New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-08-03
WORK on THE NEW FARSHIPG
PROGRESS REPORTED BY CHIEF CON.
STRUCTOR HICHBoRN.
THE OREGON AND THE MASSACHUSETTS pRAo.
TICALLY READY FOR sERvIcE-coNDIrIoN
OF THE OTHER BATTLE-sHIps AND
SMALLER VESSELS. a
Try rELEGRAI TO THE rRIBrxE.l

fBY rELEGRAIH TO THE rRrBrxE.l
Washington. Aug Am interesting statemeo
showing the condition OF a number OF rev vessels
~ the Navy has been prepared in the Office q
Chief Constructor Hichborn. The statement ~
fcrs 10 the progress OF work twenty-three shfp&
It was made UP from Official reports to the Bareas
OF Construction sent In by Naval otncers acting a.
Government inspectors. The statement puts us
Oregon down as completed. This ship Is IN con-
mission at the Mare Island Navy Yard. ana VII
shortly Join the Pacific feet. probably in time b
take part In the sea evoutiors planned By Admiral
Beardslee.
Next in the order Of readiness for a cruise ~
Massachusetts. She. TOO. is In commission Ma
her construction work Is finished, and II only n
mains to put her supplies on board to make b
ready for service. She Is to join Acmlrai bunces
feet This she VIII probably Go some time hh
month making the second powerful batte-shp u
that finest Of American squadrons ever assembled
The Iowa is reported B per cent completed Al
Of her armor has been delivered TO the Cramp&
Her guns are ready. but the gun carriages are
somewhat behind The new battle-ships kearsarss
and Kentucky have not made much progress. hav'
Ing only been begun few weeks ago By the New'
port News Company. Their keels have been hio,
and Chiof Constructor Hichborn expects satisfac.
tory reports the construction work from no" on
The condition OF the Wilmington. the NASHVILLE
and the Helena has become the subject OF some
correspondence between Secretary Herbert and the
contractors. Under the builders contract the date
OF completion Of the vessels is fixed as January
next. Lately progress OF work not been up
to expectations, and Secretary Herbrr. has called
the contractors to account. TIE Secretary
anxious that the gunboats shall be IN commission
before the expiration OF hts term OF office on Maiea
l. The present indications are that he will oe dS
appointed number of causes have made II m'
possible for the contractors 10 make greater prog
ress than they have.
Chief Constructor Hichborns report gives %
tober 81 as the date when the Puritan Will be ready
for service and says that the construction work
ia now going on al a rapid and highly satisfactory
rate. Mr. Herbert is showing much personal ir-
terest in the completion of the big monitor He re-
Gently sent out the order that nothing Is 10 In:
terfere with the Navy Departments Rrogrsmme o.
getting her ready without delay. The Secretary
means business about the Puritan is remark
heard frequently at the Department here OF ia,e;
The report relative to gunboats Nos. 10. II. y, ~
Il and Is is that progress their construction 10
all that can be desired In the case or none Oh w ~
the various branches is UP expectations and con.
tract requirements NO doubt Is now Ien a, 10 .ns
Navy Department that the vessels VIII be Teady
Rapid progress is being made on torpedo-boaa
the PREDICTION aho is made that the little vessels win
soon be ready TO launch After thai ony srSs.
AS to the condition OF torpedo boats Nos. and !.
which are being built by the Herreshofs. n9!nihs
official is known at the Navy Department tno.r
the builders contract No is 10 be delivered -
on November le Torpedo-boat No. 5. the con-
tractors for which are Moran Brothers. OF sestus'
has reached the stage of 50 per cent completed
She is to be finished in January. ...
The last vessel referred 70 In Chief Construc,or
Hichborn's statement is the Holland suomar.ne
torpedo boat She is classed as 20 per cent COM
pleed. She ought TO have been finished iast Marcn'
but various causes have contributed 10 me nslay'
Being decided novelty in the way OF naval crart.
and requiring peculiar machinery ahq o. hao pa az.
fcut to secure prompt deliveries OF material from
now on progress toward her completion VIII
rapid.