The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-05-04
NICE WORK ON
TORPEDO BOATS
The Trigg Company Getting the Boats
Well Under Way.
METAL THAT COSTS WHOLEL0T.
Enormous Engine Power in smaii
Space-InspectOrs Full OF Admira-
ton for the Manner in Which
the work is Being Done.

Gauges that accurately measure less
than one one-thOusandth OF an men are
being used By the Government onicials
in inspecting the machinery for the tor
pedo-bOats being built at the w. X Iriss
shipbuilding plant in this city.
The most risid and elaborate system OF
inspection prevails and the material from
the time it arrives until IL H. a component
part Of a twenty-siX knot torpedo-boat IN
its finished state, will be inspected many
times from the smallest nut 90 the most
important part OF the machinery.
BUILT LIKE \ WATCH.
4 torpedo-boat is the acme of nice con-
struction and the suggestion that they are
built like a watch does not describe the
exactness with which the little boat IS
made.
The Trlgg Works arc now moulding
pipes. bearings and an sorts OF metal
castings for the torpcdo-boats In a man
ner that is winning the admiration Of the
naval representative AZ the yard.
The greatest trouble tho builders have
to encounter Is in getting material
promptly.
The three water-tubo boilers for the
Shubrick have been completed and they
are remarkable models Of beautifully OK
ecuted marine boiler work. Considerable
other boilers and the cOndensers for all
the boats
The naval inspectors are much pleased
AT the manner and quality Of the work
and from now on the little ships VIII
grow rapidly.
THE DESTROYERS.
Material is now being gotten IN Tor use
on the torpedo-boat destroyers and the
work on those Will be commenced soon.
A large force Of hands is employed 10
the machine shops Much or the work Us
being made direct from The drawings, ana
some exceedingly fine work is being done
in the model room.
The Government requires that the very
finest material obtainable shall be used
i'm tOrpedo-b0ats. and every consideration
is sacrificed 20 secure lghtness with
strength The cost Of some Of the ma
chinerv IS enormous and nearly worth
its weight in silver. Indeed. tho
main shaft q each Of these
boats ounce for ounce cost one haii as
much as the white metal Though OF
considerable weight they are made with
great nicely and in their comparatively
short length are turned ON the lathe
10 thirteen different centcrs ana 10 81
gauge whose exactness Is Indicated anoNe.
This with the enormous tensile strength
costly metal and only second N silver
with which 10 is comuered.
TREMENDOUS POWER.
The engines 10 be used. while weighing
only "a small proportion ~ those Of a
passenger steamer. viii have 20 develop
nearly as much power as those If the
biggest liners 90 shove these little torpedo
carriers through tho water az their re-
quired speed OF twenty-siX knots an hour.
f.f+rr r.-Hrarieor 0f tho crcat power
required I'm these marine engines Is gained
in a comparison between a torpedo boa {
destroyer aud a batticship. The oregon
weighs about 1000 tons. and the two
torpedo boat destroycrs 90 be built here
will be 400 tons. vet they will have engines
Of four-ffths the power Of the llo0-ton
battleship.
While great deal Of work has been
done I'm the machinoshop 81 this plant.
the operations over ~ tho shin-yard on
the canal dock makes a better showing
for spectacular purposes.
PROGRESS or THE WORK.
The three t0rrcIo-b0ats the Shubrick.
Stockton and Thornton, are well under
way. The three boats are Identical. and
are being built al the same time. The
work on an three has progressed about
the same The Shubriek. whose keel was
the first laid. g. little in advance OF
the others nearly AN her framing being
i'm place. and yesterday workmon were
engaged I'm fastening deck plates 10 the
frames.
The erecting ls being done hy machines
run by pneumatic power. obtained from
an air-comprc- in the main building ON
the yard, and from now ON The work viii
progress rapidly on these little flyers.