New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-08-14
ARMY AND NAVY NOTES.
PROGRESS OF WORK on THE NEW VESSELS.
DELAYS CAUSED BY THE SLOW DELIVERY OF
ARMoR-THE CAsTINE WILL BE
IRy TELEGRAPH TO THE TRiBUNE.l

Washington. Aug lS-The Navy Department IS
in receipt Of a number Of interesting reports ''o"
naval constructors and engineers acting as Govern
ment inspectors Of hus and machinery OF vesseis
undergoing construction at the New-fork ana Nor
folk Navy Yards and at the works OF private
comnanies These reports show gratifying prog
ress In the work Of completing the new ships ana
they are of much importance at the present t''iie
when the demand for vessels abroad, particularly
in the Pacific. is urgent. In all eighteen "e"
ships in different stages Of construction are re-
ferred TO In the inspectors reports Tho hst IN
cudes one torpedo boat one gunboat five pro-
tected cruisers three armored cruisers one RAM
three battleships and four monitors. The unavod-
able DELAYS in the delivery Of armor have held
hack several Of the heavier ships but recent re-
norris from inspectors at the Bethlehem and Car
neeie works encourage the belief that future de-
Iiveres of plates will nearly IL not quite equal the
demand on the whole. the outlook for increasing
tho seaeoin- fleet both in numbers and power is
satisfactory go
The Castine will be the first ship ready. She VIII
have her trial within few days. Her nun ana
interior construction work Is practically com
nle,ed and II her machinery Is found TO be up 10
contract requirements during her trial she is like
10 IN he commissioned in the course of "a month
~. Montgomery Is almost far advanced as
tho Castne Changes which delayed the Detroit
are being made in the Montgomery whiIe the
osneral work OF construction is going on III her
coming speed trials are satisfactory. she VIII DE
accented within the next two three months.
A nrivate trial Of the Columbias machinery IL
.xnected daily If satisfactory. the official
~. u take place Immediately The
hull work on the Columbia can be completed in
about four months The Marblehead Is Dehnd her
sisters considerably. but the reports referred to
,nd,cata that she WILL with fair luck. be ready for
eea nv January /. To the financial failure OF her
contractor is due her backward condition She
90 heiny con,pleted at the New-iork Navy Yard.
The shps whose readiness depends upon armor
deliveries are the Cincinnati, Raleigh olympia,
Maine. Texas Katahdn. Puritan. Terror Monad-
mock Amphitrite Indiana, Massachusetts ana ore
pon The kcels OF the Brooklyn ana the Iowa are
not yet laid. and estimates OF their probable
readiness are given. The Cincinnati, the Maine,
the Raleigh and the Texas are being constructed
AT the New-York and Norfolk Navy lards The
two former will be completed within four months
after their armor is received The two latter viii
be ready for speed trials in about six months. The
Ovmpja's diagonal armor is in place, and she
only awaits her belt barbette and turret armor,
which will shortly be shipped to San Francisco
Eight months hence she ought TO be In commission
With respect TO the monitors. information IS more
or less Indefinite 1t would appear. however mat
those furhest advanced are the Puritan ana ,nr
Terror Both vessels be completed within
The Amplitude and Monadnock are behind ana
cannot be made ready for service IN less a,in s,
completion 1t is expected that II no further as
appointments in armor deliveries are met WIN Sie
will be ready for trial in about eighteen ion,ls
The sachusetts will he ready IN about lWch,S
months The date of the Orcgon's readiness -
more remote, about twenty-five months bciils nee
essary fir her out. In case unexpected haste IN
the delivery OF armor is made by the contractors
the battcships will be completed earlier th&n Inc
dates given. Their diagonal armor mas pc,u r.
ceived by the Cramps and the Union Iron Works.
The Katahdin is expected TO be ready in about
twelve months. As in the cases OF all the ar'nore1
ships she is delayed account of on-delivery OF
armor- plates. The topedo-boat Ericsson has MOI
yet been launched; Reports indicate that she VIII
be completed inside of fifteen months, however.