New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-11-12
NAVAL MEN ON WAR CRAFT.
INTERESTING PAPERS READ BEFORE
THE CONFERENCE IN THIS CITY
THE ANIMAL, DINNER.

neers continued It's sixth geferal fneelhs ErS'''
day at the rooms OF the American Society OF Me-
chancal Engineers No 10 West Thirty-frst-st..
Clement A. Griscom presiding. The morning ses-
sion began with the reading OF a paper ny W. T.
Stephens associate member Of the organization
on THE Steam Yacht a Naval Auxiliary" The
session well attended.
Mr. Stephens spoke principally OF the usefulness
OF the steam yacht In the war with Spain. The
accommodations which the average yacht-owner
desired. he contendcd were not In harmony with
the possible OF the ship for hgnting purposes,
and he therefore suggested a new class OF vessels.
which he said realized In any one
class but could easily be obtained in special
design The speed for these might be placed at the
moderate figure for this OF increasing speed OF
not IS krots this however being not meas
ured by the conventional yacht standard by which
eghteen-knOt steam yacht took the WASH OF a
good tweve-knot tug hut a reasonable approach
TO the designed speed under ordinary services Inc
draught should he limited TO eleven. or even ten.
feet as n maximum Mr. Stephens said. The en-
gnes should be strong and reliable the pu"N.'
space large possible. and, as deck ana Sl"e
protection will probably he impraciicable especia'
attention should Re given to the waterline pro-
lection Of machinery and magazines through their
location and the disposition % the bunkers Inc
accommodations should include healthy ana COM
Portable quarters for proportionateN larR' CON"
plement OF officers and crew for an INDEFINITE uihe'
and the armament should be comparatively power
iul WIN guns more aCNanlaR'OuS4N i'''N'" 49,
was possible on yacht Special provision should
be made for magazines. ammunition hoists. diS-
filling apparatus and minor auxiaries Ihefe
should be no sails and spars except the single
military mast and in all cases torpedo tubes shouu
be excluded.
A vessel Of this type. Mr.. Stephens contenoeu'
could be built for far less than either the torpedo
boat or the converted yacht, she would rum her
own special mission. covering wide range OF use
funess better than either she could he handed 10
advantage by the average crew or not NECESSARILY
experienced men: she could. when not needed he
laid up for an indefinite time without deterioration
and be ready for service few days notice ana
would be superior either 10 the yacht or 'he 'oi
pedo-boat. The smaller craft OF the khd "ou'O
also he well adapted for such Work as the eN
ploration and study Of local waters as no" carreu
on by the Naval Militia.
The parer was discussed by Commander Jacob
W. Miller. OF the New-York Nava. Reserve; Will
lam F. White. lieutenant. United states N"'S'
r r Bowles. naval constructor, United o'a'e'
Navy. and others 49,
4 paper on Designs OF New Vessels for tme
United States Navy" by chief Constructor fh'hp
Hichhorn L s. n next read by Franc'S W.
pouIes secretary OF the society Mr.. Hichoorh III
this paper said that practically every type W
sol the Government possessed had peeh pun ~ -
,est recently in engagements with the enemy anu
there had been no record. so far ms ne knew "a
tho failure n, any vessel TO fuihi all expert
,o,,o,s The wonderful success attending these
naval engagements had. impressed the country a.
large with tho value OF and the necessity ioi a."
efficient Navy and within the last SIX weeks 'o"
tracts had been made for three additloha' oa'
sh,ns four coast defence monitors. sixteen 'o'P
boat destroyors and twelve torpedo-boats' besides
a full ship-rgged sailing vessel AS prac'
for the Naval Academy Mr.. Hchborn theh Pio
ceedod 10 give details OF the construction OIL ''e
vessels OF each class At the present S's
said he was able 10 give only app'oA'"at ""'a
regarding the battle-ships. The paper ""'o' "'
somewhat technical in character. was heartily ap-
plauded. ..
In the afternoon Assistant Naval Constructor
u G Smith l. 8 y. associate member. read
naper on Methods OF Securing Na'e'-l's"
Work.; an exhaustive paper, entitled lest Oh t'e
Strength Of Longitudinal Bulkhead separating
Two Engine rooms" was read by Naval Construc-
TOR J. J. Woodward. L. 5. y. In which re OK
rressed the belief that for bulkheads IN Nhich
general strength to prevent collapse and no' aoso-
lutte water tightness was required WIDER spacing
than the usual thirty inches spacing was perm's-
sible and that this Increase might extend 70 a.
much as four feet It being understood that the
strength of the stiffener bars suitably in
creased. 49,,
Other papers were read AN Electrically
Operated ijO-Ton Revolving Derrick" by Walter
a pottIe.sh,n I'ndor Damage Conditions. by Pro.
lessor C. * Peabody. membcr Only ,I one 4 %
three topical discussions which were schenuiFI ~
be touched upon by the members was
This was he question. FL nder ire 'irculS'"HN''
Of the blockade at Santiago. which was the NOR
economical method Of maintaining the boilers an 81
readiness for Immediate action. banking the mr.
or keeping them spread. but very thin II vas
decided that the latter alternative, Keeping inc
fires thinly spread was advisable, =, ~. meeting
II was decided before the close OF the meet t,
that at the next annual gathering OF tne So D.
the subject OF lie saving should be taken 70 ~" Several
cent disasters al suggested the !dea 10 SeFe'"
of the members. ...,. mas ho1d
Tho sixth annual dinner Of the society was hrar
at Dclmonicos last night Covers were I"Iu a az,
more than one hundred guests There were no no. de'
toasts but several Informal talks were mas mas
7 n Bedford talked about the Navy ana 0theIIs
who smoke we're @ F. Edwards. Charles Naru'
w Mcfarland. L. :. y: Lewis Nixon ana zap
tain ". Miller ~ oad a
Francis T. Bowles. Naval Constructor read VA a
naner transmitted him from WASHINGTON D!
t'aptain " l.. Rodgers. L. =. ~. on the sun1ec1
'TorDedo-boats." He argued that TIC spanish va
had not proved much about this KIND or cIa1t a.
the war was soon that they haa nor a i1tr
chance II anything had been denCrstrhteu 10y
me hattie OF Santiago about the value OF torpslo-
boats 1t was their ineNectiveness IN the rhy bnas
Mr. Rodgers however. thought that NIUE poatS
would take a great place IN naval "iildtsr,
He suggested that their greatest held OF uS'iu'''
no or