Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-12-07

of 3 900 tons, and the Puritan, or 6,O6O
tons displacement, will be ready to re-
ceiye their armor as soon as it can be
delivered, and their completion may be
expected by the spring of 1893. The 10
inch guns of the Terror are completed,
and will be installed whenever the YES
sci is prepared to receive them.
THE coast defense vessel Monterey
was successfully launched April 2s,
1891, and is now ready to receive her
armor. Her 10-inch and 12-inch guns,
with their mounts, are we'll advanced,
and will be ready for installation when
required. The ship will probably be
completed some time in the year 1892.
"The Maine has made fair progress
since her Launching q year ago. The
engines have been completed, and a
shop trial of them took place on August
3lst. Their installation is now making
rapid progress, and will be completed
in the contract time. The vessel will
60 into dock in December the wooden
backing will be secured in place at
once, and the armor put on as fast as
delivered. Alterations have been made
in the plans of the turrets, by which
their weight has been reduced 134 tons,
and this weight redistributed by in
creasing the thickness OF the proposed
barbette armor froms 1917 inches TO II
inches, and the side armor from 11H
inches TO 12 inches, thus adding ma
terialy to the defensive strength OF the
ship.
"The work on the hull Of the Texas
81 coticfantnru nd
sne will be launched next spring. The
vessel is expected to be ready for service
early in 1894.
THE armored cruiser New York was
launched successfully on the End in
slant, and her date of trial may be
fixed about January, 1898. With her
high speed and great coal endurance, a
6-inch protective deck, and 5-inch side
armor plates of nickel steel, and a pow
erful battery well supplied with armor
protection against the fire OF every
thing except the heaviest guns, this
vessel will be most important addi-
tion to the naval strength OF the
country.
The work upon the battle ships
Indiana, Massachusetts and Oregon is
going on rapidly, the two former having
their frames erected up TO the armor
belt. At present. it is impossible to
give with certainty the date OF COM
pleton of these vessels, but, according
TO present probabilities, they will be
ready for service early in 1894. The
progress of work upon the unarmored
vessels of the Navy is equally salts
factory.
Since the last report the Charleston
has received her S-inch guns in place Of
the 6-inch temporarily put on board.
The battery of the Dolphin has also been
improved by the substitution OF TWO
4-inch rapid-fire guns for the 6-inch
originally assigned to the vessel.
''Of the old wooden ships Of the navy
there are in existence two second-rate
vessels, The Lancaster, the present flag
ship OF the Asiatic Station, and the Pen
sacoia, now stationed at Hanolulu. The
Lancaster probably has six years of ser
vice before her, but the cruising days Of
the Pensacola are numbered. Ten
third-rate vessels remain-the Marion
and Alliance on the Asiatic Station;
the Mohican, Iroquois and ThetiS, on
the Pacific; the KearSarge. on the North
Atlantic the Essex and Yantic, on the
South Atlantic, and the Adams at Mare
Island. OF these the Yantic and Adams
are probably good for five years more of
service, and the others for two or three.
The Omaha, Swatara and Nipsic are not
in condition for further cruising, and
the Enterprise is temporarily serving
the purpose Of practice vessel at the
Naval Academy, until the completion
of ship of that class"
The Secretary complains bitterly Of
the non-delivery OF armor, under con-
tracts long overdue, but speaks in high
terms of the efficiency of armor furn-
ished in resisting shot. The trials are
given in detail.
On the subject Of
ORDINANCE,
the secretary says:
THE following table gives the num-
Der of guns required TO arm the vessels
now authorized, the number OF sets Of
forgings ordered and delivered, and the
number OF guns completed: