New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-11-29
THE BIG CRUISER NEW-YORh.
HER OFFENSIVE AND DEFENSIVE POWERS.
tn PIE LAUNCHED ON wEDNEsDAY-A COMMERCE
DESTROYER AND PROTECTOR MISS
HELEN c. PAGE OF THIS CITY, TO
CJJPIeTFN THE SHIP.
CHRIsTEN THE sIIIT


PHILADELPHIA. Nov. 22.-within the next week
there will be launched at the shipbundihg "orhs vi
william Cramp e. Sons by far the most Important war
vessel in the group authorized by Congress in 1887 ana
in many respects one of the most notable ships OF inc
Navy She will be launched at p. m. on Wedhes-
day. She is the armored cruiser NO. = or, as sile
will be christened the New-iork, by Miss Helen u
Page daughter Page secretary OF the union
League Club of New-York, and by which name she
has been known for more than year. The prepare
tons for launching this vessel have been In progress
for several weeks the launching ways are being put
in readiness the huh has received the regulation coats
of paint and TO her as she lies or the ways her
sharp graceful lines would suggest that she Is to be
added to the fleet Of the speedy TRANSATLANTIC steam
ships 1t Is possible although not hoped for that she
NAV some day be employed to reduce. either by shells
from breechloadng rife or torpedoes from the port
made for the firing Of these death dealing weapons, the
speed Of the feet transatlantic liners Her great ram
bow Is painfully suggestive Of the terrible result II 1t
shod ever be sent against the side the bow stern
OF an enemy, or by accident bit friendly vessel.
Three firms bid for the construction of this vessel as
follows:
Glass l. Hull and machinery, including engines,
boilers and appurenances, complete in all respects In
accordance with the plans and Specifications provided
Philadelphia, $4,000; Union Iron Works. Of San
Francisco, $3,1OOOoo; Risdon Iron asd Locomotive
Works San Francisco, SO ,45O.0OO.
boilers and appurtenances complete in all respects in
by the bidder guaranteeing strength Of materials, dis
Placement, speed etcUniOn Iron Works, OF San Fran
cisco, 80, 600 900; William Camp Sons, OF Phila-
delphia, 81 $50 900.
The proposal of William Cramp Sons to build the
vessel under the second classification, for 9S5 0OO
being the lowest received, accepted, and n con-
tract was entered into August %, 1890 for the
construction OF the ship according to the Navy De-
partments plans and specifications for the hull and
tons included Encouragement Of the boilers that
additional longitudinal and transverse bukheads could
be fitted in the engine and boiler spaces thereby afford
ing greater protection to the machinery and making
the boilers less vulnerable to attack from rams and
torpedoes The keel laid on september 30, 1890,
and the contract requires that the vessel shall be
finished and ready for delivery to the United States
Oh or before January /. 1893.
The object which the Navy Department has srived
for in the armOred crser NewYork, and which, IL Is
confidently believed, has been attained is unusual
combination Of great offensive and defensive power,
with extraordinary coal endurance. and high rate Of
speed The ability to cruise for long period under
steam when coaing stations not at hand has
been largely developed I'm the cruiser New York. In
this respect she VIII be far superior to the nrmored
cruiser Maine, which is rapidly approaching COM
petion at the New-York Navy Yard. The Maine II Is
admitted, Will be powerful fighting ship so also
will be the New York. But while the Maine will
have cruising radius OF 1850 knots mt "a IOknot
speed the New-York will have a cruising radius OF
miles. The ability OF the cruiser to maintain
herself when at a great distance from home station
has been secured chiefly by her great size. When she
is baptized in her element. three months hence, she
will be the largest vessel Of the United States aHoat
Her principal dimensions Length on load water
line, $50 feet IL inches, breadth Of BEAM "a feet
mean draught, 81 feet l.. inches displacement
$50 TONS. maximum specd knots. estimated
average speed under full power. with natural draft,
Is IL knots.
The maximum speed given for this ship, namely,
twenty knots it is declared by the Navy Department
as we'll by the contractors, will be sum.
Gent TO enable her TO escape from any Of
the more powerful ships aaoat today md
! 10 overtake ths vsst INTELLECTUALLY % ~