The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-08-29
.RVAL FOR TBE OREGON
NEW UNITED STATES BATTLEsHIP
ALABAMA DOES HERSELF
EXCEEDING PROUD
SEVENTEEN KNOTS OF TRIAL
CONTRACT REQUIREMENT is Ex-
CEEDED ON FOUR-HOUR TRIP
BY A FULL KNOT
A SUCCESS IN EVERY RESPECT
Boilers Made Steam Faster Than
Required, and Without Ex-
cessive Heat in the
Fire Hold.

| BOSTON, Aug. 28-There is a new queen
of the American navy, the United States
| oattleship Alabama today winning the
title IN one of the most magnificent speed
trials ever held in the history of the
navy. Her average speed for four hours
continuous steaming was seventeen knots,
a hgure not quite as high as that made
by the Iowa, but notable from the fact
that it gave an idea of the yet unde-
veloped power in this latest product of
American shipbuilders
The Alabama was built by the Cramps
at Philadelphia, and, while of the first
class, she is unlike any of the earlier
| creations, both architecturally and as a
| fighting machine. Built under a contract
that required at least an average speed Of
sixteen knots per hour, she has been
turned out to. do seventeen knots or bet
ter, under conditions that will not be
termed extra The Iowa, when she left
her builders hands, in 1897, was officially
recorded at 17.04. Her speed trial was
made under the very best possible condi-
! ton.
After a lapse of more than two years
the Kentucky, on Sept. "a, and the Kear-
sarge two months later, came to the
New England coast, and under favorable
but not extraordinary conditions, made
figures Of 1851 and 1880 knots, respective
ly. These figures have now been beaten,
| by narrow margin, to be sure, but the
Alabama apparently was not to do but
little beyond her mean speed. The
| day for the trial was an excellent one
1t was after 10 o'clock when the great
craft was we'll down the coast towards
the starting line, which this time was five
| miles southeast of Thatcher island light
near the extremity of Cape Ann. The
course then ran about north-northeast
for thirty-three nautical miles, divided
as near as trianguIation could make it.
into five legs. Over this course the battle
ship was to do her four hours OF steam-
+! ing, and, in addition, was to be tested
for control and steering power. An in
| teresting feature, and, as 1t proved, a
somewhat picturesque one, was the use
of sister battleships as stake boats, five
of them being lined up They were the
| Texas, Massachusetts, Indiana, Ken
lucky and Kearsarge
The Alabama came down to the starting
line about 10:9O under fair headway and
went by as if on cruise The first
stakehoat was the Texas, and in the clear
light the people on the Cape Ann shore
could have seen the marine spectacle
with ease and also watched the new
conner until she had passed the United
States steamship Osceola, the second
| mark. The third leg was marked by the
Kearsarge, and as the Alabama went by
now at great speed, Capt Folger had his
jackies lined up to cheer. This is not
customary, but the great yell which went
up as the Alabama went by seemed to
gather force as 1t swept over the waves
and cheer came back. The fourth mark
was the Kentucky, the fifth the Indiana
! and the outmark, which was not far out
to sea from Boone island, was the Massa-
chusetts. This latter ship was passed
/ shortly before half past 12, and then the
Alabama was given few evolutions to
test her helm.
The return of the Alabama over the
course had little more OF moment than
the runout. She crossed the finish line
about $3.50, with blast from her own
whistle and a like answer frnm the Texas
ard 8 fleet of tugs gathered there with
excursionists. Afterwards the ship was
then circled at full speed with the Texas
as the center urt'l she VAS clcaying
wake whose diameter was not over
twice her length. Fifteen minutes later
the Alabama was headed for Boston
! light the red flag of the trial had been
replaced by the Cramps house flag and
broom had been sent aloft
The trial Throughout, to use Mr. e 8.
Cramps own words, "was a success in
every particular" To quote a member
of the engineering force, "the trial WAS
a Ierfect one" For nearly three legs IF
! the outward rGn, the boilers made stean.
so fast that the surplus was allowed to
blow off. Al the same tin3e the men In
| both engine rooms suffered no incou-
! venience from lack of fresh air and the
! tempera lures were not high. The maxi
mum revolutions OF the engines were 1lS,
and this figure was only for half an hour
! the mean heiTg much below this. The,
highest steam pressure was $50 pounds, or
nine under the li.rit. The horse power
developed was supposed to be 1l,5U0, al.
! though this figure. like those for the
speed, will be officially given at Washing,
| ton. Mr.. Cramp further said that the
run in his opinion and many of the Laval
mer agreed, was not a forced trial, but
fair days work, which, he claimed,
can be cqualled at any time under or.
binary conditions. Moreover hc said
| that the trial was the most remaIkab,>
the country has seen. The Alabama will
be ready for delivery to the. 8overnmen-
in six weeks, when she will go into CON-
mission under Capt. w. II. Brownson.
The trial today was under direction OF
! the board of inspection and survey head,
| ed by Admiral Frederick Ro7gers. Among
the guests on board were Rear Admiral
| Hempion, l.. s. N, Capts. Behr and Fern
| son, and Lieuts Sverbiff and Vasili' II, Ct
the imperial Russian navy; Judge ]. r.
McCammon and Gen. c. Il. Williams, #
| Washington; Hon. Conrad A. Diehl, OF
Buffalo, and George S. Graham, o: