The Delta independent., 1893-11-08
LAUNCH OF THE OREGON
The First Battle Ship Built ON the Pa
ciflo Coast.

The First Battle Ship Built ON the Pa
ciAo Coast.
Shortly before noon Thursday the battle
,hip Oregon the first vessel Of her class con-
structed on the Pacific coast, was launched
from the ways At the Union Iron Works, San
Francisco,in the presence of one of the great
est crowds Of people that ever assembled there
TO witness . similar event Representatives
of the army and navy, city officials, the gen
eral government and others Of tho state Of
California, and q large number Of invited
guests were present In the shipyards, while
on every stand, on the hillside, and the house
top from which . view Of the works could bo
obtained, thousands Of enthusiastic spectators
were gathered. That part Of the bay directly
In front of the Union Iron Works wsa en-
tirely occupied by great feet of steamboats,
tugs and craft Of ever description, all decor
ated with bunting and loaded down with hun
dreds Of people eager TO witness the cere-
monies.
number of small government vessels
were among the throng lying In the bay and
at the moment the last shores were knocked
away and the several thousand tons Of steel
commenced TO glide down the ways . hun
dred salutes were fired, bands Of music played
national airs, Thousands of spectators gave
cheer after cheer, and every steam whistle
within radius of mile OF the works Joined
In the chorus. The launch WAS entirely sue
cessiul and tho new battleship now lies In .
little lagoon In front OF the Union Iron
Works, awaiting her completion, which will Be
pushed as rapidly as possible.
The Oregon Ia what 10 technically known
rs sea-goinR coast-line battle-ship, and 10
the most powerful ship In the United States
navy. Her dimensions are: Length over all
all 348 feet; on the load water line, 800 feet;
breadth, SO feet inches; draught, "a feet;
displacement, l0,29S tons; maximum horse
power, 9,000 She will have maximum
speed Of IS 2-1o knots, and will carry n crew
of 400 men. Her cost, exclusive of armament,
is a, 900 900. The armament Is four l3-inch,
eight Sinch and four 6inch bresch-lozdng
rifles also . secondary battery, two g. FOUNDER
and six l-pounder rapid firing guns; two Cat
linKs and also six torpedo tubes The lS-
inch and S-inch guns are mounted In turrets.
The Oregon's armor Is very heavy. There
10 . belt Of steel from three feet above the
load water line TO ~ feet below, extending
1886 feet amidships, protecting the engines
and bolers. Above this belt is another 6ve
Inches thick extending 10 the main deck.
From the ends Of the lS-inch belt to the eI-
tremitles Of the ship Is protective deck 3
inches thick, and another Armored deek 2H
inches thick. The turrets OF the I3-,neh
guns are In two parts under . redoubt II
Inches thick, and above this IL inclined armor
Of the same thickness. The s-inch turrets
are similarly built with inclined armor, vary
Ing from 81 to inches In thickness There
10 also complete system of coal protection,
cellular subdivision. and gun shieIds. Under |
the engines and boilers arc four bottoms and
. double bottom elsewhere. The coal capacity |
Of the designed draught 10 100 tons, but ths |
bunker capacity 10 500 tona