New-York tribune., 1896-05-31


ceremonies OF the day at various points In the
steam engineering shops. the last OF the cylinders
Tor the Chicago's new equipment has been taken
INTO the testing-room. and will be set up within
few days. This completes one of the largest
jobs undertaken by the shops in a long time, the
casting of the fun set of cylinders for the
cruisers engines The work was begun in the
administration OF Chief Engineer S. L. z. Ayrss,
and has been continued by Chief Engineer
Farmer and his assistants without a hitch or
delay.
A WELCOME INVESTIGATION BY CONGRESS-
Now. that there Is prospect Of Congressional
investigation Of the affairs Of the different bu-
reaus in the yard. there is feeling of satisfac-
ton among the men who have been the subject
of attacks from those outside the service and the
opinions expressed point to the belief that the in
vestigaton will result in some radio al changes
which will work benefit to the yard force and at
the same time prevent the making Of trouble
by those who are anxious to get even for real
fancied injuries. 1t is matter Of unfavor-
able comment that work the mentor Puri-
tan should be held up and delayed by dis
pute between two bureaus as to authority Tor
making certain disposition and arrangement OF
material. The Board Of Inquiry into the trouble
between Construction and Repair and ordnance
has not yet finished its labors and no one seems
to know when the end Will be In sight.
Captain Theodore F. Kane, who was ordered TO
command the Newark. some days ago. has had
his orders to this effect held up pending the de-
cision of a Retiring Board in his case The De-
partment has issued orders to this officer direct
assembled at the Washington Navy Yard on
Thursday. This action of the Department was
due t. letter from Captain Kane stating tnat ne
was not fit TO go TO sea IL may be reneinDereu
that he was relieved from the command or the
Monterey some months ago on the grouhu tnat
ne was unable to perform active service oihct
then his health has improved, and couple OF
months ago letter was received at the Depart
ment from this officer stating that ne was again
fit for duty and asking for station me me ON ON
mand of the Newark became vacant IN the mean
time and in view of the intention OF the authorl-
ties with regard to granting Captain Reed re.
examination that officers orders to the command
~ tho Newark were revoked and Captain Kane
was ordered in his stead. Shortly after the re-
ceipt Of these orders the Department received an
other communicated from Captain Kane, II is
understood. asking that HE orders be revoked on
the ground that he was not yet IN condltloh lor
sea service The Departments reply was It's or
ders directing his appearance peiore he'"i's
Boa I'd for examination FOR retirement
OTHER ITEMS OF NEWS.
A. trial ~ the twelve-inch armor- piercing
Carpenter shell at Sandy Hook on May -. the
shot u Is reported penetrated thirteen and
half inches of nickel steel armor and elk inches
Of oak-backing and was recovered from the sand
unintlred The shot demonstrated. II iS believed,
that the sixteen-nch gun need not pc pullt az d,
present The projectile weighed l,loo pou'iuS.
The muzZle velocity and the distance are hV1
given but they were so regulated as to make the
Impact equal to a range OF one mile
Civil Engineer r. f. Peary will. IT Is expecteo.
he accompanied to Greenland this summer by
geological expedition from Cornell University.
II is now announced that Secretary Herbert
will not advertise for bids for the construction o..
a torpedo-cruiser. in accordance Win the act u,
June 30 1890 appropriating S3JO.Oo for Vesee.
of $50 tons displacement. having speed OF NOT
less than twenty-three knots an hour In view or
this decision the question is raised az 10 why lne
vessel should not be built at the Brooklyn yard
The Department at the time was unable 10 hhd
any one willing build the ship In accordance
with the provisions Of the act, and the money
has remained uneXpended In the treasury e'er
since In line with the Secretarys course III
strengthening the Navy much as possible at
tention has been given to the vessel mentioned;
The subject referred TO the chiefs OK the
Bureaus Of Construction and Repair ana steam
Engineering, and It is their report when mas
caused the Secretary &c abandon the idea OF
building the vessel unlees Congress agrees TO
make certain notifications in the act authorH-
ing her The question as to what modln-
cations II any. should be made in the plans ana
specifications prepared for hcr construction IN
order that an efficient vessel might be built. The
report OF the bureaus states that vessel OF this
class can be built at much lower pf1ce
than possible al the date or the act OF June
80 1870. They are OF the opinion that there ~
a possibility that If again advertised bids mlgnt
be received for such craft at price within the
limit fixed by the act. The bureaus also sub
mitted these three alternative PROPOSITIONS.
neither of which can be adopted by the Dep@r' +
ment without the consent Of Congress: That the
limit Of cost be increased 10 S4b,OOO. thus pro-
viding for the construction of a vessel or '."
tCns displacement and % knots speed. That the
speed requirement be reduced from ~ 10 -
knots thus providing for a torpedo cruiser oi
15O tons displacement and 22 knots speed. with
limit OF cost fixed at S31OUD That the as
placement be reduced from 40 tons to 800 tons.
the limit OF cost reduced 10 %FD.ooO. anC INC
sneej Increased to - knots. 1t Is not expected
that secretary Herbert will take any action in
the matter at present. but will submit a recon-
uendation to Congress In his next annual report.