New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-06-22
THE OBD4H NAY BE BOCGHT.
INSPECTED WITH A VIEW TO PURCHASE
FOR A TRANSPORT-NAVAL AUX
Hilary BOARDS WORK.

Among the vessels inspected yesterday by Major
summerhayes Of the Quartermaster's Department.
in the Army Building wiki view to their use as
transports for carrying troops and horses from
Southern ports TO the West indies. was the steam
ship OLDHAM Of the Holland America Line. This Is
the first ocean steamship looked AT for this purpose
and the suggestion in the matter arose from the
plans TO make use OF the Yale and the Harvard
formerly the Paris and the NewYork Of the ATneri-
can Line. as troopships There has been no inspec-
ton Of ocean liners by Government authority since
the vessels OF the American Line were surveyed ny
the Naval Auxiliary Cruiser Board before they were
chartered. At time the expectation was enter
tanned by the Board OF inspecting the Fdrst Bis
narck and perhaps some other vessels OF the liam
burg-Amerlcan Line, but although tho First Bis
ruarcX WIS offered 20 the Government. the nesoua-
tions never reached the point Of formal inspection
OF her.
Tho OLDHAM was built in 1850 at Belfast. ireland,
by Harlard & WoiG She IL 4io3 feet long. 80 feet
beam and go fee, deep. her gross tonnage being
1863 Her speed is not rs sreat as that OF some OF
her sister ships. but she IS b. no means the SLOW
O., % the feet, or the eight vessels Of he COM
ran,. NOW I'm commission three surpaas her while
she surpasscs four In speed. She makes the DIS
lance from this city to Bouosne on the way to
Rotterdam in nire days twenty hours which Is
equivalent to seven days twen'y-tnree hours
from Nen-Yor 70 Queenstown. Major summer
hayes sad that she would make good transport
for horses but that her accommodations for men
we're limited as only about one hundred ana hfty
could be taken without putting mp hammocks for
them TO sleep In
\, tho office Of the company It was stated POSI-
tivoly that the OLDHAM would sail as advertised
rom this nor, on Saturday Nothing was known
there OF her inspection with View TO ner use oy
the Government The natural conclusion mas that
an agent who had option upon her proposed 70
secure authority from the Government on whl'A re
could depend upon her being taken N case ne con-
p.e.ed her purchase. BY a change TO AmeTi
ownership American registry could he obtained Tor
her without difficulty. The agent OF the company
Sold that while IT might % possible 10 substitute
another vessel FOR her before Saturdays sailing he
knew nothing o, any reason for so doing TIE
company was observing strict neutrality and while
might be sold 20 he Goycrament IN case %,
necessity there was no apparent necessity at the
= II was learned that when overtures were made on
behalf the Spanish government for tAe plrchatse
OF goat ocean liners -: AUXILIARY craiSsrs rhii
Holland America Company reused a. Offers rms
the part Of me Government
GnG 9 ,He wa hot She possessed good re-
frgcrat.ng plant. which would make her useful for
shc NAV b. Whitfield for tbs reason lie also
loohcl ;hrogsh ne Panama whi H. Wa, TnS'
BRUSH Iesse with view to aer r es'ns .a KEN,
transport pHrPosss sc 20 fec n lcTgth I'll
fcot toam and % feet deep. She was laun'he1
'' The Xava Auxiliary Board looked at the Wilson
Line Steamship Colorado yesterday. with view To-
securing har as distiiling vessel. toNr of wnicl
are wanted she is 3o feet long - Get ban ana
:. feet ,i"ep and her tonnage Is 80 SNo was
Lutt ~ UuN Frs.and. ~ ~. such vessels as
come 10 port and -o In any way de<irab." for GOV
ernrrcnt use are Inspected by The Board from dtY
10 ,iay 40 inspections were made hy Lieutenant .
Commander Kelley and his associates yesterday oI
vessels to bo used troopships
Admiral Erhen has all the vessels now IN
rroccs- OF c0nv, rsiOn Tor haroor defence purposes
tha, Ne thinks ne will need The converted yacnt
Shcarwater which was purchased from Henry X
Wolcott. being converted into an armed cursor
OF lghi draughf (she only draws 9N fe"p at Eliza
bcthport and she viii come to the Navy lari on
Saturday and get her crow after which she VIII pe
nat In commission. II was said at the once % the
Naval Board that the Topeka. which was oouShi III
England as the noGeres. was nearly ready f"r USE
and would this week.
Tieutenan C commander y. J. X. Patch. who was
assigned to duty officer OF the cruiser
philadelphia AT San Fran 'isco. has had the order
revoked and will remain for the present as super
visor OF New-Nork Narhor He was anxious 10 20
To the Philadelphia when Captain Rodgors expected
10 command her hut when captain Rodgers was
| ordered to- the Puritan Leutennnt-C oinna lder
Patch preferred also 10 GO 70 West indian waters,
where the prospect of sharing Ia sea night Is bet
tor than in the Pacific. although not as good as
many naval officers wish