New-York tribune., 1900-12-23
BOILERS FOR THE NAVY.
THE AMERICAN TYPE ADOPTED BY
REAR-ADMIRAL MELVILLE MEETS
WITH FOREIGN APPROVAL.

fv
fully scanning the navy estimates and studying the
reports submitted by the Lords Of the Admiralty
Projected naval legislation therefore telhgently
criticised before being enacted into law for every
thing relating 10 the navy possesses n special in
ferest for the loyal Brton II has been because such
practical and loyal technical experts have scrut-
nized the navy estimates that the material OF the
British Empire is efficient and when these men
declare that the boiler question is tho para
mount one in naval construction the subject may
be considered Of Importance TO every nation
that aspires TO naval power
The British navy has practically settled upon the
types Of warshp. armor. armament and machinery
best adapted for its purpose but the battle OF the
boilers" is still going For temporary purposes
the Admiralty policy has been consider the Belle
vile boiler as the approved type for large ships.
treating other types experimental until they
hsve shown that they possess some distinct superb
or5ty. There substantial advantages in adher-
snE as far possible type of boiler for all
ships Artihcers both in the ships and at the yards
become more expef IN the management and repair
of a boiler that is common There can be
interchangea ability of the spare parts and acces-
sories when an accident occurs There so
many advantages in having approved type that
Il Is the OF all naval administrations TO settle
this question quickly possible. The decision
a. The Lords Of the Admiralty 10 regard the Belle
VILE boiler the approved type for large ships
has been. however. in opposition 10 the judgment
cs the engineering members OF Parliament Their
protest backed up by The great shpbuiders, has
been SO earnest that the battle is still It is
because these believe that boiler supremacy
viii be the deciding factor in the next naval war
that they insistent in their demands that the
Beleyfne boiler shall be driven from the British
Ksrships
This battle OF the boilers has also been going
r, Paris Berlin. ST. Petersburg and Washington.
hut the period has now been reached when. so far
As each individual nation is concerned, choice
will have 20 be decided upon. The requirements Of
the navy are distinct those of the mercantile
marine Without going into technical details. 1t
need only oe said that the cylindrical boiler has
had 10 give way on the warship the water tube
type. The questions Of weight, space occupied and
endurance have caused the change.
TWO GROUPS NECESSARY.
Much progress has been made toward a decision
All naval Powers believe that there will be two
distinct groups for warship purposes. The hrst
group viii have bent tubes and will be peculiarly
adapted for small and medium sized craft There
will be another group capable Of doing continuous
work and this type will have straight tubes and
will be installed the large cruisers and battle
ships No naval administration will probably ever
attempt 10 select a bent tube type Of particular
design and therefore the choice Of the type Will be
left 10 the contractor. In the small craft the
maximum power will only be required at intervals
end for short periods. and this result can be Sc
cured from many designs. For the battleships and
cruisers. however. there are military as Wen as
professional reasons why an approved type should
be settled upon since protracted work will be de-
Inanded Of these steam generators The straight
tube will be necessity Tor this boiler mis- de-
Cison IS based upon theory well experience.
IN the United States Navy the development OF
the tube boiler has been conservative. Upon
his advent into the office of Engineer-in-Chief Of
the Navy. in 1885. Rear-Admral Melville imIne
6isely began giving careful consideration 10 the
subject for he clearly the trend OF boiler de-
sign. The development not rapid as he
desired but il speedier than his confreres ap-
proved. Three years from his induction into office
Admiral Melville had designed and contract had
been made for battery Of water tube boilers for
The monitor Monterey. The Monterey OF
four thousand tons displacement, and the first
v arship Of large size of any nation TO be fitted
with sufficient steam generators Of the water tube
type for cruising purposes Before steaming for
Manila the Monterey had traversed the North and
South Pacific, and her Ward boilers had been SUBJ
Jected to al the tests of cruising conditions The
performance Of these boilers was highly satisfac-
tory but observation and experience showed that
for cruisers and battleships II would be necessary
10 have water tube boilers Of type which could be
more easily repaired and which would stand more
severe work. The experience with the Monterey
gave decided impetus TO the introduction Of the
water tube boiler in all navies.
INDEPENDENT ACTION JUSTIFIED.
About this time It became apparent the mari
time world that the United States was TO
enter the race for naval strength Engine and
ship builders. gun and armor manufacturers as
well as boiler makers. gave increased considera-
tion 10 the reeds Of the Navy.
This was the period (about 1s99 when many
conservative people believed that we should i'm
plicitly follow British practice in all naval affairs
Fortunately for the Nation Admiral Melville stood
Ike rock against the introduction Of the light
machinery that was being placed in English war
vessels, although urged TO adopt Il by practically
every other official at the Navy Department |
Then was the time also when he was urged 10
introduce the BeIlegille boilers. To followed
the installation of light weight machinery. His |
rejection Of the design based theoretic
hrmed by practical experience IN the Of the |
English Navy. well as in the ships Of the mer-
The responsibility Of giving better boiler than
the BelleVille 70 the American Navy then rested /
design should be adopted. and there were profess |
type that was familiar 70 the boiler makers and |
mechanics Of land The BeIlevtle had been /
Government because its manipulation was known |
10 thousands on shore With such boiler the /
be carried on ashore
There were many excellent water tube boilers |
had not 70 take into consideration the question OF
securing fresh water for them nor were they /
often limited TO height. floor space or weight
weight were particularly difficult 70 secure, and /
for time il looked as II success was far distant
Extended tests were made OF various types OF |
boilers, and experts from the Navy Department !
were sent 10 various parts OF the country 70 Sc
domitable viii, Admiral Melville installed in the /
gunboats Marietta and Annapolis straight tube /
had been successfully used throughout the coun-
Try IN stationary installations. IL is needless 10
~. however. that while retaining the essentiat
features OF this type he insisted upon many OF
the details being changed 10 adapt them 10 Navy !
lantic and one on the Pacific Coast. and there /
fore an excellent opportunity was provided for /
OF the boilers
ADVANTAGES OF AMERICAN DESIGN.
H.