The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-03-18
IMPORTANT NEGOTIATIONS.
A Very Fast TorEedo Boat May Be
Added 10 the Navy.


New York, March 1.-Negotiations
which have been in progress for several
days between the Navy Department and
Charles r. Flint, of this city, were prac-
tically completed yesterday. whereby the
Government within two months may ac-
quire a torpedo boat which will be one of
the fastest craft in the country and which
will be a most Important addition to our
Navy. 1t is expected that the negotia-
tions will be ended either today or tomOr-
row for the construction of the vessel.
Mr.. Flint who has furnished many war
vessels to other governments, some time
ago placed an order with Charles ID. Mo-
sher for the building of steam yacht
which was to possess remarkable speed.
Work had been begun on the engines
when Argentina made bid to acquire
the contract, intending to have the craft
| built for q torpedo boat instead of for
| pleasure craft. The contract was made
| over to the South American republic, but
| soon afterward it changed it's determina-
| ton, and induced Mr.. Flint to rescind the
| contract.
When the present urgent need of tor
| pedo boats was admitted, a few days ago,
| by the Navy Department, Mr.. Flint went
| to Washington and offered Secretary
| Long an opportunity to acquire the boat
| promising to have the work rushed with
| the greatest possible speed The Secre-
| tary was greatly pleased with Mr., Flint's
| offer and told him he would give it Sc
! riouS consideration.
Mr. Flint returned to New York, and on
| Saturday last received a telegram from
| Secretary Long. asking him to visit
| Washington at once. He did so. with the
| result that after a conference the likeli-
! hood of the. Government accepting Mr..
! Flint's offer was stronger than ever. Yes
| terday Mr.. Flint was in communication
n 81.
| and it is now almost an assured fact
that the work on the boat will be started
| forthwith. Mr.. Mosher went to Washing
| ton on the Congressional limited train
yesterday afternoon to see Secretary Long
| in regard to certain details of the boat s
construction He was accompanied by
Lieut. Very. of the American Ordnance
Company.
From Mr.. Flint and Mr. Mosher the fol-
lowing facts about the vessel we're OBJ
tanned: Up to the present time nothing
has been done toward the construction OF
| the hull. but her quadruple engines are
six months advanced toward completion
There are two of these, each capable OF
| developing 200 horse power One set OF
engines is being built in Newark, n. j.
and the other in Bethlehem, Pa. The df
ameters of the cylinders are H. H. q, and
81 by Is inches stroke. She will have
twin screws. Her dimensions VIII be
| Length on the load line, 1870 feet; beam
1876 feet draught feet; speed 81 knot.
| or more. Her coal bunkers will be o.
sufficient capacity to allow her to eros:
the Atlantic at a reasonable speed Sht
will have seven steel bulkheads dividinl
her into eight watertight compartments
She will have twolboiiers of the Moshe
water tube type. having, so square feet o
CRATE surface. and 5000 square feet o
| heating surface.
There will be accommodations for TWEEN
ty-fom men, including officers. Near tn
bow will be the captains room. Adjoin
ing IT Will be the ward room, and in tn
rear of that the buffers pantry. bath, etc
Two petty officers berths and two berth
for machinists follow The succeeding
space contains the boiler and engin
rooms The magazine and galley, on op
! | posite ends of the vessel, adioin The
come four berths for the crew, and fur
! ther aft other quarters for the crew
! | containing sixteen berths.
, On the port and starboard sides, jus
forward of the smokestack, and on tn
! upper deck, win be two 1S-inch tOrped
, tubes while there will be one of the sam
dimensions at the stern. She will ais
> have two 3-pounders, one near the boy
a and the other aft of amidships Four
I | Founders will complete the vessels bat
+ terry Two of these will be near eac
other amidships, while another will be af
| near the torpedo tube, and the fourt
near the 3-pounder forward.
? AS soon as the contract for the boat
, | signed the work of building her will b
\ | divided among several concerns, so tina
she may be ready at the earliest possibl
5 | moment.