The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-04-07
.1RB Tow AS SPEED TRIAL
Tho New U. $. Battleship
Leaves Her Anchorage
for Cape Ann.

WIN, April Z, lo5f.-Ine new Unit
ed States battleship Iowa, one of the
most formidable vessels of the Navy, left
her anchorage at the Boston Light, about
six miles down the harbor, early
this morning, and under clear sky and
with every indication of perfect weather
conditions, steamed for Cape Ann, from
which point she will make her official
speed trial over the Governments deep
water course to Boon Island and return
distance of 66 nautical miles.
The contract conditions under which
the Iowa was built by the well known
firm of William Crarnp & Sons, of Phila-
delphia, who have successfully complet-
ed so many of the vessels of the United
States Government, call for sustained
speed of 16 knots an hour for four hours
AS the Iowa on her builders trial, Mon
day, exceeded II knots there seems to
be no chance for doubt that she will do
much better than the specified speed, and
make for her builders a bonus, as pro-
vided for by the contract
1t is doubtful if so great interest in the
trial of any of the government vessels
has been shown by men who give atten-
ton to naval affairs and prominent citi-
zens generally as is apparently the case
today.
Mr.. johnson, secretary for the Cramps
stated that more persons had applied for
permission to be on board the iowa to-
day than on any other vessel that has
been tried in these waters.
The rug Kate Jones left the city at
seven o'clock this morning crowded with
naval officers, either detailed for the trial
or as guests, and very large number of
prominent citizens of Boston and else
where and including a number of New
York bankers and professional men.
1t is a little more than an hours run
to Boston Light. AS soon as the tugs
passengers had been landed on the
battlesflip, the work. of getting the Iowa
under way was quickly accomplished and
the vessel steamed down the Bay with
her ram directly for the starting point
Edwin s. Cramp, experimenting engineer
of the company, who built the vessel, was
in supreme command today. The com
mandirg officer of the Iowa is Captain
r. w. Sargent. Pilot Chambers, of Bos-
ton, who has held the wheel on many
similar occasions, guided the vessel today.
Assisting Captain Sergeant in working of
the vessel were engineers NJ P. Towne,
John Paterson and N. D. johnson, as
sistant Naval Architect, j W. Atlee and
]. H. Hull in charge of hull engineer
ing.
The members of the Board of Inspectors
and Survey who are on board today as
representative of the Government, are:
Commodore George Dewey, Captain F. G.
Picking Commanders c. H. Davis and
". Il. Browns, Lieutenant S. A. Staunton,
Medical Inspector W. K Van Reypen.
Paymaster Arthur Brotis. Chief Engineer
c. w. Stivers and Naval Constructor p F.
Hansoom. The officers who constituted
the engineering corps of observers includ-
ed Passed Assistant Engineers NORTH,
Leopold, g. w. Danforth and w B. Day,
of the Navy Yard and Past Assistant
Engineer Rounle, of the A1inance.
The course for today's run was not
lndentical with that over which triad trips
have been held. although although its
general direction was the same.
The buoy which marks the Startir,y
point was set fully six knots nearer Bos-
ton, or about southwest of Eastern Point
below Gloucester. This brought the end
OF the first leg nearly abeam of Cape
Ann Lights, which has been the usual
starting point, and well out at sea.
The Iowa's contract is the final one
making dna S provisions for a premium of $780,
by tho battfeship in excess of that called
for by the specifications. In this con-
nect1on 1t IS interesting to note that the
Cramps have earned large amounts
through the ability of vessels to go faster
than required by their contracts.
Tne Baltimore won $106,441 by so doing,
the 4orktown $S9, S25; her sister ship. the
Newark, $50, ,857; the Philadelphia. 500.
the Columbia, with 1.S0 knots, 1856. 900: the
minneapolis, 1000; the battleship Indi-
ana, -6l knot do oo extra, $4,000; the Massa-
fail, l,92 knots, $350,00o, or an aggregate
of s1,847, ,723.
1t was just S:25 O'Clock when the Iowa
began to move from her anchorage. At
which the Cramps had previously ex-
pressed strong wishes, prevailed, and the
sea was comparatively smooth.
The vessel gathered headway slowly.
but soon she began to toss the waves
with her iron bow, and in twenty minutes
she was well on her way towards the
mouth of Gloucester harbor
She passed first mark 10:30:29. hayins.
made first leg at rate OF IL 03 kssnts