Wichita eagle., 1889-09-14

for there were but two bidders, Messrs.
Cramp & Sons, Of Philadelphia, who sub
mitted four propositions, embracing the idea
of constructing her on their own plan for
engine and hull; on the navy departments
hull and their engine; on their null and the
navy departments engine or on the depart
ment's plans for both hull and engine, the
price varying from 81, 10000 to 81, 1926, 000
The Union iron works were the other bid
der, and their price for building under the
| departments plans for hull and machinery
was 81 ,428, 900 The contract was awarded
Messrs Cramp 6 Sons, the hull and machinery
to be constructed according to bidders plans
and specifications for s1,350,000 The con-
tract for her construction was executed in
! October. 1897, and she is, according to its
terms, to be completed in October of this
year.
The Philadelphia and Baltimore have very
much the same dimensions the former being
about 100 tons the smaller. Her length is 315
feet, beam 1917 feet draught 1871 feet and dis
placement 4, 324 tons.
In the battery arrangements a radical de-
parture has been made from the installation
Of the armament aboard the Baltimore, twelve
q inch rifles taking the place of the four 8
inch and 6inch guns aboard the latter vessel
1t has been quite satisfactorily demonstrated
that the battery of all inch guns is suffi-
GENTLY heavy for vessels of this class and
that their range, penetration and weight of
metal thrown from her broadside is as power
ful as vessels of her class carry in other ma
Vies In fact, the tendency of the present day
is to have guns OF still smaller calber, and
also to introduce loading and firing mechan-
ism that admits of a much greater rapidity
Of fire than has heretofore been considered
possible. The secondary battery, as the az
gregation of smaller caliber machine guns is
called, is composed of two Gatlngs, four 6
FOUNDER Hotchkiss, two 3 FOUNDER Hotchf1iss,
one l FOUNDER HotchfisS, four 81 nm. rapid
fire revolving cannon.
On her mean draught Of 10 feet 215 inches
the speed of the vessel is guaranteed at nine
teen knots for four consecutive hours trial
This, when the contract was drawn, was con-
sdered such q high rate of speed and so
greatly in excess of anything that had for
nerly been attempted in our naval vessels,
that it was looked upon as extremely doubt
full If its provisions could be carried out.
Since that contract however, others calling
for a twenty knot speed have been drawn,
and the builders of the Philadelphia having
had their own way as far as the designs Of
the machinery are concerned are quite con-
fident of attaining the nineteen knots speed
together with a little margin in their in
tereSt The engines are of the twin screw,
horizontal, triple expansion type and are to
weigh 800 tons Should they succeed in
making a speed of over nineteen knots,
bonus of $4,000 viii be paid for every quar-
ter OF Il knot lii excess of that speed. 4
similar forfeit is to be exacted for each quar-
ter of knot below the standard
The Philadelphia is a protected cruiser,
having a hong forecastle and poop deck.
strong ram bow and rounded stern covering
and protecting the rudder, which is placed
we'll below the water line. She has what is
called a high freeboard-that is, her rail is
high up above the water line. There are two
smoke stacks and three masts to carry fore
and aft sail only.
These masts have military tops or plat
forms made Of steel and carrying protective
shields for covering the men stationed to
work the machine cannon, which in action
are seat up in the tops in order 10 pour a
stream OF projectiles on an enemys decks
and pick of the exposed men
Vessels of this type have steel protective
deck, four inches Ia thickness, running fore
and aft the vessel and protecting her below
water portion from shot and shell. In addi-
ton TO this the coal is so distributed around
engines and boilers as to afford very ell
Gent protection and make an excellent sup
Elementary protection TO that offered by the
steel deck The coal supply Under ordinary
circumstances is 400 tons, but the bunker
capacity is sufficient 10 hold 900 tons. with
which supply at a ten knot speed per hour
she can cover 1900 miles
All the conyeniences Of steam steerers,
windiasses, side coaling chutes. etc. will De
fitted. and in addition there viii be a com
piete duplicate electric plant, lighting the
holds, store rooms. magazines and quarters.
besides which there viii be search lights Of
about *, 600 candle power This vessel Is in
tended for q flag ship. and the arrangements
ana convenleiceS Of quarters are thought to
h9 very much in excess Of anything that has
before flown the bread blue flag of an Ameri-
can rear admiral The minute division into
watertigRt compartments. each Of which IS
provided with independent pumping and
drainage systems lnsUres TIE vessel remain
Ing afoat should Sc coma N collision or be .
pierced by proiectiles. The ventilation u /
the quarters embraces the latest improve 4
lnents and IS sy9cn n secure the health and !
comfort OF both officers and crew The feet /
OF the four Roach cruisers and the YORK /!
town, already u commission, the Petrol I
Charleston, Baltimore and NeSuvns, in iii 4
Ierent stages OF Cn1pietioa. added 70 the
FhLadel7Eis. Newark, Concord ard Sem 4
ninStou, vii upon another vsar give i
hest Of speedy and sDox eTs'll vessels rhat VIII
z re tran -epaCe tAe larger number CT ,
WOODEN sslITes. COX fast disappearing