The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-08-29
THE NAvY'S NEW QUEEN.
The United States Bailleshlp Alabama Now
Wears the Honor
IT is A WONDERFUL FIGHTING MACHINE
on the Trial Trip She Made Speed
of Seventeen Knots an Hour
for Eour Hours.

Boston, August 2S-There Is new
queen OF the American navy. the United
states battleehip Alabama, which today
cent speed trials yet held in the history
OF the navy. Her average speed for four
hours continuous steaming was seventeen
knots, figure not quite as high as that
made by the Iowa, but notable in this
latest product OF American shipbuilders.
The Ala 5ama was built by the Cramps at
philadelphia, and while of the iirst class,
she Is unlike any OF the earlier creations
both INTELLECTUALLY and as a Aghting ma
chine. Built under a contract that re-
quired at least an average speed of six
teen knots per hour. she has been turned
out TO do seventeen knots or better. under
conditions that will not be termed extra.
The Iowa, when she left her builders
hands Ia 1897, was officially recorded at
1905. Her speed trial was made under
the very best possible conditions. After
a lapse OF more than two years the Ken
| lucky, on September "a, ana the kear-
sarge two months later, came to the New
| England coast and under favorable but
not extraordinary conditions made figures
of 1851 and 1861 knots respectively
Those figures have now been beaten and
! the Alabama ran little faster than her
mean speed. An interesting feature was
/ the use OF sister battleshps as sblke boats,
Ave Of them being lined IN. There was
the Texas Massachusetts,, Indiana, Ken
lucky and Kearsarge.
The Alabama came down to the starting
line about 1910 under fair Roadway ana
went by the fret stake boat, the TeNas
and then the United States ship Oseeola
the second mark. The third leg was
marked by the Kearsargc and as the
Alabama went by now at great speed,
Captain Folger and his Jackies lined up
ana chcered her, and cheer went back.
The fourth mark was the Kentucky, che
NTH the Indiana. and the out mark wds
the Massachusetts,.
The Alabama crossed the finish line
about $3.50 with a blast from her owl
whistle and like answer from the Texas
and fleet OF tugs gathered there with eN-
cursioniets Afterwards the ship wal
again clrcled at full speed, with the Texas
us the center, until she was cleaving q
wake which In diameter was not oVel
twice her length. Fifteen minutes later
the Alabama was headed for Boston light
the red flag Of the trial replaced by the
Cramps house flag, and broom had been
: sent aloft. The trial throughout. 10 uee
E. s. Cramps own words. was success In
every particular. For nearly three legs
of the outward run, the boilers made
= steam 80 fast that the surplus was allowed
TO blow of. The maximum revolutions Of
the engines were lis and this figure was
only for half hour, the mean being mucl
below this The highest steam pressure
, was $50 pounds or nine under the limit
The horse power developed WAS supposed
70 be II 500, although this figure, lik
those for the speed. Will he officially givel
I at washington. Mr.. Cramp said that tn
4 run, in his opinion. In which many OF tn
1 naval men aboard agreed. was not q force
g trial, but a fair days work. which h
o claimed. can he equalled at any time un
d der ordinary conditions,
Y The Alabama will be ready for deliver
g 70 the government in ak weeks, whom sh
e will 20 into commission under Captain "
I IT, Brownson.