The Bessemer indicator., 1893-11-04
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Shortly before hoon fAursday ~ eAkass-
ship oregon, the hrst vessel Of her 6lass con
structed on the Pacific coast, usi launched
from tho wAys At the Union Iron WORKS. Ban
Francisco, ia the presence Of one cf Ne great
eat crowds 81 people that ever assembled there
to witness similar event Representatives
OF the army and navy, city oficiAls, the gen.
eral government and others Of the state Of
California, and a large number Of invited
gueats were present In tho shipyards, willis
on every stand, on the hillside, and the house
top from which view OF the works could be
obtained, Thousands Of enthusiastic spectators
were gathered. That part Of the bay directly
In front OF the Union Iron Works was en-
tlrclv occupied by great feet OF steamboats,,
tugs and craft of ever description, all decor
ntcd with bunting and loaded down with hum
drcds OF people eager 70 witness the core
monies.
A number Of small government vsssels
were amoug the throng lying in the bay and
Mt the moment the last shores were knocked
away and the several thousand tons OF steel
commenced TO glide down the ways hun.
dred salutcs were fired, bands Of music played
national airs, thousands of spectators gave
cheer after cheer, and every steam whistle
within a radlu. Of mile OF the works Joined
IN the chorus. The launch was entirely sue
ccss:ul and the new battleship now lies In a
little lagoon In front OF the Union Iron
Works, awaiting her completion, hich Will be
pushed as rapidly as possible.
The Oregon is what Is technically known
as Il sea- going coast-linc battlo-ship, and is
the most powerful ship In the United States
navy. Her dimensions are: Length over all
all 34S feet; on the load water line, SEQ feet;
breadth, 80 feet inches; draught, "a feet,
displacement, l0,29s tons; maximum horse
power, 5000. She will have n maximum
speed OF 10 2-l0 knots, aud will carry crew
of ago men. uer cost, exclusive OF armament,
is 4, 100000. The armament is four 13-inch,
eight S-inch and four 6-inch reeoh-loading
rifles, also secondary battery, two 6-pounder
and six l-porrder rapid firing guns; two Cat
lings and also six to.pedo tubes. The 13-
inch and S-inch guns arc mounted In turrets
The Orcgon's armor is very heavy. There
Is belt OF steel from three feet above the
load water line to ~ feet below, extending
lo6 feet amld.hips, protecting the engines
and boilers. Above this belt is another five
inches thick extending to the main dock
From the ends Of the ls-inch belt to the ex-
tremitics Of the ship is protective deck
inches thick and another armored deck as.
inches thick. The turrets of the 13-ineh
guns are in two parts under rcdouht II
inches thick, and above this Is Inclined armor
OF the zane thickness. The s-inch turrets
are similarly built with inclined armor, vary
ing from 81 to inches In thickness. There
is also complete system Of coal protection,
cellular subdivision. and gun shields. Under
the engines and boilers are four bottoms and
a double bottom elsewhere. The coal capacity
of the designed drauGh, is 400 tons but the
bunker capacity is /, SEQ tons