The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-12-12

BUILTIN NEW JERSEY
Gunboat Annapolis Almost
Ready to Be Launched
at Elizabeth.
OUR sHIPBUILDERS TRIUMPH
The Event to Be Celebrated With
q Naval Parade -Dsscrip-
ton of the Vessel.

Looming up like some monster creeping
out of the rapidly running waters Of the
Kills is the black huh of the United
States gunboat Annapolis, which it now.
on the ways at Louis Dixon's Crescent
ship yard, -Elizabethport. A small army
of workmen swarm about the gunboar,
looking to one standing on the ground
beneath like parasites creeping ever the
monster, while the constant hammering
of those who driye home the riyets which
bin the great plates of the hull to-
gether, fills the air with a d~eafening din.
This activity is due to the fact that the
Annapolis is behind time and every effort
is being made to get her into the water
without any further delay. The superln-
tendent of the yard said yesterday hat
the delay was caused by the failure of
the propeller Of the boat to be on ham
on time. It was expected at the yard
EVERY day now. and he expected to have
the vessel in the water in ten days at
least.
When the Annapolis is finally launched
El:zabethport will see the largest gather
ing of distinguished people tina she has
since the day President Harrison on his
way from Washington to New York to
participate in the celebration of the adop-
ton of the Federal constitution, follow
ing the route Washington took a undre
years before. embarked on the Despatch
off the Port
Secretary of the Navy Herbert, Assist
ant Secretary McAdoo, a number of
prominent laval officers, the Governor Of
Maryland, the Mayor and delegation of
citizens of Annapolis and other distin-
guisned men are expected to be present.
The Baetalion CT the East. forming the
crew Of the Portsmouth, Washington Iry-
ing, Commander, will probably act as an
escort TO Secretary Herbert and Assist
ant Secretary McAdoo.
As the vessel slides off the ways it is
probable that Miss Ruth Cleveland. the
Presidents oldest daughter. will break
the bottle Of champaign over the PROV
and bestoW upon her her name. If she
does she will be accompanied by her
beautiful mother, and EIzabethpogt will
naVesdn additional homer. 1t is doubtful
II that viii be. Miss Ruth IS too young
70 participate in any such ceremony, and
y is more probable that the daughter of
the Mayor or some other fair maiden of
ANNAPOLIS viii perform tnat important
In awarding the contracts for the con-
struction Of the ~glnlboats of the class to
which the Annapolis belongs, Secretary
Heroert paid a high tribute to New Jer-
sey s~hlpbullding. OF the four boats, New
Jersey firms received contracts for two,
the Annapolis and the Newport. which
was recently launched at Camden. It is
credrtable both TO the industry and enter
PRISE OF Jerseymen that they received
these contracts.
The Annapolis is one of the first com
posEte vessels built for the navy. BY
composite is meant in this case that her
steel null IS Sheathed in oak below the
water. line. This is done in the interest
OF economy. The bottom of a steel ves-
sci becomes foul much more rapidly than
that or a wooden. craft, and unless she is
TTA6f19nflV dnaEnd an1 - - $3.50
is greatly reduced. It was IN order TO OBJ
viate this difficulty that the plan OF
sheathing the gqlnboats was hit upon. The
wooden bottom will enable the vessel to
dccked. and for that reason can make
longer cruises in those waters where
docking facilities are limited or lacking al
together.
The dry statistics of the Annapolis are:
Length, 1853 feet; width, So feet; -displace-
ment, LOCO tons, and a draught of u fest.
she VIII be propelled by steam and will
also be bark rugged, as she is expected TO
proceed ordinarily under sail. ner coal
carrying capacity is comparatively small.
she VIII contain every Improvement
known to modern s%hipbuilding. She will
De lighted throughout Dy electricity.
which power will also be used IN stearine
the vessel and in many other ways. The
Annapolis viii ave powerful search
lights Her battery will consist of six
men and four-inch rapid fire guns, and a
secondary battery. The cost of the vessel
will be s230. goo.
Close attention has been paid to the
quarters of the officers and men, and
everything possible for their comfort and
convenience will be done. The wardroom
and steerage will be fitted up in white ash
mahogany, and the chairs and sofas will
be Of morocco The ~fo'castle will also be
made comfortable for the blue jackets
and a berth aboard the Annapolis will be
a much-coveted billet When the keel OF
the Annapolis was laid and before a name
had been chosen for her a movement was
started in Elizabeth to nave the vessel
named after that city, but the citizens did
not move energetiealIy enough and An
napoiis captured he prize. Maryland al
ready has three vessels named after some
of her cities, and it was thought that she
had enough. New Jersey is represented
in the navy by the Newark. and although
there are towns Of that name in Ohio and
Delaware the vessel was named after New
Jerseys largest city.