The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1897-03-22
THE QUESTION OF sHEATHING.
Mysterious Influences in the Navy
Department Against 1t.


About four months ago the United states
gunboat Castine returned from the South
Atlantic station, bringing the men Of the
squadron whose term Of service was about
to expire. The day tc return had been
named when it was discovered that the
bottom of the vessel was badly pitted
and it was placed in the drytiock at the
Norfolk navy yard. Twenty eight steel
plates were removed and new ones SUBJ
stitUted, consuming six weeks time and
the compensation OF its personnel from
commanding officer TO apprentice; great
loss and expense to the Government. The
incident suggests that very many OF the
steel vessels of all the great nations, ex-
cept- America, have their bottoms sheathed
with wood and coppered to prevent pitting
and marine growth, at a saving OF many
thousands OF dollars per annum, as Well
as the preservation of the lives Of the
vessels. Chief Naval Constructor Philip
Hichborn, repUted the best naval con-
gtrUctor in the world, has exercised his
influence from the building OF the Chi
cago, Atlanta and Boston, the first vessels
of the new Navy, to have the bottoms
of vessels sheathed, without avail.
There is a powerful influence in the
Navy, said to be located by some in the
Bureau of Ordnance, that has defeated the
plans OF the Bureau OF Construction and Re
pair, as stated, in the interest OF so-called
waterproof and preservatiye paints, which
have proved, and will continue 10 prove,
entirely inadequate as preserveTs.
in volume two, OF TRANSACTIONS Of the
Society or Naval Architects ami Marine
a.
Sampson, chief Of the Bureau of Ordnance,
says: Il have seen the coppered bottom
of a ship more completely covered with
marine growth than any steel ship / ever
saw in dock - Ihave seen the cop
pered bottom of cruising ship in the
West Indies completely covered with sea-
weed three feet long The commodore
omitted tn state that the moment the foul
bottomed, eoppered vessel was under way
the growth referred to was swept off
clean by the passage of the vessel through
the water He says: ''Sheathing adds
TO the first cost Of the ship; IL is "A
constant source Of expenditure in the
added weight always TO be carried, and
consequent reduction Of speed, as COM
pared with the same ship unsheathed.
Subsequently, the hull, while still
on the ways, should receive several coats
Of adherent paint, which can have months
to become hard as possible. especial at
tention being given To the waterline pOr-
ton both as to freedom from oxide and
subsequent painting" In reply, CommO-
dore Hichborn said: Referring 10 Capt.
sampson's remarks on sheathing. 1 need
only say that the majority OF those who
he,
adhere to the belief that sheathing is de
sirable for all vessels whose base of opera
tons j $ far removed from drydoeks. 1t is
by no means claimed that sheathing alb
solutely prevents fouling-it is merely an
important agency in preventing excessive
fouling due to long periods out OF dock,
when docks are inaccessible, or the SER
vice upon which the vessel is employed is
such as to preclude withdrawal from her
station"
1t was remarked very soon after the new
Secretary of the Navy was appointed that
the hostile influence is being exerted, or
an effort is being made to exert il, upon
him to the prejudice of the Bureau of
and Repair. To one in the
foretop. it appears that the Bureau of
Ordnance should tighten its guns, and
exert its surplus ability in Tightening
turrets and top-hamper of naval vessels
and leave the matter OF construction to
the proper bureau and the officers es-
pecially educated for that purpose.
In its reports for the fiscal years ending
June 30, 1889, and June 80, 1891, the
Bureau of Construction and Repair dis
cUssed the subject of sheathing, asserting
it's conviction Of the great economy To be
obtained by adopting the system for future
intended for foreign cruis
ing Experience has confirmed the con-
viction, and it appears incontestable that
the cost of fitting sheathing to the bottoms
of our cruisers would be more than saved
during a single three years cruise, by
The decrease in coal consumption and dock
ing bills, without considering the ques ton
Of ability to maintain the speed for which
the vessels were designed.
The prejudice, for it is nothing else,
against sheathing, has been SO great that
Of all the new vessels not one has had
it's bottom sheathed and coppered. The
first departure from the established prac-
tice, has been the recent construction
OF six composite gunboats. These vessels
will be of much greater value and much
less expense by reason OF having wooden
bottoms, coppered. Steel vessels are
to be locked for cleaning twice
each year, but they cannot maintain their
speed for one month after leaving the
dock, nor their economy OF coal consUmp-
lion. That fact, added TO the cost of |
docking, which is excessive on foreign !
stations, should, of itself be sufficient |
10 change the American practice. We're |
)ur vessels sheathed they would not be |
compelled to go into foreign docks, nor |
my docks, until after the end OF three |
years cruise.
1t may be remarked that at the time |
Of the Construction Bureaus $50 report |
sheathing. the practice was |
not largely followed abroad. Since then /
t has been very much extended, especially /
Is to recent English constructions Had |
America adopted sheathing seven years /
ago it would have led other nations. Now |
t can but follow, but that does not lessen |
he value of sheathing The methods OF
have been much simplified and |
,heapened BY experience. Formerly it |
vas believed essential to fit two courses |
II planks, but with the best modern prac-
ice there is but one thickness, ut much |
ess cost.
1t is to be hoped that in the light Of
experience the Bureau of Construction
will not meet with such opposition In the
uture as in the past, and that cruising
vessels Of our Navy will have their bot
oms sheathed and coppered Why not
ry it on the Kearsarge, Kentucky, Illinois,
4 Ia bama, and Wisconsin, now building, or.
not upon all, upon four of them, three |
II them, two OF them, one OF them? Why /
lot let the Chief Naval Constructor build
1t least one vessel in accordance with |