The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-07-02
PIE THREE NEW BaT7LE SHIPS.

The Navy Department Invites Kids for
Building the s,S0O-ton Coast Dcienders.
WAsH1NGToS, July 1.-The Navy department
has issued n circular inviting proposals for
building tho three huge S.5OO-ton coast-lne
battle ships whose construction was author
lied by the naval approximation act passed by
Congress n few days nGo. Tho vessels ore to
cost. exclusive OF armament, not moro than
S4ONO,UOO each, the term armament including
besides The guns and ammunition all armor Of
;urrets, harbottes. gun shields. and armored
tubes directly pertaining to the protection OF
the guns and loading positions. All parts Of
tho vessels are to be OF domestic manufacture
Proposals NAV be made under two classes:
For the construction OF the whole vessel ac-
cording to the departments plans and specif-
cations. and for the construction OF either huls
or machinery. or both according to plans and
Specifications to DO submitted by the bidder.
The designs for the vessels must he in suf-
fcient detail accompanied by such specinca-
tons and calculations as will enable the de-
TO sec that they iui the requirements.
The minimum speed to be maintained for four
kncts An hour. The hull is to be of steel not
sheGthed. The framing is to be on he bracket
syst1e,m: and there Will re double bottom ex;
forward and afr. Tho arnlor on the side for
protecting the water line will have a maximum
armor at the ends Of the belt will not
be- less than fourteen inches In thick
ness. Eedonhs and turrets will have armor
not less than seventeen inches thick. The
side # ON armor belt TO the main deck will TO
protected by not less than FIVE inches Of steel
arInOr. coal is TO be carried back OF this case
luate armor. An armored Geek not less than
three inches in thickness is to extend forward
md aft from the ends OF the armOr belt, being
curved down on each eide to meet the side OF
the ship below tho water Over the side armor
belt this steel deck will be not less than two
and three quarter inches in thickness. An ap-
proved water eXc.u1ing material equal TO
"woodite " or c-llulose is to be fitted along
tho sides forward aud aft on the slopes OF the
three inc h protective deck.
Each lessel will cnrry powerful guns aggre-
eating In all OBI tons. including four 13-inch
breech-loading rifles Of 60 IONS and four OF 81;
tons each, besides 60 other guns ranging from
nearly 10 tons downward. II will require 306
tons OF ammunition 10 complete the vessels
lighting outfit: Tho l3-inch guns are to be
protected by II inches thickness OF armor, and
the and inch guns by shields. and in addi-
ton by barbettes Carvings and inch armor.
Twelve torpedOes. seven OF the tubes to be
above water will be carried.
Room must be allowed for three months
provisions. and clothing and small stores Tor
one year. and for at leAst 400 tons Of coal
Each vessel will also have n large electric light
plant. thirteen snail! boats. running from five
tons downward a military n ast to be fitted 10
carry two tops, and enough anchors. rigging.
boat fitting. and other equipment TO start II
naval supply store. The crew OF each vessel
will be thirty officers and $50 men.