New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-11
AFFAIRS AT THE NAVY YARD
THE MASSACHUSETTS, AND THE INDIANA
TO HAVE BIIGE KEELs SOON.
TRIALS OF THE NEW GUNBoATS-RIFLEs TO BE
DISTRIBUTED TO THE MARINEs-woRK

TRIALS OF The NEW GUNBOATS-klFl TO BE
DISTRIBUTED TO THE MARlxEs-woRK
IN THE MACHINE SHOPS
Interest in the possibilities of the Iowa as
epeedy ship has given way to qualification at
the excellent showing made by the big warship
which received her final grooming in preparation
for her race against time at the lands Of the
Navy Yard workmen. Examination of the dock
after the Iowa had left 1t showed that the big
structure is all right, and is a safe receptacle for
any vessel the Department may fit to float
over Its SILL The next ship to he locked at the
ysrd is the Massachusetts, which arrived at the
main sea wall late yesterday afternoon and will
90 into the dock tomorrow or Tuesday She will
be fitted with bige keels. or ROLLER checks" and
will be followed by the Indiana. which is also in
need OF the side fins. These bge keels are metal
plates projecting about two feet from the sides of
the ship abou; halfway between the true keel
and the water-lin,. The experience of the De-
partment has been that they restrain. in a great
measure the roll of big ship, and while by
this means insure better gun fire in sea way
also diminish the danger Of the ship starting
her turrets or big guns loose, as happened TO the
Indiana last winter. The work on the Massa-
chusetts. ii is expected will occupy about six
weeks. The Oregon, the third of the trio of bat
tle-ships is in drydock at Puget Sound and when
the shops at that point completed she will
receive the same treatment her sisters on this
side are scheduled for.
TRIALS OF NEW GUNBOATS
AS the NewYork is not expected to start for
the North with the big and little ships of the
feet in her wake before April 10 the yard will
be comparatively deserted until that time as the
monitor Puritan and the torpedo boat Ericsson
are the only vessels in commission there except
the Massachusetts, The trial of the Ericsson
developed nothing Of Importance, as the run was
not intended speed trial. but was taken
merely TO get her machinery shaken down lit
tie and to make that it was in good order
just when her speed trial will be had is an I'M
certain date. and just at present the outlook for
speed trials is such to warrant rush of bust
ness in that line The Bath Iron Works, 1t is
announced. will have of the gunboats
either the Vicksburg or the Newport, ready for
test by April 10, but this is likely 10 be deferred
as the Department has arranged for the trial of
the Annapolis over the Sound course on the 10Th
The Annapolis is now at the Crescent shipyards
undergoing alterations and overhauling. but
she will be ready within few Gays for test
This will interfere with the Bath built boats
their trial will probably be held off the Maine
coast. There is chance that the trials of the
Bath boats will not be by runs over a measured
course, but by what is known the standard
1ZeQ screw metnoO. by lHlS is ieariieu ac-
curately by trials the speed resulting from the
revolutions OF the screw al different speeds, and
the total speed over the course is learned by cal
culating the total number of revolutions and the
Gime covered.
NEW RIFLES GIVEN TO MARINES
Captain j. j. Hunker the chief ordnance Off
Ger at the yard has received instructions from
Captain Sampson Chief of the Bureau. to dis
tribute to the various marine barracks a number
of rifles of the new .236 calibre Shipments from
the station will begin at once. The order calls
for the following number to be sent to the posts
named Mare Island, 250 Boston. 40; Norfolk,
125: Brooklyn 80 marine barracks. Navy
Yard Washington, 100; marine barracks. Wash
angton, 125: Portsmouth and League Island, 100
each; Annapolis, 10; Newport, 90 Port Roya,
B.; Sitka 30: Puget Sound. %; Naval Home 20:
300 s.''N''' N
WORK IN THE MACHINE SHOPS.
In the machine shops work is going ahead on
the boilers for the Chicago and the Dolphin, the
set Of four for the latter vessel being well under
way while those for the Chicago receiving
their finishing touches. The big shafts for the
Chicago have been uncovered. and the castings
replaced on new plan the joints being Tapped
.nstead of simply butted together as they
made by the Reaches The old style admitted
some water to the shaft proper, with the result
that there distinct marks showing where
,he Joints were. although there was not suifi-
Client corrosion to cause any material damage.
The engines will. so it is said. be placed in the
shin as soon as she is ready TO receive them,
without a trial of the setting-up shop. where
they have been for some time. Proposals for
new boilers for the Atlanta are to be advertised
for within a few days the boilers to be Of the
tubular type. 1t is not expected that the cruiser
will show any increase OF speed over her old
rate and there is much disappointment at the
failure Of Engineer-in- Chief Melville 10 equip
the shin with twin screws, which ii was cacu-
lated would give her two knots additional speed.
The new boilers il is estimated will cost $4,000
EUROPEAN SQUADRON SHAKEN Up.
Considerable discussion has been caused by
xhe orders calling for a shake-up in the Euro
eean SQUADRON. According to the latest instruc-
tiors. Captain f. NJ. Shepard. Of the San Fran
cisco. is to exchange places with Captain Morti-
ner L. johnson, of the Cincinnati. The carpen-
ter OF the San Francisco E. w. Smith. has been
ordered 10 the Cincinnati. his place being taken
BY the carpenter Of the latter ship. f. j. Harte,
and the gunners of the ships also exchange
10 the Cincinnati. being relieved by W. A. Gable.
of little Swift and Ready.
II is not often tina, commander receives his
promotion and assignment 10 an important com
snand in such rapid order as fell 10 the lot OF
Commander Charles ID. Sigsbee. who was con-
armed in his new grade Wednesday. and
d.red 70 assume command Of the battle-ship
Maine Yesterday, relieving Captain Aren't $.
Crowninshield who takes Admiral Ramsays
place as head of the Bureau OF Navigation.
C;ptain Sigsbee comes straight from shore duty,
bis last place being photographer attached 10
the Bureau Of Navigation.
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