Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-10-27
GRATIFYING RESULT OF
TESTS FOR ENDURANCE
During rwsnty-four Hour Runs al
Twelve and Nineteen Knots Re-
speetlveIy, the Consumption OF Coal
ard Water wss Remarkably Small
--Firemen seaided.

Having acQuitteu htiSe" "''
an her official trials. and bringing
with her a speed record OF 2l.56 kho's
an hour-.b6 of one knot in excess OF
the contract reouirement-ihe giant
% .ooo.ton battIeship Delaware crept
silently into port shortly AFTER ~
o'clock Yesterday morning. An hour
later she had been warped INTO u
berth az the plant of the Newport
News Shipbuilding & Dry DOCK Com
many. where she will receive the M
ishing touches preparatory TO peihs
turned over to the navy department,
about the first OF next year-seVeh
months ahead OF contract time.
So we'll did the monster ship per
form I'm her every test--the standarci-
sation trial. the four hours speed
aash under forced draft, and the TWO
twenty -four hours endurance runs
that the builders are unanimous ia
their statement that no Dattieship
huilt here has performed as wen as
did the Delaware. In view OF 'ne
fact that the Delaware Is the hrst on
the American "Dreadnaughts' to be
given the Official trials, Der excellent
showing is particularly gratity-
ing both 10 the yard officials and the
navy department.
every REQUIREMENT Exceeded.
OfIcial information given out after
Tho ships return shows that she ex-
ceeded every requirement set down
In the contract. Her engines ran
with remarkable smoothness at all
times while the ship was as steady as
q rock under all conditions. she car
rjed little or no bone In her teeth
80. ~nen running ut the hignest
speed and there was no drag astern
to retard her.
beginning with the Standardization
test on Friday, the trials OF the Della
ware continued through until o:3o
o'clock yesterday morning. On Fri
day the ship had some runs over the
measured mile course near Rockiand.
but heavy fog rose and compeled
a postponement of the tests me
trials we're continued SATURDAY morn.
ing. both coal and coal oil being USED
as fuel. The ships boilers are
equipped with oil burners as an aux
iJiary to the coal furnaces and for use
In quick steaming and since the burn
ers had to be tested, the naval board
decided to have the test on the five
high runs during the Standardization
trial
Maximum Speed 21-98.
On the best run over the mile course,
the Delaware attained a high speed
OF 2l.9S knots, while the average or
the Ave high runs was 2i.44. When
this trial was completed. the ship
nut back to Rockland, Me-. while the
naval board compiled data on the
tests.
steaming out Of Rockland harbor
teh same afternoon at o'clock. the
shin put to sea and began the four
hours run under forced draft under
almost ideal weather conditions. The
ship ran steadily fer the four hours,
the engines turning up an average OF
about t27 revolutions per minute
Throughout the four hours. Soon after
the trial was over, the naval trial
board announced that the oficiai
speed was 2l.5s knots an hour. This
announcement caused general rejoic-
ing on board
Endurance Run.
Soon after completing the speed
run. the Delaware began the twenty
four hours endurance run at an aver
age rate OF speed OF twelve knots an
hour. This is the usual cruising speed
maintained by American battieships
On the high seas and the test was held
20 ascertain the coal consumption and
water consumption at this speed. The
Delaware cruised along easily, keep
ing I'D the twelve knots called for by
the naval board II was found tina.
the coal consumption was about ~
pounds per horsepower per hour for
this trip. an unusually low consump-
ton for this rate % speed The
water consumption also was very low.
in fact, il was remarkably low.
During the first twenty four hours
run. the Delaware was heading down
the Atlantic coast She completed
the run Sunday night and later
started on the twenty hours en-
durance run at q average speed Of
nineteen knots an hour. The vessel
ran down the coast TO Cape Hatteras
on this trial and then put about and
proceeded up the coast TO the Della
ware rive. There she put about again
and returned to Cape Henry. compiet-
Ing the second and final twenty-fcur
hours run az $50 O'Clock yesterday
morning This test too. proved high
W satisfactory.
Steering Gear Terts
Before starting into the Capes the
Delaware steamed AT the highest pos
sfcie speed and wen; through evoiu-
lions 20 test the steering gear. The
agl-e eight was described and the