TO San
Diego, showed her TO be thoroughly sea-
worthy, and Captain Sumner called her a
most excellent ship. She took plenty OF
water aboard through the chain holes
and turret yentilators, but found no trou-
bic in making her voyage. 1t was noted
by trial that the turret could make its
extreme train in seventy-four seconds.
with water pressure of from 400 10 800
pounds.
Smokeless powder will probably be sup
piled soon, at least In small lots, although
AT considerable cost the price asked for
its manufacture on the navy formula be-
ing 81 per pound, or more than three times
as much as the cost Of the brown powder
now used. Still, a smaller weight OF the
former is required, and, in fact. only a
little over one-half to produce equally good
results.
The severe damage received by the
Swedish merchantmen. which ran into the
Monterey at Seattle, while the coast de-
fender appears only to have had one plate
dented a little. ana three riveI-heads
Knocked OFF, will be noted by those who
hold that the ramming vessel is likely
TO get Der fun share of the harm in a ram
attack. or course however, n monitor is
expected to stand more OF a pounding than
merchantmen; still, the Monterey did
herself great credit.
The specifications for the Kentucky and
Kearsarge cal for corn-pith cellulose in
their cofferdams. This is the American
material, which is said 10 be both cheap
er and better than the cocoa cellulose.
Neither is washed out of the gunshot
hoe by the action of the waves, but the
corn pith does not have any corrosive
effect, and 1t allows water to persolate
through 1t much moro slowly, while it is
also less combustible than the other
brand.
The House Committee on Naval Az
fairs has favorably reported the Senate
bill establishing a naval training station
IN san francisco harbor; but, perhaps.
~ ~fL
that, by making apprentices additional
10 the enlisted strength, it would add
40 more mon TO the navy. or l,75O with
the LOCO in the current naval bill, making
200 more with last years addition. while
the 800 proposed for the marine corps
would bring recent additions in the NAVY
Department up TO 3,250.-New York Sun.