The morning times., 1895-09-12
TWO FOR four MILLIONS
First Step Toward the Building
of the Large Batt|eships.
CIRCULAR TO CONTRACTORS
They VIII he Driven ny Twin Screws
and Vertical Triple-Expansion
Not Less Than Sixteen Knots an
Hour-A Torpedo Outfit.
9TH and D SITS.

Chief Constructor Hichborn, of the Navy
Department, yesterday mailed circulars
to contractors, giving the chief character
istics of the two large battle ships author
lied by the last naval appropriation bill,
in order to afford them an opportuni
to prepare their own plans on which to
bid on the ships when bids are called for
The Bureau of Construction and Repairs,
of which Commodore Hichborn is chief, is
now busily occupied with the department
plans, and it is expected that they will be
ready by the firstof next year.
1t is stated in the circular sent out that
proposals will be invited either on the
bidders, but in the latter case they will be
expected to conform to general character
istics.
1t is contemplated in the departments
design to drive the vessels by twin screws
The engines are to be of the vertical
triple-expansion type, two in number
one on each shaft-and in two compart-
ments. The boilers are placed in four
compartments and are five in number
three of them being double ended and two
singleended.
INCLUDED IN THE COST.
In the cost of armament is included,
besides the guns, ammunition, etc, all
armor of turrets or harbettes, gun shields,
etc, directly pertaining to the protection
of the guns and loading positions only.
The following elements and qualities are
obtainedandp provided form the departments
design, and it isrcquired that their equivalent
shall be obtained and provided for in all
designs submitted:
First-The speed to be maintained at sea
for four consecutive hours, under conditions
to tobeprescrbed by the Secretary ofthe Navy,
10 be not less than an average of sixteen
knots an hour, with a forfeiture of 100000
for the loss of each knot and rejection at
thediscretion ofthe Secretary.
Sesond-The hull TO be ofsteel notsheathed;
with double bottom and close, er-tight
subdivision.
Third-The hull 10 be protected by armor
plate of from four to fifteen inches in thick
ness, the barbettes by plate OF from twelve
10 fifteen inches, while the turret port plate
is TO be seventeen inches. The side armor
belt is to be of mean depth of seven feet
and six inches. An armored deck is also 10
extend through the length of the vessel.
GUNS THEY WILL CARRY.
Fourth-The battery of the vessel is to
be four thirteen-iHch guns, four eight-inch
guns, fourteen five-inch rapid fire guns,
twenty six-pounder rapid fire guns. four
one ne-pounder rapid fire guns, four machine
guns and one field gun.
The supply of ammunition is to be as
follows: Two hundred rounds thirteen inch
500 rounds eight-inch am
$500 rounds five-lnch ammu-
milton, 10000 rounds FOUNDER ammu-
milton, 2,400 rounds oue-puuIder ammu-
nition. There sill also be required about
100 cubic feet for the stowage of the
submarine mining outfit.
Fifth-A torpedo outfit to consist of
five torpedo tubes, eight torpedoes, and
suitable allowance of gun cotton for mines
and miscellaneous purposes The torpedo
tubes will be placed two on each broad
side and one~Th the how
Sixth-Provisions and small stores are
TO be carried for three months.
The general dimensio1s OF department
design are as follows: Length of load
water line normal dispIacemcntl, 36S
feet; moulded breadth at load water line,
~ feet; mean draft at tnormaldisplacement,
% feet inches; normal displacement,
about 1880 tons; total coal capacity,
loose stowage, 1,21O tons; coal carried
at normal displacement, 40 tons.
The law limits the cost TO 100000
exclusive of armament o