Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1897-06-18
THE CRUISER COLUMBIA.
Marvellous Ingenuity In UtiIizin
the Power OF Steam.

of machinery is modern man-of war !!
The Columbia" for example, the
pet of the new navy, and fondly re-
ferred to by many as the Pirate"
shows to what degree ingenuity can
be carried in the way of utilizing the
power of steam.
This fleet cruiser was the first war
ship constructed having three screw
propellers, and it has the record of
crossing the Atlantic in shorter time
than was ever made by representative
of any other navy.
If a citizen of ordinary intelligence
were asked to give guess as to the
number of steam engines on board
this ship he would probably answer
about ten, yet the official list enum-
crates no less than ninty-six distinct
engines, giving the function of each.
To begin with, each propeller is
driven by a totally distinct and sep
aratc set of condensing triple ex-
pansion engines. To make each pro-
peller wholly independent of the
others in its operation each triple ex-
pansiQn driving engine has its own
steam. engine to circulate water
through the condenser, another to
exhaust air from the condenser, third
to reverse its valve mechanism, and
fourth to turn the shaft from time to
time when in port and the steam in
the main set of boilers is not up, max
ing a total of five engines for each pro-
peller, one triple expansion, three
double engines and one single one.
The three propellers have fifteen en-
gines containing thirty steam cylinders.
When the boat is to be driven at its
highest speed, eighteen blowers for
forced draft are used, each driven by
double vertical engine.
One engine used for steering, two
for running the dynamos, one for the
workshop, one for circulating the
lubricating oil through the main en-
gines, one for operating the windlass
to raise the anchor, one for the cool.
ing plant, and two for turning the
winches.
For elevating the ammunition from
the magazine and loading the big guns
four engines of special type are used.
Eight vertical double engines serve to
raise the ashes from the furnace room
and throw them overheard.
In case the ship should spring a
leak, or should be pierced below the
water line by cannon ball, ten en-
gines not previously referred to could
at once be set to work to pump out
the inrushing water. Most of these
could also be used to throw streams of
water through ordinary hose pipe in
case fire should break out.
Eight engines are put to use in
driving fans which supply fresh cool
air to various parts of the ship. These
are distinct from those used to operate
the blowers for forced draft. For
supplying water to the main system of
boilers eight engines are regularly
used, and for the auxiliary system of
boilers there are four more. Besides
these twelve feed-water engines, there
are five bilge and fire engines, which
can be used whenever desired to force
water into the boilers.
The total number of steam en-
gines on board the ship is ninety-six,
and the number of separate cylinders
to be kept in working order is 1S4.
The number of men detailed to look
after this intricate system of engines
is one hundred and ninety-six. This,
ofcourse, includes coal handlers. oilers,
machinists and engineers.
Although the new navy contains
several ships larger than the Column
bia, there are none that have more
steam engines for working them.