Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-06-28
ROPEMAkING BY ELECTRICITY.
An Economical Innovation at the
Charleston Navy Yard.

An Economical Innovation at the
CharIestOn Navy Yard.
From the Boston Post.
This morning electricity formally sup
planted steam as the motive power IN the
big ropewalk at Charleston navy yard. and
electricity is for the first time practically
applied to ropemaking.
The new plant, which. in addition to the
electrical generating apparatus of mann
moth proportions. is entirely equipped with
modern and improved ropemaking machn-
cry in every department and every detail.
worked most successfully. Commander john
E. Pillsbury, chief Of the equipment depart
ment. who suggested the change. overcame
many of the difficulties that stood In the
way, and who has personally directed the
installation of new power plant ana ma
chinery. came in for general congratuia-
ton from Admiral Sampson, Captains
johnson. Dyer Wadleigh, Farenholt. Com
mander Kearney, the chief engineer; Naval
Constructor Baxter and other heads OF de-
partments. all of whom dropped In during
the day to witness the operation OF the
plant, which was running In every detail.
todays practical operating test including
every machine and piece of apparatus N
the entire plant.
The starting UP was gradual, mat
ter of precaution. and by reason of the
non-appearance of some OF the men calieo
within day or so for work under the
new COnulllOHS, dIlO diSo oSSooSS VI 'AAS
lack of familiarity of some of the new
men with the new arrangements. But by
noon every machine In the break. prepara-
tory, spinning and all the new modern YER
teal ropemaking machines were running to
their full capacity, and the quarter-mlie
ropewalk was humming with the buzz ana
whirl of the seventy-two big double flying
spinning machines, the big break and card
ing machines and the twenty-five new
vertical ropemaking machines of various
sizes which have been installed in the place
OF the long lines of small spinning 1ennies
and the old-fashioned break and card ma
chimes Of various sizes. all nearly hal1
century old, and which had practically
been worn out in the service.
The vertical ropemaking machines are an
advance in the direction of modern meth
DDS, as formerly there were but four or
five of these, and they were used only TOT
the manufacture of the very smallest size
of rope, all more than a couple OF lnches
in dimension having been laid up on the
big quarter-mile alleys on the lower floor
with all the trouble and care and prac-
tically the same expense for labor as would
have been required in turning out 2o-1nch
hawser.
The cost of the new power plant and the
entire new equipment has been nearly $loo.-
900, but the cost Of production has been
materially reduced. and the possible out
put increased fourfold. The old machinery,
too had almost worn itself out In Its many
decades Of service and had to be replaced
AS this is the first time electricity has
ever been utilized in ropemaking the oper-
alton of the plant is being watched with
great interest
The necessity for increasing the facili-
ties of the ropewalk was demonstrated
during the recent war. This is the only
ropewalk owned by the government and
the greater portion of the rope and wire
cable used in the service is made here.
With the rush demands of the war the old
walks facilities were simply swamped. and
this proof that the plant could not be de-
pended upon for any emergency led to the
determination to equip 1t with modern ma
chinery. With the availability Of new ma
chinery a new motive power was devised
as a matter of economy and advance to
achieve better results The output with
the new machinery. power and equipment
Is estimated as more than four times that
possible with the old.
The main points gained by the changes
are less danger from fire. immense economy
In power and its cost. and opportunity for
the extension Of machinery aids. With the