New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-05-06
ANOTHER ADDITION TO THE NAVY.
THE ARMoRED COAST DEFENCE VESSEL TO RE
BUILT AT SAN FRANCISCO

THE ARMoRED COAST Defence VESSEL TO RE
BUILT AT SAN FRANCISCO.
washington, May 5-The award By Secretary Tracy
., ~. contract 70 construct tho Arored coasdefsnce
vessel 10 the Union Iron Works, Of san Francisco,
created no surprise. Indeed, the award was eH.
pected when tho bids were opened on March -,
the Messrs. Crsmp Sons, OF Philadelphia, Wore the
lowest bidders; they failed however, 10 comply with
the plans and specifications Of tho Navy Department
and substituted some Of their own, hence their bid
was not considered The bid Of the Union Iron Works
was regular in every respect 1t guaranteed The
horsepower called for and provided for coil boilers
as specified in the Navy Departments plans
Tho BID OF tho Union Iron Works was TO complete
the vessel minus the battery for A,6.s,0oo. The
vessel is 10 DO Of A. 90 tons displacement, ESQ feet
long 90 feet beam and IL feet IL inches deep from
N, ton of the main deck beams 20 her Inner bottom
She is to be with steel plates sixteen inches In
thickness and Is To be built throughout OF materials
OF domestic manufacture Tho total weight OF her
machinery, including boilers, engines and appurte-
nances exclusive Of turret machinery, is TO be
AL tons The engines 10 develop and successfully
maintain for four consecutive hours 5,4o0 maximum
horsepower For every horsepower over this the
contractors are 300 10 addition TO tho CON
tract price but II they fail 10 attain that horsepower
they arc to forfeit 800 for each horsepower less
than the contract calls for The main battery Is TO
be the heaviest yet provided for the Navy and Is TO
ono i2insh breech-lOading nhc and one l4-incb Ia
llnsh dynamite gun. She will have a supplementary
battery Of rapidHng guns consisting Of six a3pound-
ers three o.pounders, two 6pounders, and four B
FOUNDERS.
The general design Of the vessel is Of the low
freeboard monitor type. Instead Of revolving turrets
however, there will be two low, fixed turrets OF
classmates one forward and one aft. In each OF
thesn will be mounted one Of the monster broech-osd-
| ing rifles She will be low in the water as N
present q small target only, while her side srmo
and her protective deck Will defend her guns and ma
chinery against the heaviest ordnance OF an enemy
| Tho bow will DO rausshaped and strengthened for
| ramming The vessel will be constructed on Thu
| bracket system, with double bottom and water
| fight comp artments There will be q light super
structure above the main deck extending from oarbot
| 20 barbette. There will also be armorcd tower
len inches in thickness, fitted immediately abat tht
forward barbette IN which will be placed tho stoenR
gear, telegraph speaking tubes, etc There VIII aisi
Be a military mast twenty inches In diameter A1
fifty feet above the supcrstrctufe dock placed abA
the smoke pipe out OF line Of fire. for signal purposes
and fitted an uptaBe for exhaust ventilation Th'
mast will have two tops, fitted 10 carry twtsa q
| chine guns and the other fitted with a search light
The vessel viii be fitted with twin screws. so thai
she can be quickly handled and her light draft vii
enable her 10 largely choose her own hshting waefs