The Washington times., 1902-09-21


is expected to maintain her designed
speed practically indefinitely and with
out an extravagant use of fuel; and in
asmuch as the Raleigh required 10000
horsepower 1t has been possible to re-
duce the weight of the propelling ma
chinery in the new cruiser by more thar
one-half. To give the cruiser a bunker
capacity for 700 tons of coal. an amount
sufficient to carry her three times across
the Atlantic Ocean without recoaling,
giving steaming radius of about 10000
miles at ten knots or $500 miles at full
speed. was merely an everyday problem
In naval architecture. To burn this coal
fast enough 1t was necessary to provide
about 300 square feet of crate surface
under the six water tube boilers, and to
carry away the smoke in two stacks,
each rising seventy feet above the
CRATES.
Work Began at Fore River.
The keel of the cruiser was laid at the
Fore River yard two years ago, and
plate by plate the steel hull rose from
the blocks until 1t looked like nearly
completed ship. steel hull is not diff
| ficult to build in modern shipyard,
when hundred pneumatic rivetters are
at work and the dark corners of the in
terror are thoroughly illuminated by
portable electric lights, but when it be-
came necessary to cover the lower half
of the hull with sheathing of Georgia
pine planks, which shall conform so per-
fectly not only to the lines of the ship,
but to every little irregularity of the
plating that water cannot find it's way
between the wood and the steel, the task
was one requiring much patience and
skill.
1t Is the peculiar quality Of copper
that 1t "exfoliates,". or scales off, under
the action Of salt water, and consequent
ly maintains permanently clean sur
face. since each exfoliation relieves the
ships bottom of barnacles and other
growths which would retard her speed
II the copper could be attached directly
to the steel plating the shipbuilder's
problem would be a simple one, but If
this were done on the bottom of ship
the galvanic action of the sea water
upon the copper and steel would soon eat
away the steel plates, leaving the cop
per unsupported. 1t is therefore neces-
sary to use pine planking as means of
insulation and to take the utmost pains
to prevent the sea water from finding its
way from the copper. sheathing to the
steel plating.
Guarding Against Corrosion.
Therefore the planks were fastened to
the Des Moines with the greatest care.
and to perfect the insulation 2S. 900
bronze bolts were used in fastening this
sheathing to the steel hull. Further to
guard against corrosion. the stem and
stern castings are of bronze. the rudder,
which is as high as the second story of
house, is made with bronze frame
filled In with white pine and covered
with bronze plates, and the propeller
wheels. seacocks, and all outboard fit
tings are of non-corrosive metal.
There is no armor on the Des Moines.
since she is not intended for work in
pitched battle of naval forces, but she
has protective deck rising from the
water line. like the shell of a turtle.
with two-inch nickel steel on the slopes.
which will turn small shot and safe
guard to considerable extent the
ships machinery. The cruiser is ex-
pected to stand off vessels of her own
size with her powerful armament of
rapid fire guns, all designed for the use
of smokeless powder. Her main bat
terry will comprise ten 5-inch breech-
loading rapid fire guns, and her second
battery includes eight 6-pounder and |
two 1-pounder rapid fire guns, besides |
four Colts automatic machine guns, all |
of which will combine to make her an |
extremely disagreeable customer at |
close range.
Water Line the Danger Point.
Being unarmored her greatest dangerJ
is from shot along the water line,
which might cause her to fill and sink. |
This contingency is guarded against |
by water tight compartments and a pro-
tective belt of corn-pith cellulose. In |
addition there are about hundred wa
ter tight compartments in the ship. |
each Of which has been carefully test
ed by pumping it full Of water The
corn-pith cellulose. which is packed be-
tween the outer and inner skin of the
hull, is something of a novelty. Should
water rush in through a hole made by