Evening journal., 1889-07-29
pRoaREss oE Ice nav NAVY.
Five More Cruisers and Gunbosts TO be
launched soon-The Armorc1ads.

Five More Cruisers and Gunboats 20 De
Launched soon-The ArmorcIads.
WASHINGTON, July 27.-The contrac-
tors will, before long, be studying the
detailed plans Of the 3,000-ton sea-going,
submerging monitor designed by Con
gressman ]. R. Thomas. These plans
have been completed and they call for
collective horse power Of $500 tons,
Welding maximum speed of
seventeen knots If the vessel is
built by contract there will
be large bonus for each quar-
ter knot above this contract speed and a
similar deduction for all deficiencies.
Exclusive Of premiums, the hull and
machinery are not to exceed in cost ST.
500. 900. The distinctive feature Of this
craft, the ability to sink lower in the
water in battle in order to present less Of
mark to the enemy, renders 1t one Of
the most interesting of the new vessels.
The next launchings Of new war YES
sells will doubtless be those of the Ben
nington and Concord, which should occur
some time during the month of August.
The work of getting their machinery in
place has been pushed by their contrac-
tors, the Quintards, and few weeks
more will finish this work These two
vessels are of the class of 1,700-ton gun
boats, and are expected 10 fully equal the
Yorktown, successful in point Of speed
as that vessel las been. Not very long
after will come the launchings of three
great cruisers, two at Philadel-
phia and the third in San Francisco. The
two former, the Newark and the Phila-
delphia, have been building at the ship
yard OF the Cramps, and will take the
water soon after the middle of September.
The Newark will have a displacement Of
about A, 600 tons, and is expected to show
a speed of at least eighteen knots. The
Philadelphia has about 800 tons more dis
placement, and should attain maximum
of nineteen knots. The San Francisco,
building in the city from which
she takes her name, is a sister
ship OF the Philadelphia and is to
have tine same speed, and will be launched
probably about fortnight after the lat
ter. Considering the unexpected trouble
which the Union Iron Works, her build
ers, have had with the Chagleston, her
progress has been gratifying The main
batteries in each Of these three cruisers
consist Of twelve six inch guns, while
the two gunboats will each have six of
these guns, and as this calibre is the one
which the government is best supplied
with and is able to turn out most rapidly,
there is reasonable hope that the cruisers
will not have so long to wait for their
armament as If larger calibres were
needed
As soon as the San Francisco is of the
stocks, the keel Of the coast-defence yes
sci, the contract for which was awarded
TO the Union Iron Works, will be laid In
the same place. She is to have 1000 tons
displacement, with sixteen inches of
armor on sides, turret and barbette It's
battery is TO consist of 16inch 110-ton
breech loading rifle and 12-inch rs ton,
besides pneumatic dynamite tube. The
Maine and the Texas, the former Of 6.64S
tons, and the latter of $500,
are coming on well at the Brooklyn and
the Norfolk yards, where they
ars respectively under construction. The
Tredegar works Of Richmond have the
contract for the machinery Of the Texas,
and the Quintard Iron Works Of New
York that for the machinery Of the
Maine. The latter has been sublet to
seven or eight different companies, all
along from Boston to Brooklyn, Bethle-
hem and Pittsburg, and it ought 10 be
ready in season with this union Of re.
sources. In speaking Of armored vessels
mention must be made Of the varied and
greatly increased interest taken
in the double-turret monitors by
the plans for the transfer
nation of the Puritan into row
erful barbette ship. carrying four 10 inch
rifles. She viii be most effective bat
tleship in her new shape, and her com
pletion has been taken up with positive
enthusiasm In the Navy Department,
work being pushed on her. The Mianton.
omoh, also, is making good progress, and
will be the first Of these vessels comnle-
ted.
Next month bids will be opened and
contracts awarded for the FIVE rapid. fire
cruisers. the 1000 and 1000 ton vessels,
and then attention will be concentrated
on the new and effective armament which
is TO be provided for them.