The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1897-11-10
WHAT WARSHIPS COST.
1t Means a Big Bill When They Are
Fairly AhOat.


Growth in dimensions, speeds, protec-
ton and armament has necessarily
been accomplished by increase in cost.
In 1857 the Sovereign of the Seas cost
6 900, half of which was for labor.
This was quite an exceptional outlay
and, no doubt, other than legitimate
expenses were charged against that
vessel. AT the beginning of this CEN
fury 10O-gun line of battleship cost
from e65,00O to 6 10000, exclusive of
armament. The 121-gun sailing three
decker of 1887 cost nearly 10000,
and the screw three-decker of 1857
about 6 100000.
The use. of armor added greatly to
the cost and the Warrior of 1859 fig
ured up nearly 6 100000. The Dread
naught of 1873 cost 6 100000, and the
Inflexible, which followed her, cost
6 $4,000. These large amounts were
partly due to the introduction of cost
~ mechanisms required for mounting
and working the heavy guns and part
ly to large increase in the outlay of
armor.
less costly ships and vessels were pro-
duced for 100000 to s $4,000, be-
tween 1875 and 1885: The inevitable
tendency reasserted itself in 1885, the
Nile and Trafalgar each costing about
ss5O,OOo. The Royal Sovereign class
of 1889 cost about e775.0O0, and the
Majestic about $4,000. All these fig
ures are for ships built in the Royal
dockyards, and exclude incidental
charges as well as cost of ornaments.
They include gun mountings with their
costly mechanisms and torpedo gear.
Cruisers have similarly increased in
cost. The Blake cost about 100000,
or about twice as much as the unarm-
ored Inconstant, laid down in 1856.
The Powerful will cost about 6 ESQ.,
900. She carries a considerable weight
of expensive armor and gun mountings
costing over 6 $4,000.
Other navies spend even more on
their units of naval force. A French
first-class battle ship costs about e1,-
100000 and so do the corresponding
ships in the Russian and Italian fleets.
The American battle ship Indiana cost
over 100000, exclusive of armor, and
that involved an expenditure of near
ly 6 $4,000. For the German battle
ships now building, of which II 900 tons,
the estimated cost is about 100000.
It will be seen, therefore, that British
battle ships are, in proportion to their
dimensions less costly than battle
ships of other navies, and actually less
costly than most foreign battle ships
of about the same date.
The same thing may be said Of
cruisers. The French Jeanne dare is
estimated to cost about 6 100000;
German fifst-class cruiser about $780,
900, and the American New York cost,
exclusive of armor, ETC., about 6O0,-
600. The actual cost of the great Rus
sian cruisers is not known, but must
reach high figures.
AS compared with the costs of the
largest passenger steamers. the fore
going figures, no doubt, will appear
very large. But if deductions are made
for the expenses incurred on armor,
gun mountings and mechanisms, tor
pedo gear and special fittings, repre-
senting together, say, G 100000 to AGO.
900 in fi1st-class battle ship, the COM
parison is made fairer and the warship
approximates in cost very closely to
the largest passenger steamers.-Sir
William 81 White, In Casters Maga-
zine,