Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-01-10
,atlue IA appropriation for the building Of

the vessel.
The aim In the design OF this vessel has
been 10 combine, on 4 limited displacement,
large wefs OF offence and defence, recog'
MIXING that the efficiency OF an armored YES
sci intended for ocean or coast purposes Is
10 De measured by the disposition and chs
racter OF her armament, the sbiiitY 10 use u
In all reasonable weather. the protection AZ.
forded by the armor, the rate OF speed both
Of going ahead aud turning, her cruising ca
pIeity without recoaliug, aud her baotta-
bility.
ARRANGEMENT OF EArTERY
The battery has been disposed with q spe-
cial references 10 fighting ahead aud OF being
able to do this Ia all kinds OF lighting
weather. The armament contains two teu-
inch brecch.loading rifles. These guns are
mounted forward In turret srmOred with
ten-inch solid steel plates, the axis OF the
guns. when level. being eleven feet above
the fighting load line. The range OF IRE Of
these guns Is from directly ahead 70 sixty
i've degrees Sbait the beam on either side,
and BY removing the deckhouse a practically
Al-rouud fire is obtained. For closer quar-
ters she has a fiteen.inch dynamite gun OF
the Zalinski pattern. capable OF throwing
500 pounds Of high explosive compound.
She has also two underwater bow torpedo
tubes and one six-tueh rapid-iring breeeh-
loading rifle located aft.
To give the greatest arnlOr protection pos
sible on a very limited displacement q, l3O
tons the armor has been disposed In The
form Of an are OF a circle, turning down.
ward at the sides 10 four feet below the
lighting line. The armor on the crown Is
three inches thick, increasing at the sides TO
i've inches.
In order that the target presented to an
enemy may be as small as possible, ballast
tanks have been provided capable OF holding
enough water to lessen the cruising free
board three feet, so that the target exposed
in still water will be represented by seq
ment OF a circle. rising from the water-line
70 four feet above 1t the centre OF the vessel.
NOVEL CONSTRUCTION.
4 novel feature OF this armor Is the
method Of supporting Il. This Is done by
a system Of longitudinal aud transverse
girders eighteen inches deep. On the idner
side OF these Orders is worked a water tight
skin, scTving-in the event Of any portion
OF the deck .armor being dislodged-t0 arrest
any thrush OF wster. The transverse grid
ers VIII be solid every twelve feet, thus
locllizing any inflow Of water. Great care
has been taken TO sub.divide further the
snip into numerous water-tight compari-
ments, all Of which connect with both the
circulating pumps Of the engines and with
powerful wrecking-pumps, 50 that any
compartment may be readily freed from
water.
On the top OF the armor deck have been
erected tignt false WORKS. increasing the
cruising free board 10 seven feet eight inches
amidships and giving 4 comfortable working
decS. In order that these false works mag
not endanger the stability OF the vessel in
case they are riddled 10y machine gun fire In
action toe sides are built double, beng six
inches spagt. The space between Is hlled
with cellulose, a water-eXcluding element, Tor
the eutIre length OF the vessel.
TO BE USED As A RAN.
In cider that the vessel may be- used 81 a
ram the bow Is specially formed and
strengthened for this purpose. She Is also
intended for m%anWuyring rapidly. Her
large engine OF 1000 indicated horsepower
acts on twin screws, giving = rate OF speed
Of seventeen knots. The rudder is moved
by steam.,learing gear. Her radius Of action
ls-fOr the displacement Of the vessel
enormously large, Uelng upward OF 5000
Knots at ten knots speed, her coal supply
enabling her % keep the scss as a cruiser
above thirty-fYe days without recoaiiug.
A temporary deck.hou-e Is a part VI The
fa.se works, giyidg airy accommodations for
the officers during peace times. War accom-.
mDdations have been provided below the
armOr deck. Great care has been given TO
the ventilation Of all living spaces by means
Of powerful blowers drawing ar flom ar
mored ducts snd natural ventilation through
d|eck.lights and armored yenulat0rs.
The ships principal dimensions are
Length on broad liue, 23j feet; beam. eN-
IRENE, ~ feet; draught, cruising, IA feet;
fighting, 10 feet; cruising displacement,
5000 tons; cruising speed, II knots; midi
Gated horsepower, 1900; coal supply, 800
tons; complement Of officers and men, ll9.
Captain A.. IT. Mahan, Of the navy, pre,i.
dent OF the commIsaon to select o size Tor d
uayy-yard on the Pacific coast, Is dangerous
w IN Ia New York. and as a consequence
the commission has not yet started. Cons
mander Chester and acknowledgements
stockton, the other members Of the commits
sion, are In the city awaiting the conyt-
lesclng Of Captain Mahln.
The statements printed that the commission
bad agreed upon seattle, W. T., AS the pro-
per place for it il pronounced without f0un-
daiI0u. 80 site has been agreed upon and
none VIII be uniilthe commission visits the
coast aud inspects the localities.