Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1899-12-07
new Naval FURNITURE.
Advanced Types of Metal Fit
tings IN New Warships.
LESSONS OF RECENT BATTLES.

LESSONS OF RECENT BATTLES.
alterations to the Cruisers Atlanta
and Cincinnati at the Brooklyn
Navy Yard EmbodyinS Naval Con-
structor BowIes' Latest PIans-De-
tails of the Work.
When the United States cruisers At
lanta and Cincinnati, now being over
hauled in the navy yard at Brooklyn,
go into commission next spring, the ex-
tended use of metal in the fittings of
the officers quarters and other equip
lessons deduced from the Chinese-Jap-
anese war, accentuated by the results
of the more recent conflict between the
United States and Spain. The official
reports of the battle of Manila Bay,
stating that the crews of the warships
of Montijo's feet were driven from
their guns into the sea by the blazing
woodwork, set on fire by the explo-
sion of shells in the ships interior,
conveyed lesson, already partially
learned by naval constructors, and this
was emphasized again by the destruc-
ton of Cervera's feet at Santiago,
when the Infanta Maria Teresa, Al
mirante Oquendo and Vizcaya were
consumed by flames.
Six years ago the divisional bulk
heads, the ceilings and the outboard
sheathing of the officers quarters were
built Of dry and beautifully grained
wood. The berths, lockers, furniture,
shelving and companionways were
also built of untreated wood Now
the endeavor is to reduce woodwork
to a minimum, substituting some nom
combustible material wherever it is
practicable and using ''fireproof wood
where wood must still be used.
The stripping and rofittiug of the
Atlanta and the Cincinnati are pro-
ceeding under the direction of Naval
Constructor Bowles, as the boats lie
alongside the same wharf in the ex-
treme eastern end of the yard, says the
New York Post The Atlanta is prac-
tically ready to be put into commission,
but the Cincinnati is stripped to mere
shell. Twenty tons of mahogany were
taken from the Cincinnati alone. AS
one steps into the Atlanta's wardroom
one is Immediately impressed with the
plainness of the furnishings. The heavy
wooden panelirg of the ceiling and the
outboard is missing. There is no cell
ing, and the steel deck and bare girders
are exposed, being covered only by a
coat of white paint. The sheathing
along the outboard is of asbestus.
Steel was first tried as substitute for
wood; but, while the material is in
it was found to be source |
Of discomfort and danger to health. |
Then, too, it was not splinter proof. So |
lsbestus was finally tried and found to
possess all requirements.
1t is light in weight and clean, neat |
md ornamental in appearance. Fur
ther, it is considered by the naval con-
structors to add to the comfort of .liy-
ng spaces, being warm in winter and
cool in summer. The asbestus is fitted
20 the ships outboard on a framework
If wire cloth and painted with white
enamel and gold, striped in panel eff
'ects. Opening off the wardroom ON
either side are the officers staterooms.
These quarters are necessarily small,
md every inch of space has to be util-
zed. For doing away with the old
wooden berths Naval Constructor
Bowles designed a metallic folding
,unk. This, when closed, extends into
he stateroom only. II inches, largely
Increasing the floor space and storage
.apacity. Besides, it does away with
ne closely constructed woodwork
which always aboard ship has proved
refuge for vermin. The bed frame of
he new bunk is built Of tubing sup
'orted and hinged by bell crank cast
ngs to brackets. 1t is provided with
wire mattress and folding pillow
est. When folded, the bunk is con-
ealed from view by covering curtain.
Each room is also fitted with a COM
ination secretary bureau, chiffonier,
ockers and metal fittings for toilet
rticles. The first three pieces of fur
iture are still made of fireproof wood.
The construction department has du-
Heated them in metal, but has as yet
ot been authorized to build them for
he warships. The Junior officers
uarteTs, which are in one large state
DOM removed from the wardroom,
re even more severe in fittings. Con-
eniences are still more limited, and
be absence of woodwork gives the
lace an almost barren appearance.
In the captains cabin the heavy
Tooden panels and holdings, as in the {
yardrooin, have all been ripped out.
he outboard side and the turtle back {
eek overhead have been sheathed in :
sbestus. The bulkheads are Of CORFU I
ated sheet metal, finished with a met c
cornice. All this work is neatly t
ainted in white and gold The cabin l
ontains roll top metal desk, hut all I
ne other furniture is of fireproof I
,ood. I
Over the messroom of the Cincin- I
att has been placed a metal skylight '
uilt of sheet copper. Skylights built
wood are bad because they leak +
hen warped by sudden and extreme
hanges of climate or, by the strain S
{ target practice. The copper sky
ght, it is expected, will prove water