The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-07-17

of the year, but this is in doubt He,
armament is to consist of four s-incl
breechloading rifles, ten 5-inch rapid
fire breechloading rifles, fourteen 6
Founders, six 1-pounder rapid-fring
cannon and four Cuttings. But it is the
Oregon at San Francisco in which par
ticular interest is taken. No time has
yet been fixed for the launching and
work on her is progressing very slowly.
She is to be the longest of the great bat.
tleships of the new navy, although her
armament Is to be exactly similar to
| that of the Indiana. The displacement
of both vessels will be 1000 tons larger
than that of the New York and 5000
tons greater than that Of the Texas.
The cost of the Oregon is So, $50, 900,
while that of the Indiana is IS, 900.
The armament OF both ships will con-
sist Of four 13-inch, eight s-inch, four
6-inch breech-loading rifles, sixteen
6-pounders, four 1-pounder rapid-fre
guns and four Gatlings. It is more
than likely, however, that many
changes will be made in the ornaments
of these as well as of the other cruisers
and battleships yet to be launched and
building, for the tests constantly being
made have led to many improvements
which are, of course, never taken into
account III the original designing. It is
an interesting fact that from the time
the contract was let for the building Of
the Texas in 1886 to the present year,
the year of the launching, such vast i'm
provements have been made in naval
architecture that the Texas is con-
sidered an old style battleship, hardly
able to compete with the newer de-
signed vessels Of the American or
European navies-
Both the Indiana and the Massachu-
sets are building at Cramps. The cost
of the ships Is the same, as Is also the
armament.
The cruiser building at Boston, No.
II, is to cost 1914 200, and in armament
and general design is almost the exact
counterpart Of the Detroit. The Monad-
mock, the double-turreted monitor now
being constructed at Mare Island, is on
the plan of the Miantonomoh, which
has but recently gone into commission.
It's armament consists of four 10-inch
breechloading rifles, two 6-pounder, two
3-pounder rapid-fring guns, and two
37-milimeter revolving cannon. Then
two Gatlings complete the outfit.
The Pirate will be, perhaps, the next
protected cruiser to be launched at
Cramps. It is to cost So, To-, 900, and
has displacement somewhat less than
that of the New York. 1t is the first of
the new cruisers in which the original
designs included the 6-inch rapid-fring
guns.
Thus it viii be seen that Uncle Sam is
to protect his coast from in
vasion. There is one point on which
the department is AT sea. 1t was origin
ally intended, so at least is the report,
to build at least two of the practice
cruisers. But the Bancroft, which has
just been launched at Elizabethport,
and the cost of which is $3.50, 900, has
proven altogether too small, and it is
likely that new practice cruiser will
be ordered, designed on a more extern
sive scale.
The pictures which are published
herewith are from the original designs
and absolutely accurate. They are
published through the courtesy of Mr..
Hart, of 24S East Twenty-third street,
New York, the official photographer Of
the navy.