Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-03-15
THE NEW NAVY,
The Five Vessels to be Constructed I'm.
der the New Appropriations.

Those who are particularly interested In the
building Of the new navy are watching the
movements OF the Navy department. as to the
construction Of the five vessels authorized by
the Fifneth Congress. When these are COM
pieted, II the contractors do their duty, the
United States win no longer be entirely de-
ienseiess so far as its interests on the high
are concerned. The principal vessel in the
Meet which Is to be constructed is denominated
an 'armored-steel cruising monitor" and
rs displacement is not to be less
than 5000 tons. The vessel Is to
be built ON the plans made by Representative
John r. Thomas, of Illinois, and approved by a
naval board and by Secretary Whitney. The
price TO be paid for the monitor is not to ex-
coed y, SOC, 900 exclusive of armament and Of
speed). The contractor viii be required to
guarantee that the collective horsepower de-
veloped by the engines shall equal Z 500 indi-
Gated horsepower, and that the maximum
speed of the vessel shall not be less than sew
enteen knots an hour. If, however,
the speed should be shown, on trial,
TO exceed that required by the law
then the contractor will receive from the gov
eminent an additional $50 900 for each quarter
hand, there should be decrease in the speed
the contractor loses ESQ., for every quarter
knot of the deficiency. The material en-
ployed in the construction of the monitor. and
the boilers, engines and machinery are all to
be Of domestic manufacture, and of the latest
and most approved quality and type.
Another cruiser Of the yesuvius type Is also
provided for. the President being authorized
TO contract with the Pneumatic dynamite gun
company for the construction of such o vessel.
The new boat is TO be at least as large as the
vesuvius, and it will have to be equal to the
task Of n knots an hour on a trial and must
have an endurance Of not less than fifteen days
at 10 knots an hour. The contractors are to
guarantee q speed Of 20 knots an hour and
there will be deducted from the contract price
the sum Of $1,000 for every quarter knot that
the cruiser fails of reaching the further speed
Of q knots an hour. The cruisers armament is
to consist of two pneumatic dynamite guns of
15-inch caliber and such other offensive equip
msnt a. the Secretary of the Navy may deem
necessary. The cost of the cruiser Is not to ex-
coed s45O. 600.
approved type are also to be built Their
is to be from 800 to 1,200 tons dis
placement. and they are to cost in the aggre-
gate exclusive of armament) not more than
300, 900. large tram" for harbor defense,
of the type approved by the naval advisory
board and possessed of the highest practica-
BILE speed. completes the list.
The matter Of the most local importance, so
far as naval appropriations were concerned,
was the item which provided for the compile
ton of the construction and equipment of the
ordnance shops, Offices, and gun plant at the
maynard, or gun foundry, in this city. For
and in order that there be no delay in making
the necessary changes and improvements the
money was made immediately available.