The new North-west., 1896-04-03
LAUNCHED THE IOWA
THE GREATEST WAR ENGINE OF
THE WORLD.
When Armed and Equipped No Yes
sci Can Contend with Her
Single Handed.

Philadelphia, March 2S.-Tnc launch
Of the battlcship Iowa from Cramps
shiryard today nartooll more of the
nature OF a national event than any
similar one SINCE Mrs. Cleveland
christened the ST, Louis nearly two
years ago. Vice President Stevenson
headed the delegation from Washington
which included Secretary oi the Navy
Herbert, Attorney General Harmon,
Secretary of Agriculture Morton and a
large party Of senators ana congress-
men.
The Iowa party was led by Governor
Drake whose daughter, Mary LORD
Drake, broke the bottle Of champagne
over the Vessels Prov and gave it it's
name Miss Drak" is a handsome
blonde uf commanding figure. When
she baptized The vessel she stood on
little stand raised above the bow
platform. and on either side OF hcr
were Henry W. Cranlp and Miss Her
bert, daughter OF the naval secretary,
IT was 80 in the afternoon when the
last block W;ls llnocl.ed away and the
marine monster began her hrie! jour-
ney. Following Cramps instructions,
Miss Drake @raspGl her botiie and a.
the ways. she crushed il against the
PROV. The iowa Slipped gracefully
down into the middle Of the stream and
the tremendous crowd let out a mighty
roar. while the nearby factories and the
craft which dotted tho river opened
their shrll whistles. After the launch
there was an informal luncheon in the
mould loft, but no speeches were n1adt
The Allison boom was brought to the
front lust before the launch, accidental
ly OF otherwise. Governor Drake, who
was standing on the little christening
platform. called over the heads OF the
crowd to Senator Allison and Secretary
Herbert They pushed their way
through to the stand and then mount
ed it and faced the throng. -As soon as
Senator Allison appeared on the Gle
walton, the crowd. irrespective OF poll
tics, burst into applause and Tive loWans
lifted their hats. a minute later they
stepped down and mingled with the
other occupants of the big stand
THE BEST EVER BUILT.
The iowa the keel Of which was laii
two and half years ago. is the fourth
battleship to be owned by the Gnlted
States She has been constructed Tor
sea purposes, the first three built the
Indiana Massa chusetts and Oregon, be-
ing coast battlesnirs. The Iowa is OF
1000 tons greater displacement than her
sister ships, and several feet longer ana
broader. The hull is OF steel with
double bottom and close watertight sub
division to 10 feet above the water llns.
Compared with the Indiana, the iowa
has greater length, greater beam, IN
creased length Of outer line belt ana
greater coal endurance and speed, To-
gether with the ability to work the for
ward 12-inch guns in almost any condl-
ton Of sea The magnificent electric
lighting plant, Weighing "a tons. VIII!
afford means to discover the enemy or
guard against the attack OF torpedo
boats. She will require complement
of nearly 500 men, or greater than that
of any preceding Warshp OF the new
navy. The Iowa is constructed under
the act Of July 10, 1892, which made pro
vision for one sea-going battleship OF
about 5000 tons displacement, to cost,
exclusive of armament and speed pre-
1niums, not more than S4,OOO,0o0 the
details Of the construction have been
in the hands Of Chief Constructor Will
son and Engineering Chief Melville, the
famous arctic explorer.
cunning structural evolution Of steel
plates and angles, in all the delusive
lightness of white paint. She is $50 feet
long and 72 feet wide. drawing "a feet
of water. Her weight is II, ,41O tons. 311o
of which is wisely distributed in the
shape of armor protection, varying in
thickness from IA inches along the wa
ter line and sides. 51@ and IS around
the guns, 23i and 8 over the vitals-as
the engines boilers and magazines are
called-to 10 about the lighting position
or coming tower, just above and abaf'
the forward large turret.
ARMAMENT.
The Iowa carries but IL guns, but
such guns! -Four of them in the two
large turrets peering out through 15-
inch walls of hardened steel, proof
against the sharpest drills, are 12-incf
breech-loading rifles, firing a combinec
mass of 3400 pounds of tempered steel
From the four smaller turrets, each O.
which houses two eight-inch rifles, car
be discharged shells Of $50 pounds each
capable of penetrating eight inches 0
steel tive miles away, with a possible
range Of one mile for every inch Of cal
iber. From any one of the Iowa S fiv,
. tubes torpedo can be discharged, bear
Il ing 120 pounds Of gun cotton, nd speed
Ing on its errand Of demolition at th
rate of 80 miles an hour. No ship, pas
or present, could Withstand that blov
If fairly struck.
Away beneath the water, the protec
tive deck of steel and many feet o
coal, 80 roaring furnaces will develop il
those five ponderous boilers a constan
pressure of 100 pounds to the squar
fIH.x To t.i,a .;s.,