The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-11-13

W nile We may Wei De PROUD because " e
have launched the largest and most pow
srfui steamship ever built in the western
hemisphere, and with two exceptions, the
largest and most powerful I'M the world,
and while We may find reason for addi-
rional pride in the fact that. nOtwithstand-
ing general economic conditions are not
encoura Eing 10 such achievements, this
great vessel has been built on American
plans. by American mechanics, and OF
American materials we must not forge
that our greatest cause of congratuIation
Is found in the hope and promise these IN
cidents furnish of the revival and develop
ment of American commerce, and the re-
newed appearance of the American flag in
foreign ports.
II hope l shall not be accused Of max
ing a suggestion calculated TO mar the
qualification which this occasion inspires
if l remind you that the ship we have
just launched was built in fulhlment of
conditions imposed in consideration Of
the relaxation of our registration laws,
and that the construction plant and ma
chinery TO build this ship on American
plans by American mechanics, and of
American materials, originated in the
necessity of the building of an American
navy. There should be no more delay in
the work Of reinstating American COM
merce, not only by the Inspirations sup
piled by such events as we have this day
witnessed, but by such legislation as will
set free American mechanical industry
and excite American enterprise. Com
uerce is the life-blood of a nation, and no
country that loses or impoverishes it can
reach and maintain a commanding posi-
ton among the nations of the earth.
"Our flag not only tells of our existence,
but it is a symbol of all that American in
stitutions represent. 1t is glorious and
patriotic to uphold our flag, and to follow
1t and defend 1t, but it is also glorious and
patriotic to carry our flag TO all parts of
the world, and to extend its defense and
protection to American men and Ameri-
can property in the ports of every nation.
] am not able to see why Americans own
ing ships navigated by Americans and
carrying American cargoes, should, in any
case, be driven to the protection Of
foreign flag; and it seems to me that the
stars and stripes entering a port of the
United States and spread over Americans
and American property, should never be
frowned upon and repealed by American
officials acting under the mandate of our
navigation laws. In the interest of a re-
Vival of American commerce, so much.
needed, and for the honor of our flag, so
dear to us all, / am willing that the de-
tense of our government and flag shall be
accorded to all ships of American owner
ship, wherever built. Make our flag "a
more familiar sight in the ocean carrying
trade, and thus remind our citizens that a
large share of the carrying trade of the
world is due them and we need have no
fear that our shipbuilders, under laws
giving them a fair chance, will suffer
from foreign competition.
Since my participation in rebuilding
our navy during a former official term
has been frequently referred to, 1 hope 1t
Is not amss for me to say that l shall
deem myself especially fortunate If, in
time to come, it can be said that I have
done something during my present incum-
bency in aid Of the freedom and extern
sion of American commerce, and the con-
sequent further growth of American ship
building"
Mr.. Griscom then proposed the health
of Mrs. Cleveland, and Secretary Carlisle
responded for her
The Presidential party at 800 O'Clock,
boarded their special train, which left inn
mediately for Washington.
Washington, Nov. 12-The President and
Mrs. Cleveland and the party that went
10 Philadelphia to witness the launch OF
the steamship ST. Louis, returned to the
city tonight shortly after o'clock. Presi-
dent and Mrs Cleveland went Immediately
70 their country home at WoodIey.
The steamship st. Louis, which is the
FIRST of the two vessels being built for the
American line by the William Cramp &,
Sons Ship and Engine Building Company,
is the first large transatlantic steamer that
has been built in this country since the
four American boats, PENNSYLVANIA. Z"
Indiana" "Ohio" and Illinois" which
were built in the early seventies, and
which are now running in the American
line between Philadelphia and Liverpool
The first frames of the St. Louis were
raised on the 9th day of July. 1885, and
10 months and l6 days from the beginning
of her construction to the time of her
launch, during which time sometime,
over 5000 tons of steel has been worked
into her hull, while the construction of
her boilers and machinery has kept equal
pace in the engineering department, and
they are now ready to be erected on
board.
1t is worthy Of note that these steam
ships are built of domestic material
throughout. They are of American model
and design, American material, and they
are being built by American skin and
muscle.
The principal dimensions and qualities
are as follows:
Length all observation-disclosures. feet
Length between perpendiculars. .5S5 feet
Breadth, extreme. GO feet
Depth moulded. ......................4 AZ feet
Number of decks. Observation-Disclosures. 5
Number of W. I. compartments
formed by transverse bulkheads
ana uats.- ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. II
Distance Of collision bulkhead
abaft of stem. Observation-Disclosures. IS feet
Displacement at &c feet draft will
be nearly. .............. 900 tons
The st. Louis has two tunnels, two
masts and straight stem, and the hull is
carried out aft around the stern tubes
forming webs, SO to speak, on either side
The shell-platiug Is lap-burted, and the
rudder is of the single plate type The
vessel is so divided by bulkheads that any
two, and in some cases three, compart.
ments may be flied with water at tho
same time without endangering the safe.
fiotation of the ship.
The material used in the construction
of this vessel is mild steel OF the best
quality, and the records Of its inspection
show an average considerably above
Lloyd's standard.
The steamship has FIVE decks. On tn,
upper deck, or as the company calls it
the saloon deck, is a deck house extend
ing fore and aft with a passageway
feet wide on each side of IL between 4
and the rail on which the traffic OF tn,
ship is conducted. The passenger enter,
This deck house at several places, bu
the principal entrance is just forward tn,
foremost funnel, where a spacious stair
case arises to the promenade deck. which