The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-12-07
NOW ron THE MAOHIAG
Names First Steel 9s.sess WIN snip I.ts
thA Water To-merrNy.

Names First Steel 9uuboss WIN snip Iat0
ths water Te-.errew.
WASHINGTON. Dec 6-The next launch in
our new feet will DO that OF the Machias. to
take place at Bath on Tuesday. The new war
ships are following each other into the water
very fast in these times. the record OF three
such events within the limits OF q single week
being uneaualled thus far in the experience OF
our steel navy. 1t Is another good sign that
yards and different States. 30 indicating the
growth and geographical extension OF our
shipbuilding resources.
Maine Is emphatically shipbulding State.
and her contributions to the merchant marine
long ago showed that she could be relied upon
in the work OF constructing the new navy.
She did not enter into the competition. how
ever. until after careful study ofthe problem.
md her pioneer craft ID modest In size COM
pared with most Of our war shipa 1t Is
larger. however than the Petrol. built at
Baltimore. and than the practice vessel build
Ing at Elizabethport.
The Machias is the first oftwo steel gunboats
OF 1850 tons displacement called for by the
act OF Congress. approved March 2. 1881.
Bids were asked upon them during the follow
ing November. and tho proposals were opened
about two months later. The lowest bid came
from an Elizabethport company namely.
SJC2SI5 for the two vessels. exclusive of
armament. But the award was not made TO
this company. since tho law required the pro-
duction OF evidence. which was not forthconl-
ing. that the plant for building the ships could
be made ready within three months from the
date Of the contract proposed. Tho next
lowest bid was that OF tho Bath Iron Works.
which was S'i37oOo. coming we'll within the
prescribed limit Of 800 600 and making the
pr, pt.,1 al
contracts were entered into for the construction
OF the vessels on the Navy Departments plans
and specifications. These contracts. dated
April ~. 1890 required that both vessels
should DO completed and ready for delive:y
The aIaclias has. u length on IoaI line OF 100
feet an e SStTsm iot breadth Si 81 feet aan
hour; Sho has twin. screw. Vertical. tripie-rx-
mi allow snf FEN 70 a es E%os w W hen
HTmun VIII" a; - knots which g. can ="
steam :Gts knots. She has a. two .mastsd
s snhooner rig. spreading ,s about G50o square
ior falling short OF it. with the chances. It i
believed he'll that some premium will be earned:
strong since .it consists OF eight finch rapid
fire breech. loading rifles. These are 20. ;8.
R"Es sRs MAss ssanT
improvements in powders great penetration
power and longer range are looked for. and 1t
Ia quite evident that eight such guns will form
an effective battery. The secondary outfit
consists OF two 6-pounder. two S-pounder. and
one 1-pounder rapid-fre guns. Hotchkiss
revolving cannon. and u Calling. In the de-
design 81 the Machias careful attention has
been paid to quarters for officers and men.
Since the contract was made the contractors
have proposed some slight changes in tho
machinery which the. Bureau OF steam Engi-
nearing has approved.
The hume OF the new vessel was selected in
accordance with the custom Of giving to gun
boats OF between 1000 and LOCO tons dis
placement the names Of places at which Revo-
lutionary battles occurred. The affair at
Machias. in the early part Of the strug-
gle for Independence. was not o con;
tiict OF the FIRST importance, and could
hardy hardly be compared IN celebrity With
town which have a,rsSady been eomms~ J,
was desirable to select Revolutionary Incl:
Maine. and Machias seemed the most appro-
There will be wide field Of usefulness for
the Machias and her mate. which latter is 40
fur advanced that 1t can also be put into the
water at any time. Indeed. vessels Of this sort
are so handy for patrol and police duty that
Secretary Tracy several months. ago an
nounced his intention to recommend the CON-
struct!on OF additional light-draught gun
boats. They cost comparatively little to build,
equip. and maintai n. and can go into waters
and perform services for which big battle
ships would DO far less fitted.