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1900. ] MARINE REVIEW. 19 LAUNCH OF TROOPSHIP HARDINGE. The United States government has had considerable experience of late in converting liners into troopships; so far, however, it has not built any troopships. In the evolution of the liner into the transport the United States government has employed innovations which have caused much admiration abroad. The American transport is a model of con- venience and comfort. The general method of fitting out a transport has been hitherto described in the Review (Naval edition, Sept. 28, 1899). The Fairfield Shipbuilding & Engineering Co., Govan, have just launched the troopship Hardinge for the English government and considerable interest attaches to the vessel, since she is the second of her class ever built on the Clyde. The previous vessel was launched as long ago as i867 by R. Napier & Sons, Govan. The Flardinge is said to be by far the greatest and best contribution ever made to the Royal Indian marine. The dimensions of the Hardinge, which has a gross tonnage of about 5,600 tons, and a speed of 18 knots, are:--Length over all, 423 ft. 6 in.; between perpendiculars, 407 ft.; breadth, extreme, 51 ft.; depth, to main deck, 31 ft. The vessel is built of steel throughout, and is of the spar deck type, having a cellular bottom all fore and aft, with a very close sub- division by water-tight doors, so that the spaces may be used for the storage of fresh water. The hull is divided by water-tight bulkheads, strengthened in accordance with the recommendations of the parliamen- tary bulkhead commission, while the general arrangements are in all respects in strict compliance with the admiralty transport regulations. There are four complete laid decks--the orlop, troop, main, and spar decks--and the latter being flush, with no erections other than the neces- sary castings and houses giving entrance to the accommodation below, is specially suited for exercising the troops in large companies. There are two navigating bridges, fitted on the top of the forward and after deck- houses, similar to those in the latest warships built for the admiralty; and a light gangway connecting these bridges is fitted for the use of the ship's officers when the spar deck is crowded with troops. Arrangements are made for carrying on the spar deck an armament consisting of six 4.7-in. quick-firing guns, six 38-pounder quick-firing guns, and four ma- chine guns, while magazines are fitted below the water-line both forward and aft, for the different ammunition, as in one of her Majesty's ships. All the timber for decks, ceiling, lining, and fittings throughout the cabins and store-rooms is East India teak, no soft wood being used in any part of the vessel. Accommodation for the military officers is arranged on the main deck aft, with a dining saloon capable of seating eighty persons, and the state room, lavatory, and all other accommodation is fitted up, furnished and upholstered in a high-class manner. The cabins for warrant officers are arranged amidships. The dispensary and_hospital arrangements are most complete in all respects, as in the most secently-equipped hospital ships. The troops will sleep in hammocks. Altogether the vessel, when completed, will carry about 1550 persons, of which number about 1400 will be troops and military officers. In view of the climate in which the vessel will be employed, special attention has been given to ventilation, and a complete system has been arranged for all compartments; electric fans are fitted to the ventilating trunks between decks; bees' wing fans are fitted in the ceilings of the saloon, '&c., and these having long blades revolving at a low rate of speed will create a cool current of air, and serve in lieu of punkahs. The side ports are adapted to allow of the greatest possible amount of fresh air being admitted in fine weather by natural means. In order to provide fresh provisions for the voyage a large refrigerating plant has. been supplied, with cold storage chambers for meat, vegetables and other pro- visions, and also for making ice, cooling drinking water, &c. The dis- tilling machinery, apart from the !arge quantity of fresh water which can be carried in the tanks, is capable of supplying about five gallons of fresh water to each person on board every twenty-four hours. The draining and pumping arrangements and fire service are all of the most perfect description. The installation of electric light is fitted in the same manner as in admiralty ships, all lamps, fittings and wiring being of naval service patterns. In addition to a large number of incandescent lamps there are yardarm lights and signal lights. A search-light projector of admiralty pattern is fitted on the bridge, with traversing rails, etc., complete. The generating plant is in duplicate, each set of engines and dynamos being capable of supplying the full installation, and the engines are arranged to work with steam either from the donkey or main boilers. Electric bells and voice pipes of the latest admiralty pattern are fitted throughout the saloons and from the bridge to wheel-house, engine-rooms, and wherever else required. To obviate the noise and vibration usually caused by working cargo by ordinary steam winches, as well as the heat of steam pipes passing through the compartments below, hydraulic derricks are fitted to the masts for working the cargo. These are capable of taking lifts up to six tons. With this hydraulic gear the space usually occupied by steam winches on the deck is saved, and the deck left more clear for the benefit of the troops. A hydraulic boat-hoisting winch is fitted amidships, and a hydraulic warping winch aft. The steam capstan windlass forward is of special design, adapted for lifting or holding three cables. Steam and hand steering gears are provided, the former being operated from the wheel house and the bridge, on which the usual telegraphs are fitted. The outfit of boats comprise a 32-ft. steam launch, six 338-ft. steel life- boats, six wood boats, eight 28-ft. Berthon boats, the latter being placed under davits arranged specially to work them, as well as the steel and wood boats. ; The propelling machinery of the Hardinge consists of two sets of triple-expansion surface-condensing engines fitted in two water-tight compartments, each set having three inverted cylinders working on three cranks. The high-pressure cylinders are each 29 in. diameter, the inter- mediate 46 in., and the low 72 