Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-07
NEW TRAINING VESSEL
PERFOR MED ADMIR-
ABLY ON HER RECENT CRUISE
Naval Academy superintendent Much
P1eased-Ommen ts Of Her Conn
mandlng Omcer.

The superintendent of the Naval Academy
IL very much pleased with the new training
vessel Chesapeake. and has stated that she
will make the greatest acquisition to the
training facilities OF the Naval Academy in
its history. She has just returned from her
first summer cruise with the class of cadets.
and has In all respects performed admira-
bly,.
For many years. until recently. the only
means which were provided mt the Naval
Academy for training cadets In seaman
ship were the old sailing frigate constelia-
ton and two or three of the equally ancient
sloops OF war. These vessels were worn
out and unserviceabie for any purpose
and few years ago the machinery was re-
moved from the Monongahela. one Of the
steam sloops butt during the civil war.
and she was fitted sailing ship. but
was at the best makeshft and was also
worn out
seamanship. while IL has passed out Of
practical use In fighting ships. bears the
same relation to the training OF naval
officer that the classics do to II liberal adt-
cation. 1t IL an Indispensable foundation.
In iS9! the superintendent Of the Naval
Academy asked Congress. through the Sec
rotary OF the Navy, TO authorize the con-
struction OF two sailing ships for training
purposes. The Congress then I'm session
provided for one composite training vessel,
propelled by steam and sail and appro-
quently modified by striking out the word
steam and reducing the appropriation to
$l25.UU
The New Training Vessel,
The result Is the Chesapeake was put in
commission last fall and is now in service.
She IL a splendid vessel and thoroughly well
fitted for her service. being modelled after
he type OF the best class OF sailing ships
in their best days and is the only sailing
al I'M hot ha,,x L.,
struction OF the Sabine In 1855. In a struc-
tural sense she is thoroughly up to date
eng steel ship constructed I'm accordan nee
with the most approved modern practice
ana furthermore. she Is the first sheatlled
snip that We have constructed the gun
boats of the Annapolis class being OF COM
posite construction. The sheathins Ia per-
rect and Will add greatly to the value Of
the ship.
A Successful Design.
That the. design OF the vessel. which was
Que TO Chief Constructor Hichborn. was
most successful Ii demonstrated by the
language OF her commanding officer in his
last quarterly report. He says: THE ship
Is fine sailing vessel. speedy. handy In
working to windward. and SO far as has
been observed. easy In aea-way The
chesapeake has done eleven knots prac-
ticaily on the wind. all sails set to royals.
heel IA degrees
80 1"t ca peiichSei any severe
weather on her cruise. but the fact that
she Possesses ample stability has been full
ly demonstrated
IL Is also reported that she rides easy
a. her anchors. She Is fitted with small
boilers for supplying steam to the heating.
nsntinx ana ventilating plants. She Is LIS
Zee, long on the water line. 81 feet beam
and draws 1913 feet OF water. with n dis
placement OF 1.17j tons. Her full ship rig
Includes three royal yards and 80 g75 square
Zee. OF san; Ihe lower masts are OF steel
the remaining spars being of wood. She
carries battery Of six four-inch rapid-fire
guns, four six-pounders and two one-pound-
ers.