New-York tribune., 1905-06-18
REPAIRS ON NEW-HORk.
Cruiser To Be Made almost as
Good as Nese.

Boston June II (Special).-It was only three OF
four weeks ago that the boards OF survey composeu
of officers of the steam engineering. construction
equipment and ordnance departments Of the navy
finished their searching examinations OF the conoi
ton of the armored cruiser NewYork. ana IN thelr
report recommended repairs and improvements tnat
their estimates fixed cost of about slVoO'oVo-
Under the regulations that governed repairs On
wooden vessels of the navy the New-York woulo
have had be sent to the scrap heap ana soio ioI
old junk for the limit of cost was 20 per cent anu
subsequently reduced to 10 per cent The orisinai
cost of the New Yorl5-that IS. her hull and macnin-
erv-was g. 1886 900. and. with her ordnance added
close on s4.0O0.000 But 1T was concluded oy the
officers who spent weeks in a personal examination
of every part of vessel that, If overhauled re
paired and improved on she could be made almost
equal to new and be of good service as When
she was Admiral SIMPSONS flagship in the oatue
of Santiago de Cuba hence it would be IN the lire
of economy TO do the work on her. 1t woulu sAieo
give work to a large force of mechanics who neeo
work in order the navy yard might nave a'SAh-
able those acquainted and efficient with the class
OF work that is peculiar to warships. ana not "
any other kind of ships. The value OF this system
was forcibly evident when the war with Spain De
gan at a time when many vessels were bought anu
converted for war purposes at the several navy
yards the much larger number at the New-forh
yard and when 1t not possible TO get the pest
of mechanics for the navy without drawing from
the private shipyards where war vessels had been
built.
The work Of overhaung by mechanics of the
steam engineering and construction departments
has begun under the authorization of the Navy
Denar-ment but there some alternative prop
ostions not vet acted on. of which is the sub
stituton of water tube boilers for the Scotch Doll
ers now on her II her present boilers are 10 De
retained extensive repairs will be needed, but they
will still be old boilers. and the substitution OF
water tube boilers would insure quicker stean'
hence better speed. There is To be considerable
change in the ordnance outfit. the inner bottonl
needs to be partly renewed and more ex-
tensive refrigerating plant is to be installed cleo
tric motors will be increased in number. etc 1t
will be year at least before she will be ready lor
a new commission.
The cruiser Prairie put out of commission on
Wednesday and the officers who had SO long been
together bade their goodhys and then departed Tor
duty other ships, at shore stations, or d snort
visit with their families prior TO going away again
MANY of the sailors whose terms had expired got
their pay and discharges, and a large number nave
re-enIisted. Those whose terms had not expired
received ten days of leave
The unarrnored steel cruiser Detroit, vessel OF
217o tons displacement. which has been on duty
about Santo Domingo for time has been or
mission She will be surveyed and have extensive
repairs made. She was first commissioned on July
20 1893 and has had almost continuous service
since In July 1900 she was surveyed at Ports
mouth, N H after which she received extensive
overhauling and repairs. She also had installed
new ventilation blowers and some other outnt, ner
auxiIiaries of the construction department were
tested the drainage and other water systems were
completed and tested and she was again coIIlIniS-
stoned and left for cruise October Is, 1902