The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-09-17
COST OF A BATTLE SHIP.
It's Pot of Money, but. Honestly Expend-
ed Is One of the Best of Improvements.

In looking overAthe appropriations for the
support OF the government for fiscal year
probably no item will be found therein
which specifies SO much money to be expend-
ed for SO limited an object as one similar to
the following:
The President is hereby aut horized to-
have constructed by contract one sea-go-
Ing, coasting battleship, designed to carry
the heaviest armor and most powerful ord
nance, at a cost. exclusive of armament
and of any premium that may be paid for
increased speed, not exceeding $4,O00,0OO.
At first glance, it scarcely seems possible
that single ship, that can be tossed
around at wilT'by the pillows of the ocean,
or be destroyed completely in a. few hours
if cast upon a lee shore, could cost such an
enormous amountiof money. remarks the
New York Sun. Four million dollars
would build a magnificent feet of 40 full
rugged ships, each capable of carrying 1000
tons OF. cargo to any port in the world. 1t
would buy every ferryboat plying between
New York, Brooklyn and Jersey City. 1t
would be sufficient co establish line of IS
gooe-sized steamships, such as run from
New York to Jacksonville. Fla. and other
domestic ports. A fleet of so such crack
yachts as the Vigilant could be built, and
fitted up in elegant style for the price paid
for just one battleship.
If we make our comparisons with OBJ jects
on shore, more astonishing facts can be
CLEANED. Take, for instance, dwelling
houses; good three-story brick house. oc-
cupying lot 25xl90 feet. in an ordinary
city. would be worth.on an average about
$4,000 Four million dollars would build
IL
Louses were placed ins one row. after maxi
ing due allowance for streets and side
walks, we would have nearly two miles of
dwellings. The re are not many towns of
10000 inhabitants where the entire taxable
property is assessed for S4,O00OO0. An aver
age mechanic, in goodstimes, will earn about
$500 a year, the money. paid by the govern
ment for one battleshil2 would thus support
nearly 1000 families, or a city of $4,000 in
habitaBts, for whole year.
1t will naturally be asked, after reading
the above statement, how.it is possible to
expend this great sum for just one ship? A
visit to large ship building establishment
where such vessels are constructed will dis
close the fact that the principal item of ex-
pense must be the labor. Walk through the
draughting room, the pattern shop, the ma
chine shop, the boiler shop, and out on the
vessel herself, and everywhere you will
find men working away hour by hour, all
for the one ship. If weishould count them,
we would find that there are nearly 500 of
them employed on one part or another of
this 81 ,000,0 600 vessel. Month after month |
they work, and probably at the end of four
years time their task will be completed.
However, The men we 3lld about the yard !
are not the only ones who are employed in |
the construction of the battleship. In |
different parts of the counf ry many others |
are working in the mines. the blast furnaces |
and rolling mills, to produce the material |
for the men in the yard to work upon. AL |
together, it is safe to say that 1000 men.are |
constantly employed for period of four
years in the CONSTRUCTION of one of these
leyiatnhns of the sea.
Probably no other creation of man brings |
into employment a geater variety of arti-
sanssthan the construction of wal ship. |
If We glance over the Pay roll of a large |
shipyard we find represented therein |
craug htsmen, pattern makers, machipists, |
riveters, coppersmiths, plumbers. boiler I
makers, calkers. pipe filters, painters. car
penters, joiners, sailmakers, Triggers, cleo |.
tricians bellhangers decorators, upholsterers
and many other special trades and occupa-
tons. 1t has been estimated that there are
81 classes of workmen necessarily employed
in the construction of steamship. AS the
of these men are skilled mechan- :
les vino receive $12 to S25 a week, it can be
easily seen where the money is expended
In this class of construction.
One of the most expensive parts of the
whole ship is the armor for the turrets, and
belts around the sides. The contract price |
for this material varies between $500 and
$500 ton, delivered in the shipyard. ThissI
does not include the cost of placing the
plates on the vessel. which amounts toa
considerable sum. Some Of the plates weigh
rs tons, and are worth nearly $4,000 apiece.
1t is probable that when the guns and coup
ment are supplied and the premiums paid
for increased speed, the cost of one of these
battle ships will reach a grand total of
nearly $5,0O0,0OC
While these guardians of our cast may
seem to be expensive precautions in times