Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-07-29
BIa WAR SHIPS BUILDING.
Navy Being Built Up That VIII Ne o
Credit 90 the Country.

Credit % the Country.
From the Philalcphia Inquirer
At Cramps ship yard yesterday 70 vas
learned that the Secretary Of the Navy had
gone 20 New York and, consequently, no
official notice OF the award Of contract for
cruiser No. Is has been received. II 10
now expected TO be given out ON Thursday
next Already the work on the armored cruiser
New York is being pushed 20 make room for
the newcomer which will take her place on the
blocks and will require two years steady worh
before completion. IL is the purpose Of The
builders 10 hurry the New York into the water
Is soon as possible, probably in less than three
months. 90 a. to get q good start on the new
cruiser.
IL the contract 10 awarded as expected Mana
ger Nixon declares that the shops viii be run
night and day, thus producing larger guam
tty OF material and allowing the force Of men
at work on the vessels TO be doubled. En-
ployes are delighted a. the prospect which in:
sures work for a long time. The price agreed
upon h s2.6g0.o 600. exclusive of the electric
plant, which will cost $50 900 additional This
amount Is the same the bad made by the
bath IRON works OF Maine, while the Cramps
FIRST offer was at 81 7ahOOO
IL was conceded. however, that the Cramps
wouldhnish the vessel year earlier than the rival
firm. and they were offered the contract nj the
latters price. This they have agreed 10 40
| cept, and are awaiting official notice Of the
award. Cruiser No. Is must make twenty-ons
knots an hour on trial, under penalty OF ESQ 900
| Tor every quarter knot Of deficiency but %
| every government vessel turned out by the
| Cramps has equaled or exceeded the require
| ments IN speed the firm are entirely confident
OF success They also hope to gain some Of the
premium Of $4,000 offered for each quarter
Knot OF speed IN excess Of the contract de-
| mand.
WAR VESSELS BUILDING.
No less than four war vessels are already un-
| der construction at the yard whose oontraca
price aggregates sil, 750. 900, with provisions
for premiums and penalties az in No. IS The
New York, nearest completion, will cost a, es5,-
GEO, and must make twenty knots an hour with
| twin screw and triple expansion vertical en-
sines her armor is S1s inches at the belt
| inches deck and 10 inches target She win
| have a displacement OF $3.50 tons. pile
driver was placed at work yesterday preparing
the ways for her launching
1 six months more will pass before No. IL
1 another light armed cruiser Of the swift type
will be ready for launching She will ccss
| q, az, 900 ana must make twenty-one knots an
| hour, with triple screw. triple expansion en-
| gines OF p GOO horse power. In shape No. II
| Is long and narrow-4l2X5s feet-and has four
| inch armor on her deck only. Her main bat
| terry will consist OF one elght-inch breech-
| loading rife, two siX-inch and eight four-inch,
while Ter secondary battery viii include two
siA-pounders and four one-pound guns.
| ANAvY TO BE PROUD or
Only a few days ago the keels Of the largest
battle ships ever built for the United States
navy were laid, and some fifty feet Of the
frames or ribs are now erected, while the busy
workmen are fast outlining in iron the shape
| OF the gigantic war vessels. Zach will cost
SS;o2O,CoO, and as they are built for strength
rather than speed, are required to make but
| fifteen knots an hour, with twin screws and
5000 horse power.
Their displacement is 10,29s tons each, Just
| l,29o tons heavier than that of the Maine the
| largest yet built for the government. -Four
| immense thirteen-inch breech leaders will de-
fend each ship, with eight large eight-inch
guns, four six-inch, twenty siX-pounders. six
one-pounders and four Gatling guns. Their
armor will be eighteen inches at the belt
seventeen inches at the target barbette and
| three inches on deck. When all the contracts
are completed the nation will have a feet Of
formidable vessels which Philadelphia may
well be proud Of