New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-01-02
ARE THE SHIP PLANS ALIKE ?
CAPTAIN NORTON HAS A GRIEVANCE.
COMPLAINING THAT SECRETARY wHITNEYS
NEW CoAST-DEFENCE SHIP BEARS THE
MARKS OF HIS OWN DESIGN.

COMPLAINING THAT SECRETARY WuIINE1
NEW COAST. DEFENCE SHIP BEARS THE
MARKS OF HIS OWN DESIGN.
Carain Francis l. Norton, the founder head and
general superintendent of the Norton Naval Con-
struction and shipbuildng Company. claims that In
the description and cut of Secretary Whitneys new
coastdefence ship, published in The Herald OH
sunday, he recognizes the principal points and IN
ventions OF an unsuitable vessel of his original
design, the plans OF which now in the possession
of the Navy Department. where they have been kept
for two long years without any recognition OF the
inventor. Captain Norton said to Tribune reporter
yesterday:
Two years ago Secretary Whitney called for plans
for an armorcd battle-ship and for cruiser, and
premium OF $4,000 was to be given for the plans
accepted. decided send him plan for the
battles ship being the inventor OF the system OF naval
construction excmplfed in the Norton litebOat The
circular he sent out confined competitions TO ships
with a displacement Of about 5000 tons There
were several plans sent in. among them those Of
the Barrow shipbuildns Company, of England and
| sent in plan of which now show you blue
print COPY IT represents exactly such a ship as
The Herald described on Sunday. This IS a low
fIeeboard ship, protected on her sides by twcvcncn
steel plating $50 feet of her length, taperng to
eight and six inches at the ends. The entire free
board OF the ship from one end to the other Is
so protected She has Two barbettes, as described
gun and the other 12-inch one.
"There is a superstrrcture between the barbettes,
in which her secondary battery Is located. She also
has abaft the forward barbette coming tower a.
Is also described She has one smohestach furnishing
dIaught for four sets of boilers. This smokestach
IS protected at the base by six and eight inch steel
plating The ship Is constructed upon the bracket
system, and has double bottom extending two
thirds Of her length, divided into forty watertight
martin her
Til, double bottom extends to the aim0ry shelf, and
nv design is the only one with a double bottom
extending in this manner around The bilges OF the
vessel. Her boiler and engine rooms are all water
tight compartments. Altogether, she is divided into
ia water-tight compartments She Is fitted with
two military masts, which can carry machine guns
In the tops Her steering gear is Of the most ap-
proved patterns, and her anchors and chains are
all worked from the upper beweendecks under cover
The bsIbette guns rcvolve upon turn tables and
| cannot see in any particular that there i any
difference whatever, except in minor details between
my ship and the one Represented As designed by
Secretary Whitney. The latter has been made OF
little las draught by the adoption Of lighter metal,
or in other words, lighter protective amor My
ship. like the other, has also twin screws.
The harbor and coast defence ship submitted by
me 10 Secretary Whitney in March 1856, also bears
a strong resemblance in all IFS material parts TO the
design published. Neither of the plans has been
returned TO me. Tie defence ship has the double
bottom watercushion, | call il. as the other
has The beauty OF this watcrcuShion is that it
protects the ship against injury from torpedoes or
other submarine explosives. 1t also gives the ship
stability and makes her non-capsizable. This Is the
only snip Of the kind that has been devised She
j. doubleender. with a ram at each end and
rldder and propeller al each end. She has lnde-
pendent engines placed al each end for the Operation
Of the screw
Captain Norton characterized the board that So
lected the Barrow plan. as incompetent ana amateur
In his Office, at No j, Broadway, he showed the
reporter several plans TO support his statement aud
a section model showing his d0ube-botiom cCniriv.
ance The false bottom IS filled with water-of
which, of course, IL can he cmptied al willard ms
gives The vessel an enormous stability. II required
an eXertion considerable strength to rock the little
secon-mOdcl In the tub of water in which IL floats
i'm the CAPTAINS office lie SAYS that several foreign
governments and steamship companies are becoming
Interested in the invention. lie says that America
alone Is laggard I'm It's appreciation Of it, and thinks
secretary Whitney might at least give him the
credit which he feels 10 be due 10 him.