The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-06-06

reference 10 these. no especial difficulty
was presented to an establishment which
had accomplished the results already
described. Another armored ship of the
Monitor type, the Monterey, and harhor-
defense ram of peculiar design are also
well advanced In construction.
In addition to the above the department
has, in the last two years, undertaken the
construction of vessels of an entirely
novel character. They are experimental,
not in the sense in which the Chicago and
her contemporaries were experimental, be-
cause we now know what the shipbuilders
and manufacturers of the country can &C
complish, but they embrace in their de-
sign features so wholly individual and un-
usual as to represent second departure
in American naval construction.
The vessels of which speak are of four
types: first, Cruiser No. 6; second. the
armored cruiser New York; third, Cruiser
No. IL, commonly known rs the Pirate,
and her new consort, No. ls; and fourth.
the three battle-ships, the Massachusetts,
Indiana and Oregon.
OF Cruiser No. 6 there is not much TO be
said. She belongs to the recognized
cruiser type, but her greater size permits
the ordinary cruisers are most defective -
coal endurance and sustained speed. Her
coal capacity is 300 tons. which gives her
a radius of action of 1900 miles, dis
lance far beyond the average vessel of this
type The additional weight of her ma
chinery enables her to reach not only the
guaranteed speed of twenty knots, but a
sustained sea speed of nineteen knots,
which is certainly two knots above that
ordinarily maintained by ships of her
class. She has, in addition, unusual pro-
lection for her guns and a powerful bat
terry. The main armament consists of four
s-inch and ten 5-inch guns-fourteen in all
while the secondary battery comprises
twenty-foar light pieces. She is a
cruiser pure and simple; but with
her sustained speed and re-
markable endurance, her powerful
battery, and the armor with which she is
protected, she il cruiser of no ordinary
character.
Next in order comes the New York, an
armored cruiser of $50 tons. The radius
of action of the New York and her speed
are the same as those of No. g. Her bat
terry is composed six eight-inch guns, four
of which are protected by barbettes and
shields of heavy armor, and twelve four
inch guns, while her heavy protected deck
and armor in the wake of the engine
spaces form additional defence. She is
not only constructed to destroy commerce,
but TO destroy commerce-destroyers and
of these there are few who would be able
to meet her on equal terms.
The Pirate and her sister-ship. No. II.
are of an entirely different type.
They are fully protected against light
guns, and their armament, comprising one
eight-inch, two six-inch, and eight four.
inch guns, with twenty rapid fire-guns, is
a match for any armament that the con-
verted commerce-destroyers Of the day can
carry. Armor protection they have also
of a limited character, but their two es-
sential features are coal capacity
and speed; the former gives them
a radius of action Of 25,ooo miles,
while the latter, developed BY en-.
gines of over 5000 horsepower.
propelling three screws, is placed at a
maximum of twenty-five knots and sus-
tanned average of twenty-one They can
steam around the world without touching
at any point for coal, and they can over.
take with ease the fastest transatlantic
liner of the day.
Finally we come to the battle-ships.
These vessels, which were adopted by Con.
gress, after considerable opposition. at the
recommendation OF the department. are
vessels built for the defence OF the coas,
of the United States. They have been
often described. and it is not necessary t.