The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-12-15
and the


of the neeest great warship, ana the
Christmas element In It was more sharp
ly defined fiom the fact that the nrst
ship was a surprise 10 the Secretar? .
and that IL was placed where 1t coulu
please not only him, but the smallest
member Of his household.
The miniature battleships now IN pos
session OF the Secretary are az great
as the number of the new warshlps-
The little Columbia Is just peihs com
Melted: the tiny Indiana has been done
and is now in his private 'navy-yard'
and the other warships, cruisers, rams
and members Of the White Squadron
are plentifully represented. TO caii
upon the Secretary Of our Navy now
would be a great treat for any boy
great or small.
WHY SHIPS ARE MADE.
The reason for the making of the tiny
varships is one not clearly understood
bv people in general. Upon the face
of the matter 1t looks Ike piece or eX-
trayagance, the humoring of fad ana
the sending OF money 10 waste me
cabled notice that the Secretary has
ordered another model ship built AT a
cost of $500 is received by many people
with q shaking of the head.
As matter Of fact. the making OF
these small warships is almost as neces-
sary as their original construction. and
without the home navy" the navy OF
the sea might as well 20 into retirement
until certain things could be learned
about IT,
From the miniature navy the speed
OF the great war vessels is ascertained.
II a small model OF worship. con-
structed precisely like the big shin. VIII
20 at a certain speed upon the water,
the big ship Will go at the same speed.
IL costs only IS 10 ascertain TINS fact
from the little ship, but it would cost
500 to ascertain the highest rate o.
speed with the big ship.
Everything about warshiD costs
money. enormous sums. A single fire
from a big gun costs $500. this being the
actual cost of powder. balls and ammuni-
ton Of whatever kind IS put IN. smoke
less. explosive shell or whatever may oe
selected With "A little gan i'm "A model
ship it is different. Five dollars VIII hfe
of all its guns, and from the firing the
navy officer can learn what will be the
resistance OF each charge. and now tne
speed OF the big vessel VIII be affected
By Il. This is one reason and II Is the
simplest one explanatory or the making
OF the models.
Secretary Herbert, besides having
these model ships. Is going 10 have very
soon a private ocean upon wnlch 10 san
them. lie is going to have a tank IKE
the one with which the Kaiser amuses
himself and similar 10 the tanks OF the
English navy-yard.
HERBERT's PRIVATE OCEAN.
Secretary Herberts private ocean VIII
he about 900 feet long and % feet wide.
This Is about the size OF one block
of a city street, say from crossing 10
crossing, with the middle OF the street
for the tank IL will be about 10 feet
deep. as even the baby W2rshlps draws
considerable water. There VIII soon be
an appropriation for this private ocean
and then n VIII be quickly buiii' Tor IN
making an artificial ocean one does not
hive 10 wait for the little drops OK
utter" TO accumulate. the water sup
nlv Is turned on and you have an ocean
at presto notice.
The size OF Secretary Herberts
..home navy Is about feet for each
warship. and the others small In proper
tion. warship as IL IL sent 10 MIN II
about the length OF four'een-yeaI-
Ola girl II she were to lie upon inc
door and about the same wiuth. Al
least this ia what the varship lndiaha
looked like az 1t was being pofhc,
wrapped In sail-cloth, In 10 the navy
once upon the shoulders OF many men.
Looks as II girl had tainted away
and stretched herself stin out. snia
some one in the crowd watching tae
burden being carried In.
Tho great guns ct the little snips a.s
most Interesting. They are the length
Of your middle ansss ana tAs