New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-02-15
GETTING READY FOR SEA.
SATISFACTORY PROGRESS on THE NEW
WARSHIPS
THE WORK on MOST or THEM WELL AID
VANCED TOWARD COMPLETION-sATISFAC-
TORY REPORTS FROM ALL EXCEPT THE
TORPEDO BOAT ERICSSON.
inY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIB-xE.l

Washington. Feb. 1.-THE Navy Department has
received series OF interesting reports from
naval officers acting inspectors OF the oonsiruc
ton work the warships in course Of com
pletion az the several yards and the works OF
private contractors. The reports show that the
recent progress OF the work the vessels has
been highly satisfactory. The following summary
gives the names OF the vessels referred to by the
inspectors and the present condition of the ships
The Maine has had = satisfactory dock trial and
is now in the dry-lock. having her side armor
ntted. Eight of the twenty side armOr plates have
been secured. the barbeite arnor for the ten-inch
rifles has been fitted ana the joiner worl is nearly
completed The principal work to be done 70 pre-
pare the ship for is the placing OF her turret
armor. which has not been delivered; the coming
tower and the bridge. and the fastening OF the
untitled sde-armor plates.
The Texas has been reported ready for her dock
trial. Her reloub: and turret armor has been
fitted. The side armor has not yet been received
Tho metal work below the decks is nearly finished
Based the estimate adopted in considering A
vessel fitted out and ready for use. the Texas is
50 per cen; completed
The Indiana is So per cent completed. Her barbette
for the lS-nch and S-inch guns. the diagonal
diagonal cascmate and the side armor the coming
tower. 6-inch gun protection and turre; armor
have not yet been received from the manufac-
turcrs The vessels machinery is all IN place. She
Will have contractors dock trial within two
consHifa,idn WITH Secretary Herbert today con-
corning the date OF this trial and the approaching
official speed trial OF the ship NJ sea.
The condition OF the Massachusetts "a regards
armor Is about the that Of the Indiana. ex-
cept that the bdrbette armor for The l3-inch guns
has not been received. She is 80 per cent COM
p"ted. The OrcgOn's ag'lal. diagonal casemaie
t-lnch gun protection 6pOunl"r sponsor arinpr, ana
S-inch barbette armor have been Ntted on. she
IS 90 per cent completed. The Minneapolis Is -
per cent completed. Al OF her sponsor and
work is about half finished She 10 practically
ready for contractors private trial Al OF the
Amphitriie's sid" arnor Is In place. Her barh"tt"
smOk"-uIpc. Ventlldior and coming tower armor
has been secured. Her turret arinor has been de-
liv"rei and II l. now being fitted on. The joiner
work Is nearly completed She Is reported 10 b" %
per completed. Three OF the MOnadnOck =
side armor plates have been secured. Nearly all
OF the plates have Jeen received Her coming
tower. smokc-pipc and yrntil1tor armor Is up. She
IS g per completed The Puritan is 81 per cent
completed. Some delay has been experienced In the
delivery Of her side and turrei armOr
The Terror Is at prcseH' In drylock. having her
side fitted fialf of tho plates So
cured the turrcis. smoke-ppe ana vcntlldtOr armOr
being IN place she H. - per cent completed.
The inner bottom frames 81 the Iowa are
up a. high as the armor-shclf. and one-half
not entirely rivci~l The ships arinor -sheit -
about four feet below the water The Brookyn's
double bottom frames are UP as high rs The pro-
tectivr deck
Progress in the work o, completing tho torpedo
boat Ericsson IS Joss satisfactory. Her hull *
not Vet been launched. tn delays have been oc-
casoncl by strikes and the making OF necessary
improve mcnts IN the contractors plant She may
not be launched for three 90 four months. In N"
mean time work the interior OF the null AMI
machinery VIII continue.