The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-07-10

cases, similar TO those of small arms,
thereby perpaittinsieaaipg in single mo-
ton and rendering sponging unnecessary.
The new rapid fire guns are the finch, fir
ing 33-pound shell; the 5-inch, firing a
5O-pound shell, and the 6-inch, firing 100
pound shell. This last, still in process of
Development is to be used on all the new
battle ships and cruisers with
smokeless powder, giving increased
muZZle velocities. The most eff
fcient distribution of these guns
in the new ship designs has been the SUBJ
ject of earnest and careful consideration,
and plans have already been worked out
for giving maximum volume of fire in
all directions. 1t is also proposed to pro-
tect these guns by their armor, shielding
the crews from the effects of explosive
shells and from the fire of smaller caliber.
1t is an interesting fact that the mount
for the rapid-tire guns from the 4-inch to
the 6-inch is of the same type throughout,
permitting in each case rapid and easy
manipulation, added to perfect control
| was shown the shells to be used with
these guns and in the tests made found
that the 5o-pounder will perforate two cali
bers of steel armor at close range.
All in all, twenty-four warships are now
building. OF these four are cruisers, two
are gunboats, two are armored cruisers,
five are protected cruisers, three are coast
line battle ships, four double-turreted
monitors, one Is a torpedo boat one ram,
one battle ship, and the last, the Ban
croft. the first of the practice cruisers for
the use of naval cadets.
These vessels are building at ten places,
and at each the work is progressing splen-
didly, although now and then come reports
of DELAYS in the delivery of material. The
Texas is an example of this. Although
launched, not one portion of her armor
has yet been received. Here are the ship
yards at which over 10000 workmen are
employed in bringing the American navy
into noble existence: Baltimore, City Point
works. Boston. Bath, Me. Elizabethport,
\. J. ;;,Cramp & Sons, Philadelphia; Union
Iron works. san Francisco; Iowa Iron
works. Dubuque, Ia; Brooklv n navy yard.
Norfolk navy yard, Mare island, Cal
At Baltimore the Montgomery and De-
trot are rapidly being pushed to compile
ton. They are being built on the same
cruiser model and will each cost S6l2 500.
Each will have two 6-inch. eight 5-inch
new rapid-fire breechloading rifles. six Is
Founders and two 1-pounder rapid-firing
cannon, as well rs two Gatlings. 1t is be-
lieyed that each will reach a speed of
nineteen knots an hour.
The protected cruiser building at San
Francisco, which is To cost 81. 796 900, may
possibly be launched before the end of the
year, but this is in doubt. Her armament
Is 10 consist of four S-inch chloading
rifles, ten 5-inch rapid lire breechloading
rifles, fourteen 6-pounders six 1-pound
rapid firing cannon and four Cuttings.
But il is the Oregon at San Francisco in
which particular 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 battle
ships of the new navy, although her arma-
ment is to be exactly similar 10 that of the
Indiana. The displacement of both yes
sells will be 1900 tons larger than that
of the New York. and 5000 tons
greater than that of the Texas. The
cost of the Oregon is $4,000 while
that of the Indiana is S., 020, 900.
The armament of both ships Will con-
sist of four l3-inch, eight s-inch.
four 6-inch breechloading, rifles, sixteen
6-pounders, four 1-pOunder rapid fir
ing guns and four Cuttings. 1t is more
than likely. however. that many changes
will be made in the ornaments of these
as we'll as of the other cruisers and battle
ships yet 10 be launched and building, for
the tests constantly being made have led
to many Improvements, which are, OF
course never taken into account in the
original designing. 1t 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 launching.
such vast improvements have been made
in naval architecture that the Texas is
considered an old style battle ship, hardly
able 10 compete with the newer designed
vessels of the American or European
nayies.
Both the Indiana and the Massaohu-
sets are building al Cramps. The cost