New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-08

INJURIES oBvIATED-A SKILLED CREW.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TnrBrXEl
Washington Aug THE repair ship Vulcan is
one OF the naval successes of the existing war.
That so wholly novel an adjunct to modern fleet
should prove her worth at once, and so siGnalIy IN
the intricate science OF naval conflict IL strong
evidence not only OF the need which she has hlied.
but OF the vigilance and foresight OF the Engineer
in-Chief Of the Navy. with whom her design origi-
mated. and under whose direction her plant las
been installed.
In the old days feet had few wants except
breeze ammunition and a fee. 1t could Keep the
indefinitely with visits few and FAR between 10
supply ports from supply ships Nelson main
tanned the blockade OF Toulon for long months
without a homeward cruise When. despite his
keen watch tho French fleet escaped. he secured
the Mediterranean as far as the shores OF hgyP'
in search OF H. and then. with PREPARATION not
OF months. but of hours, the tireless Adniitdl
sailed out Of Gibraltar Strait on his long cruise
10 the West Indies and back again. In the chase
that ended with Trafalgar The brief preparation
the supplies so small in variety, the long runs on
the open sea--al Of these were possible only oe-
cause the warshlp Of that day was modei OF SIM
plicty requiring ll,le to 1T her for the chase Ut
for tho fight.
CHANGE BROUGHT BY STEAM
The advent OF the engineer and his omnipresencc
on land and sea have changed all this with me
frigates Of our old feet. there has vanished All VI
the s.mplicity The fleets primitive wants nave
been replaced by the Immune rabe needs oi "o"'.'1
fortresses OF steel. which. in their vast essfes''
~ machinery Of varied types. are like the great
engineering establishments of the land' Anu ~ "
stead Of a Nelson keeping the sea Tor mo'l'l7 wiz
out aid from the shore. find Cervera at'ei
,eIsirolv massage Of little over two thousa'i mn
turning tho prows of his doomed ships to the HrS'
friendly mort for overhaulirg. for repairs IN" '
fiat prime essential CT modern heNai wal 49,,
Evidently the warships OF to-day nave "' .
range OF action tremendously reduced az co'rp
with that ~ their cd-,ime predecessors but a's''
TO keep them at the maximum point OF e'i'''0''
there will be required lnceSsahI "poi '
greater expenditure. ..,.
u rpust be remembered. too that this cons'"n'
work OF inspection. Overhaulng ana repair ""''
20 on wherever tho fleet may be serving "he'"e'
II lie baskng on the long swelis when peat o' "'
sunlt Cuban coast. dash across the Aua'lu'
on some swift raid or more distant s'"' VIII"
Dewey five thousand miles and more from nome
harbors and friendly base. II the ships were
always within reach u the great yards from whch
they were launched. the problem OF maintaining
their efficiency would be simple. Neither TINS nor
n return there is possible in war; and So as the
mountain will not come TO Mahomet. the repair
ship must seek the fleet.
A THOROUGH EQUIPMENT.
In preparing for this exigency the Navy be-
partment on the outbreak Of the war purchased
the steamship Chatham renamed her the vulcan
and fitted her ont with much expedition at the
Ioston Navy Yard IL may here be noted mat the
Vulcan IL not the first repair snip whlch 'he
Engineering Chief has projected. IS long ago as
1891 when there seemed prospect or war WIN
chin. plans were prepared for fitting out several
repair ships and work was actually begun on the
steamship Ohio. formerly OF the American Line.
The early clearing away Of the war cloud caused
tho proposition 10 be- abandoned. In the present
war however It has been carried through to sue
ccss
The Vulcan has complete equipment. not only
for repairs u lighter nature but 20 do much
heavy WORN. which has not been attempted hi,h-
orto on shipboard. In her machnist department,
she has nine lathes, some OF large dimensions In
swing and centre distance besides a large outht Of
p,ancrs. shapcrs. drill presses. bolt-cuttlng and
plpa- threading MACHINES. tool grinders, grind
stones etc The mouders department includes
one 3G-inch cupola. Of the most improved design
20 melt three thousand pounds OF metal at each
tapping With blowing engine 10 furnish Dlast'
one furnace iron,d. with fire brick. 20 take three
loo-pound crucibles. and the necessary equipment
OF cr,clbles and moulders tools The biacksmths'
department IS equipped with i've forges' the larg-
est Of which Is an open hearth forge i've feet In
diameter, built OF brick and ton fitted with pow
er blast and used FOR heavy forging and fanse-
turning Two OF the other forses also have power
blasts This departments plant comprises also
blowing ma 'hinery. power and hand; anvils. ara
a number OF complete sets OF forge tools
In the bocrmakers' department there are hfty
boilermakers kits with all necessary tools for
handwork q power punch and shears. set ~
hand rolls o inches IN diameter by feet long;
rlvet heating FORCES tube cutters screw punches.
etc The coppersmiths department Is also very
complete including besides tinsmiths furnaces
and light tools n hrazlng forge with two circular
a. no biiii II
iron and lined with frebrick There are included
also in the general equipment OF tne snip sharing:
Of tools which has been installed; vertical.
furnish the motive force for the plant. four 5000
gallon evaporators and four disiiling apparatus
FOR fresh water with also feed and circulating
OFFICERS AND CREW
The Vulcan's complement comprises about one
hundred and forty mechanics and helpers. including
machInists boilcrmakers. blacksmiths. copper
smiths pattern makers and moulders. a force 50
valuable In ITS ability and varied character as to
enable the ship niertake all OF the ordinary. and
much OF the extraordinary. repair work Of fleet
II necessary A large stan be sen, on board OF
any ship needing extensive repairs 10 aid the me-
chanics Of that vessel In the lesser work while on
the Vulcan all large jobs viii he done In addition
to the operation OF the repair plant, the work Of
running the propeng machinery OF the Vulcan is
done Amos, entirely by the mechanics and helpers
The technical official stafr OF the Vulcan is under
the immediate direction OF Chief Engineer James H.
Chasmar United states Navy and Is composed OF
highly skilled officers selected especially for their
ability and experience In the work FOR which they
detailed.
In the service OF several OF these officers. who
volunteered from civil life there is shown the
strength OF the patriotic spirit which has stirred
Americans of high and low degree In the existing
war. One OF these Is chief Engineer Gardner Sims.
L. = N the head OF the great Arlington Sims
Engine Works. OF Providence. r. l., who not only
came himself at his country's call. but brought
with him to the Vulcan thirty OF his best mechan-
les Another OF these gallant volunteers Is Pro-
lessor william s Aldrch the head OF the depart
ment OF mechanic arts Of the University OF West
virginia and a wel.-known electrical expert and
IA third Is J. Alvah Scott, OF the Columbian Iron
il q Anlt ir.anr