in., the stroke of piston being 4 ft. The high and intermediate cylinders are fitted with piston valves, and the low-pressure with a double-ported slide valve. The valves will be worked by the usual double-eccentric and link-motion valve gear. Each set of valve gear will be controlled by a combined steam and hydraulic revers- ing engine. The crank shaft is built in three pieces, each piece being in- terchangeable, and, together with the thrust, tunnel, and propeller shafts, is of forged mild steel. Each screw propeller has three blades of bronze, the boss being of cast steel. The condensing water will be supplied to the condensers by two large centrifugal pumps, one for each condenser, each worked by an independent engine, and each capable of supplying the circulating water required by both main engines in the event of one pump teing disabled. Both circulating pumps will be connected to large valves leading to the bilges, so that in the event of a serious leak in the ship these pumps could be utilized, for pumping out the engine-room. The engine-rooms will be fitted with all modern appliances, including two sets of distilling machinery for making fresh water to supply the boilers and for drinking purposes, two large feed filters, and two feed heaters; also, all other necessary fittings to ensure economy of working. The engine and boiler rooms will be fitted with ten motor fans for ventilating purposes. A complete installation of donkey pumps necessary for the special nature of the service will also be fitted. The boilers for generating the steam for the engines are of steel, five in number, of the ordinary multitubular marine type and arranged to work with Howden's forced draft. Each of the double-ended boilers has six furnaces, and the single-ended three, making a total of twenty-seven fur- naces, the product of conibustion being led into two funnels. There will be an auxiliary boiler for supplying steam to the donkey pumps, fresh water condenser, galleys, and for general purposes when in port. The vessel, when finished, will be equipped in the most perfect manner for the health and comfort of troops, and with her two masts and two funnels will have a very smart appearance. All the work has been done under the supervision of Sir E. J. Reed, K. C. B., naval architect and engineer to the India-office, with Mr. F. F. Hill as resident overseer. OUR SHIPPING INTERESTS--NICARAGUA CANAL. From President MeKinley's letter of acceptance. Ninety-one per cent. of our exports and imports are now carried by foreign ships. For ocean transportation we pay annually to foreign ship owners over $165,000,000. We ought to own the ships for our carrying trade with the world and we ought to build them in American ship yards and man them with American sailors. Our own citizens should receive the transportation charges now paid to foreigners. I have called the at- tention of congress to this subject in my several annual messages. In that of Dec. 6, 1897, I said: "Most desirable from every standpoint of national interest and patri- otism is the effort to extend our foreign commerce. To this end our merchant marine should be improved and enlarged. We should do our full share of the carrying trade of the world. We do not do it now. We should be the laggard no longer." In my message of Dec. 5, 1899, I said: "Our national development will be one-sided and unsatisfactory so long as the remarkable growth of our inland industries remains unaccompanied by progress on the seas. There is no lack of constitutional authority for legislation, which shall give to the country maritime strength commensurate with its industrial achievements and with its rank among the nations of the earth. The past. year has recorded exceptional activity in our ship yards, and the proniises of continual prosperity in ship building are abundant. Ad- vanced legislation for the protection of our seamen has been enacted. Our coast trade, under regulations wisely framed at the beginning of the government and since, shows results for the past fiscal year unequaled in our records, or those of any other power. We shall fail to realize our opportunities, however, if we complacently regard only matters at home and blind ourselves to the. necessity of securing our share in the valuable carrying trade of the: world." ee - A> subject of immediate importance to our country is the com- pletion of a great waterway of commerce between the Atlantic and Pacific. The construction ofa maritime canal is now more than ever indispens- able to that intimate and ready communication between our eastern and western seaports demanded by the annexation of the Hawaiian islands and the expansion of our influence and trade in the Pacific. Our national policy more imperatively than ever calls for its completion and control by this government; and it is believed that the next session of congress, after receiving the full report of the commission: appointed under the act approved March 38, 1899, will make provisions for the sure accomplish- ment of this great work. OFFICIALLY NUMBERED DURING AUGUST. The bureau of navigation reports 101 vessels of 31,564 gross tons ' were built in the United States and officially numbered during August, 1900, as follows: WOOD. STEEL. TOTAL. SalIL. STEAM. OSTEAM.: No. Gross. | No. | Gross. | No. Gross. No Gross. Atlantic and Gulf..| 42 11,283 16 792 2 661 60 12,736 Paoifions S238 5 2,841 4 075 1 16 10 4,952 Great Lakes.......... 1 17 5 151 3 11,608 9 11,776 Western Rivers...... 4 91 18 1,979: tes Nias, 22 2,070 Totals scix 52 14,282 43 | e497 6 12,285 101 31,564 The foregoing figures do not include craft without motive power of their own. The steamer Argyll of 2,953 tons was added to the mer- chant fleet by act of congress. An interesting trial took place recently in the Mediterranean, when four ships of the British squadron were ordered to steam under four-fifths power from a point six miles east of Gibraltar to another point six miles north of Cape Figan, Spain. The distance was 788 miles, which the new battleship Ocean: covered in 46 hours and 54 minutes, an average of 16.8 knots, consuming 520 tons of coal. The battleship Renown, four years old, averaged 16 knots, and the Isis and Dido, cruisers of 5,600 tons, 16.7 and 16.25 knots respectively. Admiral Bradford, chief of the bureau of equipment, has rejected the bids recently opened for the coaling station to be established at Frenchman's Bay, 'Me., and has invited new proposals, to be opened some four weeks hence.