Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1892-07-20

Detroit are rapidly being pushed to
completion. They are built on the
same cruiser model and will each cost
$612, 500. Each will have two 6-ihch,
eight 5-inch new rapid fire breechload-
ing rifles, six 6-pounders and two l.
FOUNDER rapid-hring cannon, as well as
two Gatlings. It is believed that each
win reach speed of nineteen knots an
hour.
The protected cruiser building at San
Francisco, which is to cost 81 TOO, 900,
may possibly be launched before the end
of the year, but this is in doubt. Her
armament is to consist of four s-inch
breechloading rifles, ten 5-inch rapid
fire breechloading rifles, fourteen g.
Founders, six 1-pouhder rapid firing
cannon and four Gatlings. 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 1900 tons larger
than that of the New York and 5000
tons greater than that of the Texas
The cost of the Oregon is $3.50, 900,
while that of the Indiana is 5000, 900.
The armament of both ships will con-
eist of four 13-inch, eight s-inch, four
6-inch breech-loading rifles, sixteen
6-pounders, four 1-pounder rapid-fire
, guns and four Cuttings. 1t 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 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 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 $674, 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.
Its armament consists of four 10-inch
breechloading rifles, two 6-pounder, two
3-pounder rapid-fring guns, and two
37-milimeter revolving cannon. Their
two Gatlings complete the outfit.
The Pirate will be, perhaps, the next
protected cruiser to be launched a.
Cramps. 1t is to cost 50, 725, 600, anC
has displacement somewhat less thar
that of the New York. 1t is the first o:
the new cruisers in which the origina
designs included the 6-inch rapid-frine
guns.
Thus it will be seen that Uncle Sam Il
preparing 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 ha
just been launched at Elizabethport
and the cost of which is $3.50, 900, hai
proven altogether too small, and it il
likely that a new practice cruiser viii
be ordered. designed on a more extern
sive scale.
The pictures which are published
herewith are from the original design
and absolutely accurate. They ar
published through the courtesy Of Mr.
Hart, of 24s East Twenty-third street
New York, the official photographer o
the navy.