The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-06-29

ueck OK Z-inch steel s laid above the armOr
oeit' beyond this beltit is inclined dOwnwards
awards the extremities aud sides and Is
inches thick on the slopes. At the ends Of
the belt are diagonal armored bulkheaas Of g.
men steel, pointed towards the bow and
stern; whose oblique surfaces Afford addI-
tonal protection.
Ihis protective deck carries the massive
supports for the redoubt on the deck above,
ana has coal bunkers at the side and extend
ne .ethwartship which protect this support;
aii the matches and openings on this deck
nave conerdams. The top of the redoubt Is
covered with a Pinch steel deck; the redoubt
~ continuous. and is accessible only from the
protective deck.
THE HULL Is OF STEEL,
ana Is built on the cellular system. A double
bottom extends under the engines. boilers
and magazines and is divided both Longitude
hhiiy and trausversely into numerous water
HRht Compartments. This double bottom 10
continued tore aud aft by the tCors If store
rooms, &c. and the extremitIes are arranged
as trimming tanks. The space between the
double bottom and the protective deck IS snb-
divided into many water-tght compartments.
whose numerous bulkheads add 20 the
sup strength: there are 12j OF these COM
phrtments. all connected TO steam and hand
pumps By an extensive drainage system. thus
minimizing the disastrous effects OF the ram
ana tJrpedO in the wake of the armOr belt.
passage cupboard the coal bunkers. n the
| coal bunkers above the protective deck there
IS fore and aft watertght bulkhead
| girder extending five feet above the water
iine, giving the ship triple skin TO this
/ height. The boilers aud engines are con-
tanned IN six watertght compartments below
inc Or tectiYe deck, three on each side with
central passage providing protective COM
| mnnicaton between the eXtremitles # the
sup below this passage and between the
ooher rooms are situated magazines and she'll
rooms Above the turrets is a flying deck for
navigating the ship on which boats are
slowed; two second class torpedo boats are
carried, IN addition TO the usual complement.
YLEcTEiC MGHrs.
The ship is lighted throughout by cleo
! tricty and carries two powerful electric
/ searohIights and two smaller search-llghts
/ Tor boat use. ample ventilation OF magazines,
/ store-r0Oms aud quarters Is provided; also
/ fresh water dstillers. There Is a steam steer
| ing engine below the protective deck and
| steam capstan and windlass on the main ana
upper decks forward.
! The Texas will be fitted as a flag ship and
! carry complement of 365 officers and men,
Der spacious decks affording much greater
! accommodation and comfort for the crew
| than 10 possible on cruisers.
The ENGINES
/ The ship is driven by two sets Of triple ex-
/ panslOn engines of the vertical Inverted
direct acting type. capable OF developing $500
/ horse power with natural draft, and 5000
with an air pressure of two inches OF water.
| The engines occupy two water-tight COM
partments. leach set having three cylinders
36 81 and 78inches IN diameter. with COM
mon stroke Of 80 inches. There are iour
dOuble-ended steel boilers II feet in diane
ter and II feet long. of the horizontal
return tire tubular type. each having SIX cor
| rugated furnace hues. total heating surface
about 1900 square feet. total CRATE surface
| about 500 square feet; the working pressure
IS $50 pounds per square inch. All four boil
ers are connected TO one smokeplpe the
closed fire room system Of forced draught
| will be used The condensers are made
/ entirely of composition and mnntz mental,
with Independent circulating and ar pumps.
Piston valves are used for the high pres
sure and intermediate cylinders and double
ported balance slide valve on the low pres
sure with double ba links. The engine
/ framing and bed plates are of cast steel. the
hollow Skating. piston rods, connecting rods
! and working parts generally of forged steel.
| The propelers are four bladed and fourteen
| feet SIX inches in diameter.
The machinery is being built by the Rich
mond Locomotive and Machine Works. Of
| Richmond, Va. but will be placed on board
/ OF the Texas at the Norfolk maynard.
AGREAT SHIP.
The Texas holds prominent position in
the development OF the now navy. The ma
iOrity OF the ships laid down prior TO the
Texas were more or less productions Of
/ tie best cruisers built IN Europe, but
\ whom the first batteship and armored cruiser
were authorized the Secretary of the
! Navy offered "a prize of 5000 for the
best design for either vessel competition
being thrown open 10 the world. as be
desired 20 secure the best talent wherever
| found, judging that although American con-
structors. engineers and ordnance officers
! bad but slight experience at that time IN de-
/ signing such ships, their ingenuity and talent
would keep tho navy IN the front rank for
future work The accuracy of this judgment
/ is shown by the Oattleships and cruisers
designed by these same officers not four
years afterwards. which excel anything de-
/ signed abroad.
The construction of the Texas was author
| lied by an act of Congress approved August
3. 1856. and circular embodying the condi-
tons Of the competition, the principal re-
! ouiFements and data was issued August u,
1886. Numerous designs were submitted.
and in the spring Of 1897 the Board
! OF Naval Experts unanimously decided
that the best was that submitted by
! Mr. William John. an English naval archl-
tect Of the highest reputation. who has re-
Gently died Mr.. John described his design
in paper read before the institute OF Naval
| Architects at its annual meeting 10 London
in 1888 and il was favorably regarded by
the eminent naval officers and constructors
| present
THE AUTHORITY.
The same act of Congress authorized the
building of this battleship at nayy-yard, and
| the Norfolk nayy-yRrd was selected Al that
time it was entirely lacking IN the mechanical
| appliances and other necessary taclhtles OF u
| modern ship-buiding plant. and the work
men were totally inexperienced IN building
| steel ships Much time was necessarily oc-
/ cupied in forming the nucleus OF plant. and
10 organizing and instructing the workmen.
and il was not until June II, 1883. tina;
the first keel plate was laid. Al tins
period the manufacture of steel for ship
| building purposes was out partially de-
yeloped and the output Of the steel makers
could not supply the demand from public
aud private ship-yards. The material for
each portion of ships structure Is ordered
OF the dimensions required IN the order IN
which 1t will be needed and can only DO
used in its proper place: but the material
was delivered so irregularly that many yeXa-
tloHs delays ensued.
The stern post was ordered in July, 1889.
but II was not completely delivered until
August. 1890. more than year Afterwards,
thus necessitating suspension OF the work on
/ the after portion OF the ship during this long
| period; the steel plates for the protective
deck were ordered in November. 1889, the
contract requiring them TO DO delivered IN
- LIZ