The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1897-12-07
Extensive Repairs Were Made
to the Baltimore.
THE WORK OF TWO YEARS
Completely Re-arranged and Mod
Moved Boats Now Model.


having arrived at Mare Island from
service on the Asiatic Station. She had
encountered very severe weather on
IN trip across the Pacific. and was
apparently in bad way when she went
out OF commission at Mare Island in
the early part of 1896.
The vessel had been continuously in
commission for seven years. and near
~ all the parts subject to wear and
tear were used up. The boilers and
engines were in fair shape considering
the use they had been put to, and the
length of time they had been in SER
vice. The cruiser had received some
repairs at Mare Island in 1892. and her
machinery was then placed in good or
der.
The actual repairs began in July,
1896, and were kept going as fast as
the money available would allow, the
work on several other vessels taking
precedence over that on the Baltimore
The vessel was completely rear
ranged and moderated as far as pos
sible. All the wooden ceiling in the
ship was torn out, and the shell was
scaled, cleaned and painted The
partitions between the officers quar-
tiers were taken out and replaced by
movable bulkheads, fastened with
wooden buttons, so arranged that all
the partitions in the ship can be taken
down at five minutes notice and either
slowed away or thrown overheard if
the vessel goes into action. This pre-
vents all danger from flying splinters
at such time. In other parts of the
vessel the wooden ceiling was replaced
by cork paint. All the wood used in
the new partitions were submitted to
the fire proofing process.
While the vessel was in dock her
hull was carefully cleaned and exam
1ned before being reprinted. There
was no sign of pitting or deterioration
worthy of attention
The drainage system and water sup
ply pipes have been completely over
hauled and remOdeled One important
change was removing the fire main
and placing it below the protective
deck, out of danger from a shot should
the vessel go into action. Another
change was the installation of facili-
ties to draw fresh water readily in
any part of the vessel
sary attention in the Mare Island boat
shop, which is equivalent to saying
that they were placed in a condition
that cannot be excelled. Besides re-
pairing all the boats and remodeling
the cradles and boat gear, four new
boats have been furnished. They in
clude 33-foot and a 28-foot steam
cutter and two whaleboats The credit
of the boat shop for frst-class work
has been upheld in these boats. which
will certainly compare favorably with
any in the Navy.
During the last cruise of the vessel,
on her return to the United States the
vessel encountered a terrible storm,
and was for a time in great danger on
account of her wooden matches. These
have been removed and high hatch
combings of steel substituted in ac-
cordance with modern practice The
spar and berth decks were entirely re-
neWed.
The ammunition rooms were re-
modelled and modernized in accordance
with modern practice. At the same
time the capacity of the rooms has
been increased fifty per cent, thus in
creasing the fighting efficiency of the
vessel
The most important change in that
line was the installation of three cleo
trio ammunition hoists. These are To-
Gated in different parts of the vessel
and are capable of transporting am
munition from the store rooms to the
deck in sixteen seconds. This is vast
improvement over the old system, and
places the Baltimore in the front rank
of cruisers.
The voice tubes and wires from the
coming towr to the different parts of
the ship were placed within steel
tube three inches in thickness, in order
to protect them from danger in time
of action, and to prevent communica-
tion from the coming tower being cut
off,
The ash chutes have been removed
from the outside of the hull and placed
on the inside. where they are cleaner
and better in every respect
The gunbeds were all taken up and
replaced with mahogany as there was
no teak available for this purpose. The
authorities on Mare Island ordered the
teak fourteen months before the ship
was completed, but it did not come.
The guns were removed to the Ord
nance Department, where they were
overhauled and the carriages and
working parts put in first class condi-
ton. In this point only is the Balti-
more in any wise deficient, as late
strides in naval armament have placed
her rifled guns behind the rapid firing
ones. Were the Baltimore equipped
with rapid firing guns, she would equal
any vessel of her class in the world.
The capstan engine of the vessel has
been overhauled and improved. The
galley has been rearranged and i'm
proved. 1t is larger than previously
and the work of preparing meals for
the crew is made much easier and more
convenient.
Trolleys have been provided between
decks for transporting coal. and the
excessive work and time lost in carry
ing coal will be saved hereafter.
The ventilating system has been