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

There are in the United States fleet two
cruisers which have for their size unsurpassed
speed together with most effective batteries
of rapiJ-fre guns In engine power and ord
nance they are all that a seaman could WISH
and vet service on these vessels is dreaded by
officers and men. especially those Of the Engi-
neer Department. this aversion being due Who'll
ly to the excessive temperatures prevailing In
the fire and engine rooms, and more or less
throughon, the hulls The cruisers referred TO
are the Cincinnati OF Admiral Sampsons squad
ron. and her sister ship. the Raleigh. now In
Manila Bay. The former, during the existing
war. has registered a temperature of 2Oo de-
erecs in the freroom The forced draught ma
chincry Of the latter. 1t is reported became dis
ablpd for time owing 10 the excessive heat
melting out the shaft bearings of the blowers,
thus DELAYING Admiral Dewey's departure from
Mrs Bay and his later victory at Manila.
The history Of these two ships is Instructive.
They were built under the act Of September
:. 1888. which. while limiting their displace-
ment to about 1900 tons. provided further that
they should exhibit q maximum speed or at
least 10 knots an hour-a speed without prece-
dent or late- equalled by ships Of their dis
placement and one which required the installa-
ton of machinery to produce 10000 Indicated
horsepower Further a limitation was i'm
posed BY Congress restricting the cost Of each
vessel. exclusive Of armament and speed
premiums. to S1.1OO, O00-a price at which CON
tractors refused to undertake the work II was,
therefore, decided to build these ships at the
navy yards, the Cincinnati at New-York and
the Raleigh at Norfolk
As Is well known to all familiar with naval
matters these two ships are almost copies Of
| the "M' class OF the British Navy, and they
have almost exactly the same dimensions.
| They were designed at time when the craze
| for reducing boiler weights had reached its
| height in Great Britain. where, In consequence.
| machinery Of high nominal power was put
| into small space but with disastrous results, az
| the ships OF the "M" class never attained the
designed speed and the boilers could only be
| made serviceable for n reduced power by hitting
| the well known admiralty ferrue. In designing
the Cincinnati the Engineering Chief asked for
room to install the boilers properly. this In
| vovng an increase in length Of at least IL feet
| over the designed length Of 300. This request
was however refused, and the example Of the
English prototype followed with the disastrous
effects. as to temperature, just mentioned.
| We refer TO this matter at this time since
| the order Of the Secretary Of the Navy Of July
| o6 with regard to the three new batte-ships Is
| likely Il carried out, 10 lead to the same re-
sults in these new ships. although without the
desire or intention of the Navy Department that
| this shall be the case. This order states that
the Department will give preference. other
.1hings being equal. to such bids as offer &c
guarantee the highest rate OF speed and great
| cost coal endurance. the total weights OF en-
"gnes. boilers and coal and the spaces allowed
therefor. to remain as now fixed by the circu
"lar defining the chief characteristics Of said
"vessels and the Departments plans and spec
| "iications."
| 1t has already been shown that there viii
| be a saving in weight Of more than 300 tons
with. however. a slight Increase in the room
occupied-by the Installation Of modern ma
chinery, adequately spaced. to produce the
1G-knot speed originally required. The order
Of the Secretary, although Internationally so
is n direct temptation TO contractors TO util
lie the weight thus saved in crowllng into
the space prescribed machinery for much higher
spccd-machnery which will doubtless run of
n trial trip successfully. but which, packed I'M
dulv IN confined spaces, will be operated with
difficulty in the future. owing to the lack OF
adequate room and the oppressive temperatures
produced.
We want no more Cincinnatls-no more ship