Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-04-08
BATTLEsHIP IOWA PERHAPS THE
MOST FORMIDABLE AFLOAT.
BIG BONUS FOR HER BUILDERS
REMARKABLE SPEED EARNS THEM
AN EXTRA 100000.
omcinI Test Made Over the Govern
ment Course on the Massachu-
setts Coast Yesterdny-Some-
thing About This Mar
velous Ship.

Boston. April THE battleship Iowa, the
last of the premium built battleships of the
navy, earned to-day for her builders,
Nessrs. William Cramp g. Son, of Phiia-
dclphia, 10000, hy making an average of
seventeen even knots ar hour over the
regular government course off the Massa-
chusetts coast in the four hours speed
trial required by the government under the
contract.
The Iowa. by her grand work, proved
herself 10 be superior to either the Indiana
or Massachusetts by considerable frac-
ton of a knot, and is to-day the ac-
knowledged queen of the American navy,
If not the most formidable battleship
afioat.
The weather could not have been sur
passed. A light northerly air helped the
forced draucht considerably. The trial
board came down from the city about
o'clock and with them were some 200 guests
of the builders. as well as many naval
officers stationed in and about BostsnI The
ship got under way almost Immediately.
heading straight for the twiH nights OF
Cape Ann, and, after a run of over an
hour, the first mark boat was sighted
Like a race horse not quite prepared for
her great effort, the Iowa scored twice.
running up to within a mile of the line
and then shying off out to sea, in order to
bottle up little more steam and develop
few hundred more horse power.
AT The very outset of the trial it was evil
dent that every one Of the picked crew was
out astern showed that the steadiest OF
pilots, Lew Chambers. was at the helm,
and of the twin screws denoted that
other master hand. hidden from sight, was
directing the ponderous machinery.
There was not the slightest deviation in
the course as the ship rushed by the sec
ond mark boat. making the leg In $3.50.
which was very satisfactory. In the very
next leg of the course, the ship began TO
show what was in her. for she topped the
seventeen knots an hour record by aver
aging a tenth over. She was still further
increased on the next leg 10 Ia. but on
the fourth there was a falling off. which
was decided in the last. the speed running
down TO 1875. 1t was proven, however.
that the last leg Of the course was some
what long.
While the ship was preparing for the
run back. the readyzreckoners on board
figured thston the rup down 70 Boon Isl
knots per hour. The time was 50 well up
to the builders expectation that ia order
to consume the allotted four hours, the
ship was spun around twice before start
Ing back
For thirty minutes and forty-five seconds
she kept up her jcckeying. and then dashed
Rtmarkabiy good time was made over
the first part Of tho return course. and
when the second mark boat was passed.
with the ship only six nautical miles from
the finish and glory, the reckoners had flS,
ured that barring accidents. she would
make something over seventeen knots.
But there before the ship was the handi-
cap of the course. the shallow water, a tact
which had already held back her sister
ships cutting down their premiums In more
than one instance. Knowing this. every
effort was made 70 get every pound Oh
The seconds licked off. steadily. as she
hurled herself on. the mark boat and finish
in sight. but still miles away. The margin
over the seventeen knots became smaller,
and as the ship rushed on it became seri-
Gus question whether she would get 10 the
line in time Fifty thousand dollars de-
pended on the speed of the last fifty feet: a
delay of one second might cut It off. The
Iowa Just did IL. and that was all In fact.
SO near was the margin that the reckcners
had TO carry out their figures to the fourth
for the whole course average seventeen
kEots an hour. II came out all night In The
end. however. and. with a broom on her
raw, after two or three half-circies to
stow just what she could do in quick man
etvering, slackened speed and headed ior
throughout the trial the boat behaved
beautifully. he heavy turrets, placed Well
greater roll than the Indiana or the Mass
achrsetts. but. except for this: she was
much steadier than the other battleshins.
The Iowa is officially known as Sea
going battleship No. L. The contract for
her construction was awarded February II.
1873. Her dimensions are as follows: Length
on the load water line. $50 feet: extreme
breadth. y feet 2i2 inches: nodded depth.
% feet as inches; mean drausht. "a feet:
tons and a full coal capacity of 1880 tons.
- Contract speed was sixteen knots. with
premium of $4,000 for each quarter knot
in excess ...
Her water line protection is belt of har-
veyized nicSle steel, with a maximum
thickness of fourteen INCHES, tapering. TO
six inches on the lower edge: The heaviest
armor is fifteen INCHES, on the main bar
bette. The armor on the coming tower is
seven and one-half inches thick.
The main battery of the Iowa consists
of four 12-inch breech-loading rifles in the
two main turrets; eight 3-inch breech-load-
ing rifles. mounted in pairs in the four
turrets at the corners of the casemate:
six 4-inch bTeech-loading rifles. mounted in
sponsors with shields, and twenty-five
rapid fire and Inachine guns. With the
stability due to her great beam. she can
fight with her whole battery.i in any wealth
or. The Iowa's full war complement IS
5l2 officers. seamen- and marines. The con-
tract price of the boat was So 10000. Her
maximum carrying capacity is 5000 tons
and gives her cruising radius of about
5000 knots at the most economical speed.