Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-10-24

speed than the Kearsarge did. 1t will be
remembered that the bursting Of feed
water-pipe on the official trial OF the
Kearsarge threw lot of cold water into
the boilers. and resulted In greatly re-
duclng her average speed, which. how
ever. was far I'm excess Of the contract
requirement. The officers OF the Naval
Board OF Inspection and Survey and the
| builders regard the Kearsarge as a 10
| knot ship and with fair weather. favor
able sea conditions and barring accident,
| the builders expect the Kentucky to ave-
rage in the neighborhood Of I5 knots
when the ship is speeded on her Official
run.
| Speaking Of the prospect of a high rate
Of speed when the Kentucky IS tried UNI
der the eyes Of the official triai Doard'
General superintendent Post sald:
"Kentucky will do all that kearsarSe
can do. under favorable conditions
The Kearsarge and Kentucky are the
only battleships in the world fitted with
the superimposed turrets. and great in
terest centres I'm their experimental tests
under fire. by reason of the fact that the
Naval Board Of Construction at wash
ington Is considering the adyisability or
nroviding the three new 4VO-ton paIpe-
ships with superimpOsed turrets, ana IN
an probability will do so If the tests OF
tho turrets on the Kearsarge prove sue
cessful. The Kearsarge VIII be reaGy 10
go i'm commission IN December, pQt the
v.orl, on the turrets can be finished IN
fau- d9vs and II IS understood that tho
! shin will be taken out FOR another run
shortly for the purpose OF conducting eA-
perlments with the turrets under heaEy,
fire The Board OF CONSTRUCTION WIZ
doubtless witness these tests. A great
deal depends upon their success IL -
possible that the double-turret schehe'
which was severely roasted 10y sOl,l0
naval officers when the contracts LOT tHS
Kearsaree and Kentucky We're a"alueI
TO the Newport News Snlp-Duiiuihs 80
Drv-DocIS Company, Will be, after an tne
.,,,,rg battery arrangement on the DB
lh.ttleshins IL IS well known that many
,o,sl officers who were opposed 10 inc
ile. v.bon II was first suggested by Lleu-
t.,or+ strauss to the Board OF Construo
49,, e,.. Years ago are to-day among llS
-.,ore,s.t supporters. All Of the oiilcefs
49,, a., attached TO the Kearsargs ana
.--,,.,,ol,,, favor the dOuble-turret battery
Contlin Folger, the Kearsarge's COM
.-.a,,da. eovs that the military principe
~ tbe double turrets is entirely corr go
or1 extremely effective, compared WIN
tbe battery arrangement Of the Massa-
cbueette. Indiana, oregon and IOWA. anu
the most favorable results may be anu
cinotod. At one time it was SAID 'ho1
contain Folger was opposed 70 the pan
bnt whatever may have been his oplhlyH
hen the turrets were only on paper lie
" ', certainly In favor Of the plan as eiI-
no6,ed I'M the construction Of the big snip
he viii command. As he was at one tlnio
~ the head of the Bureau OF ordnance
~ Washington. and is regarded as an
n,,,,rt ON ordnance for fighting cralt, No
oninion in this case is worth great deal'
JIo evnects the tests TO be successiul.
Cantain Chester, the Kentucky COM
,,on9er has favored the douole-turreI
h ,,,,i'e arrangement from the start anu
.o-Ioy he is one Of the strongest support
.Us0 Of The plan. In speaking OF the merits
81 oFS en-, ~ superimposed turret he sad ne ne
S Sis ' not wish TO be quoted, but from I ms
olu d M if is very evident that he looks looks
s e,,,s, 20 a highly successful test unuer
l n,. - the main batteries Of the kear-
sorgs and Kentucky.