Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-08-12
INCREASING THE NAVY
Launching Of the Battle Ship
Minneapolis.
THE SCENES At THE CRAMPS YARDS.
The Vice President and Secretary
Herbert Present.
MISS WASHBURN CHRISTENS.

MISS WASHBURN CHRISTENS.
PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 12.-with cere-
monies that were practically a repetition
of the observances at the launching of
the commerce destroyer Columbia one year
ago. the Minneapolis. a sister ship. was
successfully sent from the ways at the
William Cramp & Sons Company's ship
yard here shortly after 2:30 o'clock this
afternoon. On the former occasion a Vice
President of the United States was in at
tendance in the person of Levi P. Morton,
and today Vice President Stevenson occu-
pied conspicuous place on the launch
ing stand"
The christening was done by Miss Lizzie
NJ. Washburn, a daughter Of the Mime
apolis Senator with the customary bottle
of champagne.
Large crowds are the rule at the launch
ing of every government vessel at the
Cramps, but the one today, which num-
bered fully 10000, exceeded all previous
gatherings. This was due to the fact that
1t was a half holiday and to the bright
weather Every point of vantage in the
ship yard and on adjoining property was
occupied. to say nothing of the masses who.
from all kinds Of craft, saw the vessel take
her initial plunge.
Invited Guests.
The invited guests numbered several hun
dred. the majority of whom came on a
special train from Washington, which the
Cramps placed at the disposal OF the Sec
retary of the Navy. Prominent among
the attendants. besides the Vice President
and who We're stationed on the stand at the
bow of the ship. were Secretary Of the
Navy Herbert and daughter Leila, the lat
ter having recently christened the the battle
Washburn Of Minnesota, Senator and Mrs.
Stockbridge, Senator and Mrs. Manderson,
Senator and Mrs: CSekrell; k s, CcMHgressTman M man
Breesfnrare oe coesWeIi of
M y %eW York
Boutelle of Maine. the members of the
Senate and House committee on naval af.
fairs. and others, including distinguished
party from Minnesota who were invited by
Senator Washburn.
After the launch the guests were BAN
return trip to the national capital was
made.
Compared With the Columbia.
The Minneapolis is the two hundred and
seventy-third ship that the Cramps have
launched and is the eleventh warship of
the new navy. beginning With the double
turreted monitor Terror. which was
this Arm. The Minneapolis weighed 3,327
tons when she left the ways she differ
ing slightly from the Columbia in this re-
er capacity than the Columbia, her hawse
pipes will open from the upper deck in
stead of from the gun deck as on the Col
whereas her sister ship has four. In every
other particular the construction of the
vessels will be Identical The contract
against &,7050O0 for the Columbia. Like
the Columbia she will be propelled by tri-
pie screws. both vessels being designed to
outspeed anything afioat.
When the battle-ship Iowa and the cruis-
er Brooklyn shall have been completed,
both ships now being on the ways, the
Cramps shipyard will be clear Of govern
ment vessels.
The Minneapolis is sister ship of the
commerce destroyer Columbia, and was
authorized by act Of Congress OF March 2,
1891.
The principal dimensions are:
Length on load line.. l2 feet
Beam, moulded ss feet
Draught, mean, normal displace-
oinia,.; ;'''.'..'......... ~ rect % inches
Speed. estimated. in knots per
Indicated horse power. H. 600 horses
The hull Is Of steel. the vitals of the ship
and its stability being well protected, and
gun fire. There is a double bottom, 1. e..
an inner and outer skin. between which
tneIe Is considerable space. This space Is
divided into a number of er-tight COM
partments, SO that injury to the outer skin
may not necessarily affect the safety of
the ship. The craft Is further divided into
water-tfght compartments, each independ-
ent of the other. and under the control Of
a system of pumpage The vessel will be
lighted artiiicially by electric light, and ven-
tilation will be insured by the use Of pow
erful fans that will force the bad air and
gases out. at the same time forcing fresh
air in.
The arrangement of the motive power
will be similar to that Of the Columbia
the power being transmitted through three
screws. the after screw being placed as in
ordinary single-screw ships, the others be-
Ing placed farther forward, one on each
side, as In the case of twin-screw vessels.
BY this arrangement 1t is thought that
greatest speed with safety and economy
may be combined.
There will be protective deck, inches
thick on the slopes and 2 IL inches else
where; and throughout the region Of the
water line for the space occupied by the
vitals there will be a wall Of patent fuel
5 feet thick to add additional protection
against machine gun fire.
Each shaft will be actuated by a separate
triple expansion engine, each in its own
water-tight compartment.
The battery (main) consists Of one S-inch
breech-loading rife. two 6-inch rapid fire
breech-loading rifles and eight 4-inch rapid
fire breech-loading rifles. The secondary
battery will consist of twelve 6-pounder
rapid fire guns, four 1-pounder rapid fire
guns and four gatlings. There are five
orpedo-launchng tubes.
The contract for this vessel was awarded
to William Cramp & Sons August 81 1891
at the contract price of 81, $50 900, and should
be finished within two wears from that