The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-08-08
TIE xAnsIEHKAD,s 1uny rs xExr.
TIE New steel Cruiser 10 Ne Launched
This Week at Bostou

WASHINGTON. Aug. 7.-Until the votIye bottle
OF wine Is broken upon the bows OF now vcs-
sci there is always an opportunity to change
any name that has been fxod upon for her
III IL thought. however. that Cruiser No. II,
which is reported as ready to be launched this
week at Harrison Loring's yard. will bear the
name Marbehead. which unofficial reports
long ago assigned to her.
whether under that or another name. nne
vessel viii Join the new steel fleet when this
sister ship OF the Detroit and the Montcom-
cry slips into the water at City Point Many
years have passed since Boston. which fur
nished her share of tho vessels OF the old
navy. has launcheda war ship; and accord
ingly the coming ceremony is expected to
attract no little local attention. But nova
oays such n launch has widespread interest
not only because the whole country. inland as
well ms seahoard takes n pride in tho navy,
but from the modern system OF subdviding
It's construction. Even shops out on tho great
lakes sometimes furnish machinery or other
iron aud steel work to tho new feet. and in the
| present case tho engines come from the Quin-
tard Iron Works OF New York while various
! portions OF steel work in the hull are from
Carnegie. rhipps Il Co. and from the Milvalc
and London steel works The suspension OF
the original contractors last autumn. and
long strike OF workInen several months ago.
nave delayed the construction Of the Vessel
but she will probably be ready for com mission
next spring
The net for tho construction OF the Marble
head was approved Sept. & 1883. and fixed the
limit Of its cost ut 100000 for machinery
and hull. 1t provided. In fact. for three such
cruisers Of about 1000 tons di splacem ent. and
iids invited in May. 1880. wore opened Aug
- t t%iicwinE The bath Iron Works proposed
son Tor SSI5OOO. As these bids exceeded the
limit fixed Ivy Congress. Secretary Tracy au-
from IL knots to | I. maintained us tho average
OF Tour consecutive hours and also allowed
%k ,oF h s@SF az rh hs
made tho contract period two aud one
h islv y ysirsd aod d has proved Se
yHses he .aten.ion in mi" that Of the Mare are
thieeincad has been granted on account of tho
ALSO aSrsa so as to hn nr .aHn
Quarter Knot above tho maximum. with, an
Of o %i ha sST
i%r tho second. $4,000 Tor the third. and 500
Gf se 9rs' the ns S SHir hi been
jeSGiion was reduced from, 49, to iS knots
PURPOSE: and when on Oct. 80. 1850. other pro-
Eosnls having meanwhile been invited, the
Within wf Ere S bs ,e al
n "}7s sac1 !? S"S ass tf rsn
ser Sr whe TG to I"a one
Boston exactly dur Heated this bid: the BATH
iron Works, TO build one cruiser for SD75.OUO.
two for Sl.35O. 900. and throO for ,S2.O25.O 900:
n% th s n fdn Iron Works e Bs
600 for two. This last bid. as the lowest. was
accepted Tor two cruisers. while the equal com
netitors fer the third made an arrangement
! and the Quintnrd Iron Works furnished the
engines The Columbian Iron Works launched
their two vessels. the Detroit and the Mont
proaching completion Now, their sister ship
Is to tn ke TO the water. All three were built
on tho departments plans. both in respect to
hull and machinery.
load water line of .!57 feet. an extreme breadth
Of "a. and n mean drnught OF las. Her twin
screw. vertical; triple expansion engines are
forced drnught. and a speed Of IL knots. But
in view Of the performances OF the Barham
class in the British navy. which. on IL less dis
placement. yield higher speed. it is hoped
reach Il knots. which would earn the con.
tractor 500 600 or perhaps Is knots. which
would earn 100000. The main battery Of the
Marblellead will consist Of two G-inch randi
and eight 5-inch rapid fire guns in brondsidc.
There is Il secondary battery Of six -pounders.
two l-pounders. and two Cuttings. besides half
q dozen torpedo tubes
The Marehead has steel protective deck
throughout. separate compartments for her
engines. and improved arrangements of the
bridges rnd the skid beams on which the boats
tons. but 1875 can be carried. and 1t is so sto we'd
us to give protection to the shin. Tho steam
pumping. ventilating. and electric light ar
engagements are of the best. while the berthing
after She is one of a class OF small cruisers.
economical to construct and maintain, that
will be OF great value in station service.