Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-12-03
CITY INTELLIGENCE.
OFFICIAL PAPER OF TIE CITY,


tide which had been very low for several days, in
consequence Of strong northwestern, would BIO
high enough TO admit of the launching of the new
steam-trigate Minnesota BY IL A. NJ, the whole
population seemed TO be upon the Avenue, in We
hices of every description, on foot and on horse
back, IL being understood that the launch would
take place about IL o'clock. The day was sur
passingly beautiful, and the ctyn wore more
brilliant or enliyening aspect. When we reached
the Navy Yard, at l2 Ia r. NJ the vicinity OF the
ship-house was crowded with spectators and on
the opposite shore vast multitude was assembled.
1t was estimated that at least 10000 persons were
in attendance, and by many the number was rated
as high as $4,000.
The President and his Cabinet arrived at ! P.
NJ, and were received with salute Of Ia guns.
They Immediately embarked ON board Of the
United States steamer EngineeH which took up her
position in the stream, few hundred yards from
tho wharf.
The tide was coming in rapidly all the time, and
reached high-water mark about halfpast one. But
In consequence Of the preliminary arrangements
being incomplete, the ship was not launched till
halfpast two. She moved very slowly and almost
imperceptibly at first but, after the lapse OF two
or three minutes, she glded down the inclined
plane, on which she had been constructed, with
extraordinary velocity, and entered the water with
Huch precision that her equilibrium was hardly
disturbed by the sudden translation from one ele-
ment to Misunderstanding of to the length of her
cables, as naturally and gracefully if she were
Anadyomenc, !" the offspring OF the sea-" instead
of the product Of the land. s5
In accordance with time-honored usage, before
the ship reached the water, Miss Susan L. Mann,
young lady of this city approached the bow, and
in due form baptized the noble vessel, giving her
the name of :" Minnesota"
There were two bottles of wine produced in
honor of the occasion, the first glass of course
being tondered to Miss Mann. Instead of offering
a sentiment, as was expected, she cast timid
glance towards Hon. Mr.. Rice, of Minnesota, who
calamity came to her rescue In few remarks,
which were loudly cheered, he told the crowd
how delighted the people Of his Territory were
when they heard that this noble ship was to be
named the Minnesota, and their hearts and hopes
would 60 with her to the most distant parts of the
world. s4
The water used in christening Of the ship was
brought to this city from Minnesota river by Hon.
Mr. Rice.
The vino was presented by Mr. VIM. Guy of
the National Hotel, and was champagne Of the
best brand
The Minnesota" was designed by John Len
thall, ESQ, chief of the Bureau Of Construction,
Equipment, and Repair. Her machinery was by
Engneer-in- Chief Martin, of the U. s. Navy, naval
constructor, s. NJ. Pook foreman, Edward Foster;
m ster caulker, j. j. White; master aparrnakcr,
joseph Lane; boat builder James Kerrigan; en-
ginecr and machinist, Henry Hunt foreman, Mi
chael E. Bright; bolermaker's foreman, Thomas
Champion master smith, James Tucker foreman,
Henry Ober; master plumber, Abel G. Davis; FORE
man, Michael Farrall master joiner B. B. Curran;
foreman, Louis Ma-ceron; master painter, John
II. Peake foreman, Thomas Nokes master black
smith, Anon Woodward; founder VIM. Bland
master of the laborcrs, j. M. Padgett gun car
riage.maker, James McCathron.
Her dimensions are as follows: Distance between
perpendiculars 264 feet and 5-8th inches rail of
the fore perpendiculars feet 8th inches rail
abaft after perpendicular Is feet "a; extreme
length 2SS feet . 5.s inches length of gundeck
$50 feet inches; spardeck 2s4 feet 10 inches 1
extreme breadth of beam 81 feet inches depth
of hold 36 feet inches. Her armament will con-
sist of two heavy ten-inch pivot guns, weighing
without carriages about $4,000 pounds each.
Fourteen eight-inch shell guns, weighing about
1000 pounds each, and "a nine.inch shell guns
On the I4th Of October, 1854, the keel of the
Minnesota was laid. During the period of her
building the work was delayed nine weeks by the
loss of iron braces and the non-receipt of oak tim
her, The Minnesota will be furnished with eight
boats three OF which are completed, and three in
course of construction. There have been driven
into her hull les, 450 pounds Of bolt copper-.man-
ufactured at the government rolling mill in the
yard, and 2sO,392 pounds of bolt and bar iron.
One suit of sails will contain $4,000 yards of can
vass, which, when spread, will cover an area of
about eleven acres
The guns for the Minnesota and her five sisters
were cast at the Fort Pitt foundry Pittsbusg, Pa;
West Point foundry n. Y; Ayers foundry, Bos-
ton, Mass; and the Tredegar foundry, Richmond,
Va. All the shell for the six steam frigates are
being cast at the Washington Navy Yard. The
boat and field howitzers, ammunition, &C.. for all
of them win also be prepared at this yard The
armament of the Minnesota viii be fitted under the
immediate direction of Commander Dahlgren.
1t affords us great pleasure to state that the
launch passed off without the slightest accident
SERMON TO FIRE CoMPASIEs.-Ye sterday morri-
Ing Rev. Mr.. Carothers delivered a discourse in
the Assemby's Church, on Massachusetts, avenue,
TO the fremen Of Washington. Nearly all the
companies were present
His text was Behold how great a fire. The
chariots rage in the Streets and the whole city lie
filed with confusion" In the course of his SER
mon the preacher stated the following interesting
facts In regard to the companies present:
The Columbia Company the Oldest in Washing
ton, instituted in thegyear 1906. Their engine
house, which was situated on Capitol square, was
burned by the English in August, 1914 Ofthe
original membership, but four persons are now
living, three Of whom continue members to the
present time. This company have never been out
of service nor been called upon to pay any penalty
for violation OF law. In 1851 their house. with
all the members regalia, was wickedly DESTROYED
BY the hand of some incendiary. They have at
present handsome house, with 500 volumes in
their library The roll shows ~ efficient members.
Regular appropriations from City Council, 81 900
year.
The Franklin Company was originally organized
in 1906, under the name Of the "Alert:n In 1913
IL was changed to the Star In 1927, that was
superseded by the Franklin" The membership
consists Of 1873 enterprisng, efficient young cit
zens; IS contributing, and 80 life members Their
house was built by the government, and the COM