The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-11-02
NAMES FOR THE NEW vESSELS
Principles on Which They Arc Chosen and
Proposed Changes In the Statutes

Proposed Changes In the Statutes.
WASHINGTON. Nov LIN selecting the name
Detroit for tho 2.OO0-ton cruiser hitherto
known as No. 10. under construction at Balti-
more. Secretary Tracy has made a good choice.
Indeed. the naming Of tho new steel feet has
throughout shown care and common sense.
It has been restricted, Of course. by certain
statute rules. requiring ships OF tho first rate
to be named after States. those Of the second
ratio after cities. and SO on; but there Is an
existing confusion both rs to rating and
naming which Congress. sooner or later. no
doubt. will modify. and the Navy Department
has to keep in mind the probable modi1-
cations.
We now have State sponsors for the three
big battle ships OF 10.20O tons each. the Indi-
ana. Massachusetts, and Oregon: for tho
armored cruiser Of 0.64S tons building ut
Brooklyn we have Maine: for tho battle ship OF
$500 tons building at Norfolk we have Texas:
for the armored cruiser Of $3.50 tons We have
New York. To these it is believed will be-
added California. as the name Of tho 5.5OO-ton
protected cruiser now known as No. O. under
construction ut the Union Iron Works. San
Francisco: and certainly mono more appropri-
ate could DO chosen. 1t is thought that tho
name Pennsylvania may be given to the triple
screw cruiser. No. IL. of 7400 tons. now build
ing at Philadelphia. She Is already endeared
the statutes do not allow her to carry that as
her permanent appclation. and with her rating
she must have the name OF some State. Her
sister ship. No. Is. would. OF course. follow the
same rule. or otherwise she might be styled
the Corsair:, As It is. It would not be surpris-
inf to find the name , G(eorSia affixed to her ~
vessels .displacing 5000. tons or more first
rates. On this point the Senate and the House
they agreed that all between 5000 and 5000
tons should be second rates. They differed on
the sas f pestpae
is clear why the 5.5OO-ton cruiser will take the
eSosss T sons f 81
400, and the Monterey Of 4.o4s have re-
Esyed the o. W Re
named or hereafter to be named after States.
representing all parts Of the Union.
hs sha sns
$oSS tons each. the hilsdelpRIa Of 4.s34. ths
these sdaed the bett
the Noble OF 2U93 tGas each ws
will also have the name Of q city.
:, The ground Of furnishing names Of cities to
these last is undoubtedly to be found in the fact
minimum displacement for second rates 360S
tons, the existing statute, by which the SeSIe-
to the regulations. besides receiving names
eharactsr. e well divided seosfaphicaly. and Be-.
i o RsS tina
tSs Year isi4: When Cen Eoss marched
compelled to retreat without capturing tho
sci ' as an ornament statue Of Francis scott
Key; who wrote the famous lyric on the hon.
part Of the same operations. But tho whole
plan was based on the theory, of the new
s rates. aG Yet ac ah0r sye4y 9S law bg@dss
1000 and 100 tons s' To To" such s'% Yes.
sss Se tss n pYW ho f slo fo%s be s
names OF battles ia our history. But those
thd Detroit is second rate under tho
If f FSn hat hat
ing city. Examples Of vessels in the old
hS the on ssE
the Hartford: 1000 Tho Omaha. 3.106. viii
probably see no more active service -,
the existing rules in regard to the President.
disc r. have produced names no tWoof
Petrol excellent names for the loo and sa5,
is ype W. *esaHas .s sos
for pneumatic gun,cotton vessel. although
a Il Il
It's title by settling down into the moro peace
AL mission OF an official ,iun;eting yacht
The torpedo boat Cushing has been
very apty. named. from the, gallant
destroyer Of the Aibemari!e. while doubt
ng at Dubuque. will bo as itly christened.
For tho Naval Academy practice vessel the
name Bancroft has been suggested. and very
y Secretary George Bancroft toward founding
he Naval Academy. Finally. names are yet 70
building at Bath. Possibly Secretary Tracy
nay announce these. and also max final de-
n his next annual report. 1t will be remem-
'ered that tho naming. OF several important