New-York tribune., 1897-07-29
TTREPROOF WOOD FOR WIRSHIPS


Non-inhammablc wood or iireprocf wood. as
It Is commonly spoken of outside Of the circle
of experts. has received considerable attention
from naval constructors and naval engineers
since the Yaloo ILiver fight in the Chna-Japan
War and more especially at the recent Inter
national Congress of Naval Architects and
Marine Engineers. at London. and from the
naval authorities Of the United States and
Japan. The Chief of the Bureau Of Ordnance
of the United States Navy recently made some
tests of fireproof wood for the purpose of re-
porting upon lis value for use in making boxes
for fixed ammunition His report declares that
the wood. by being treated with the chemicals
used in the fireproof process. lost considerable
strength and difficult to work; that it also
corroded a piece Of brass placed between two
pieces Of il. absorbed moisture to a marked ex-
tent and refused to receive paint This report
resulted in instructions by Secretary Long to
the Board Of Bureau Chiefs TO make thorough
investigation of the Use Of freproOf wood and
the result is predicted that the Government will
find it advisable TO cancel contracts thar have
been made for fitting vessels under construction
with wood thus treated
The Board Of Bureau Chiefs has received
several reports already. The Columbian Iron
Works. at Baltimore, reports that five coats of
paint were tried on single section of fireproof
wood. and it refused to receive any Of them.
or the experimenting constructors at the
various naval stations, one report declares that
the tools employed in working the wood have
been badly corroded by the chemicals used in
the fireproOing treatment. Another makes Il
report upon the corrosive effect upon the steel
and iron in the ship. II IS also reported that
the wood is exceedingly porous and is apt TO
make the decks OF ship spOngy An article
recently appeared in an English service paper,
written by "an expert" in which the writer de-
scrbed the decks Of the armored cruiser Brook
lyn as OF nOn-lnflammable wood. and he con-
trasted their appearance dlsadvantageOusy
with those Of the British men-ofwar. He also
predicted that the decks would not wear WELL
and was generally uncomplimentary TO non
inhammable wood. Professor Biles the we'll
known English expert. has corrected this state
ment by declaring that the decks Of the Brook
lyn ere not Of non-inhammabe wood. but that
they are thoroughly sound and thoroughly dur
able" and In every respect up to the mark
The decks Of the Brooklyn are of Oregon pine
The gunboat Helena is fitted with a deck made
OF fireproof wood. and the Board Of Bureau
terial and It's effect upon the ship and report
upon the advlsability Of It's use in the future
The only large vessel in the Navy the decks OF
which are built with the fireprOof wood is the
batle-ship Iowa.
The subject of nOn-inhammable wood was
discussed at much length by the International
Congress OF Naval Architects and Marine Enyl-
neers. Charles +. Ellis, describing the process
of making wood non-combuStible said that II
increased The weight from = to L. per cent. and
that the arguments for its Use rested upon two
grounds only, i. O.. because it is non-lnhamma-
Die. and because by reason Of It's low con-
ductivity or heat. il may be employed in sub
s'ltulon for material Of greater conducive
power. Others spoke favOrably of the ma
'erial lis chief drawbacks were represented
10 be lis weight and cost. Professor Bes SIG
gested that The effect OF weather on the wood
might be nuted II the decks were washed
with solution OF the chemicals used in the fire.
PROBING process The system IS really an
American Invention and 50 much discussion
was given 10 the subject by the Congress that
the British Admiralty has ordered a series Of
experiments 10 he made M The Chatham dock;
yard. In order 10 obtain additional and valuable
Information Of the advantages or dIsodv,n-
tages OF fireproof wood