The record-union., 1898-03-02
Rebuilding the Chicago.

|
fighting ability and speed that has
| been added to the new ships it has be-
come necessary, in order that some of
! the ships of the original squadron of
evolution be brought up to date in
both speed and armament, that many
changes be made in them. This is
particularly SO with the cruiser Chicago,
which was OneNof the first modern ships
| to be added to the United States Navy
and which was looked upon as the fin
est ship of her class afloat. The yes
sell is now at the Brooklyn Yard under
going many alterations and improve
| ments, and when again put on the ac-
tive list will not only equal some Of
them more modern vessels, but inap-
pearance will be entirely changed from
| the "Old Chicago
The spars and lofty mast have Civ
| en- way to the more formidable militia
ry masts with fighting tops, which will
! be fitted with small rapid-firing guns
to repel attacks from torpedo boats.
| This, however, is but one of the i'm
provements that will go TO make the
Chicago formidable fighting machine.
| The reconstruction of the vessel is at
of the old seam pipes or pieces of ma
chinery that were used on the vessel
| will be found in her when again in
commission. For the first time, nick
Ell steel has been used in the nnaufac-
ture of the boilers that are now being
put in the ship, and the Chicago will
be the first vessel to be fitted with
BabcoX & Wilcox boilers.
The first set of powerful engines of
modern type ever constructed at the ma
Wy yard was recently completed and is
! now being put together in the engine
room of the ship. The whole construc-
ton, from the plans and specifications
| TO the working up of the metal and the
setting up of the machinery, was done
| IN the big steam engineering shops at
the navy yard. under direction of Chief
Engineer Edward Farmer, and his
corps OF assistants. The engines are
not only of the most modern design,
but are equal to any that have ever
been constructed for use in any vessel.
The new engines are of the triple ex-
pansion, direct action type, With an
estimated horse power of about 5000
| each. This is nearly double that of
the old engines, and it is believed when
the ship is sent on her trial trip the
engines will develop sufficient horse
power TO give her a speed of more than
nineteen knots. When the vessel was
constructed her speed was about four
teen knots. Every modern device
known to the engineering skill for
strength and safety has been applied to
these engines to bring them to the re-
quired standard. After their compile
ton and while they We're in the shops
they were thoroughly tested and the
vital parts accurately measured The
levers for operating and reversing this
gigantic mass of metal are so arrang-
ed as to free the operator from coming
in contact with the machinery, thus
avoiding danger. So simple is their
obstruction that a child could move
them easily.
The clearance volume at the end Of
each cylinder was accurately determin-
ed by measuring the water required to
fill il. This is the total volume Of the
steam passing between the piston valve
and the piston when the latter is at
the end of its stroke. 1t plays an i'm
portant part in the economy of steam
The engines are placed in two water
tight compartments amidships They
rest on massive bedplate of cast steel,
built into the inner lining of the vessel,
which at this point and also under the
boiler space is made especially strong
to stand the weight and vibration.
The starboard engine is placed in the
ward compartment, with the cylinders
resting on the port side of the mid
ship line. The port engine is in the af-
ter compartment and the arrangement
is reversed Both engine rooms oc-
cupy a floor space of fifty-six feet fore
and aft and about thirty-two feet ath-
wartship. The diameter of the cylin-
ders are 1919, 5O1a, and 76 inches, re-
spectively, with a piston stroke Of 40
inches.
The six Babcock boilers have already
been placed in the ship. They will
supply go per cent. of the steam power
while the remaining 40 per cent will
be supplied by four single-ended cylin-
drical shell boilers. The Babcock and
Wilcox boilers are constructed of mild
steel. They occupy a floor space in
the forward room of forty-two feet fore
and aft and about thirty-three feet
athwartship.. Both fire rooms are for
ward Of the engine room space and con-
nected with it by water-tight bulk
heads The other four boilers occupy
the aft fire room. Each of these boil
ers is ten inches in diameter, with
three mild steel furnaces.
A protective deck constructed of
nickel steel three inches thick has been
fitted the whole length of the vessel
just below the water line. 1t is over
and protects the engine rooms and mag
azines The Chicago's coal-carrying
capacity will be about 900 tons, on
which she will have a steaming radius
of about 5000 miles at ordinary speed.
The work of reconstruction has TAX
en- more than year, and 1t will be sew
eral months before it will be complet-
ed. The total cost will be about $780,
600 The work of placing the protec-
tive deck and rearranging the interior
of the hull is in charge of Naval Con-
structor Francis L. Bowles, Chief OF
the Bureau of Construction and Repairs
at the navy yard. The vessel, before
being placed on the active list, will be
fitted with a complete battery of mod
ern rapid firing guns, and when COM
pleted will compare favorably with any
ship OF her class in the navy.-New