The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1904-08-19
FOR =
ISLANDS
Something New For
the Philippine
Waters.


has been growing demand on the part
of the navy for small boats suited for
the waters of this group OF 200 or
more islands. Only crafts of light
in our outlying possessions, and these
could not be built here and sent across
the ocean under their own steam.
1t was perplcXing matter and at one
time looked as if it were going to battle
the ingenuity of everybody connected
with it. But Uncle Sam has found a
way out of the difficulty, as he is sure
to do on every such occasion as soon as
he takes time 70 consider the subject,
deciding finally to build the Government
steamers for service in the Philippines
in sections. BY this means the boats can
be constructed OF metal in this country
and shipped readily on the deck of a
transport or by other means to the point
of destnation.
| As soon as the matter was decided up
on bids for such boats were asked for
and the builders were allowed to work
out their own designs. The offer OF
shipbuildng firm at Morris Heights, n
J., was finally accepted and already a
boat has been constructed and is now on
its way for service.
This particular vessel is composed of
five sections and is so feet long, IS feet
beam and draws three feet six inches,
the light draught being necessary for
disembarking men and so forth in shoal
waters The vessel is built cntirelylof
steel the plating being one quarter of
an inch thick. Each section has a steel
deck and is watertight.
The derrick and anchor are carried in
the bow section of the boat with chain
ard storage lockers inside The crews
quarters, which will accommodate 20
men il required. are contained in the
second section, which also serves as a
hold for cargo.
The boiler, coal bunkers and part Of
the water supply are contained in the
third section, the coal capacity being 10
tons. The portable pilot house is on
top of the third section. This house,
however, is not necessity, as the YES
sci can be ope atcd with or without it.
The boat is twin screw, and the two
engines-or the motive powei-is con-
tanned in the fourth section, as well as
the shafts and propellers The engines
are compound and capable of driving the
boat at a speed Of 10 miles per hour.
The oval counter, or stern, which may
or may not be used. composes the fifth
section. As this section comes above the
1p nt / Ea
vessel squares effect.
In assembling the craft the boilers
section, having the greatest weight and
establishing the water line. is first float
ed The other sections, working either
fore or aft, follow in order
The sections are all fitted with sea
valves, the sea water is admitted into
their bottoms until they reach the COM
mon water line. Two sections coming
together have their ends fitted with
cones about II inches in diameter, one
set pointing outward, the opposite point
ing inward.
a windlass with a steel cable working
on dfferenta system is fitted ON the
deck OF each section. The cable con
meets the cones of one section with the
other. and the windass when operated
brings the four cones together, engaging
each other When the sections have all
been connected the water ballast IS
pumped out and they are reinforced with
connecting bolts. As soon as the steam
connection between the engine and boiler
stations has been made the vessel is
ready for use.
The operations OF taking this Govern
ment steamer apart for reloading on
transport is in no wise difficult Ii sim
al, a., IL. e Al,
pipe connection, pleasing the bulkhead
bolts and relaxing tlg cables holding the
cones, thus dlseneaSing them.
1t is hard to say whether the inhab--
ltants At the time MAGELLAN discovered
the fh'lipplnes, IN 1921, or the. Span
iards made ther hrst settlement there IN
1870 would nave been more astonished
at the sight OF vessel being brought to
them III separate pieces and then put to-