New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-12-12
TWOrGREAT BATTLE-SHIPS.
THE KEARsARGE AND 80 KENTUCKY
NEARLY READY TO BE LAUNCHED.

IMPROVEMENTS IN THE DESIGNS FOR THEIR
ARMAMENT-A TERRIFIC BATTERY POWER.
Washington. Dec. 11.-Unsurpassed in formi-
liability the world over, and unequa,led in rapid
fly Of construction among American armored
defenders. the seagoing coastline battle-ships
Kearsarge and Kentucky will b, foated in the
James River. Virginia, the latter part of next
month. within year and half after their keels
were laid; and In less than year more. under
the contracts, they must be turned over to the
Government ready for cruising AMI for the in
stallation of guns
Provision was made by act of Congress. APP
proved March 2, 1895, for the construction Of
two battle-ships. to cost exclusive OF armament.
not more than 81. 100000 each. of which
was to be built on the Pacific Coast or
the waters connected Herewith. provided low
responsible bids could be obtained from that
locality. A Virginia corporation, the Newport
News Ship Building and Dry Dock Company,
which had been recently established with the
most modern plant in existence, and which was
at the time constructing three gunboats for the
United States. put in such low bids that all
competitors were distanced and on January =,
1896. signed the contract to deliver the hulls
and machinery within three years, for S2.25O.OOO
each. the Indiana class of ships. which were
sn aller. having cost over $3.0O0,OO0. The keels
OF the two monsters were laid June 80, within
six months later, and to-day over 80 per cent
Of the work has been completed and fassed by
the Government inspectors, while the material
for the remaining half Of the work is in such
shape on the ground that the vessels could be
turned over to the naval authorities within
three months without the heavy armor. however.
for on account Of the unwilingnoss of domestic
armor factories to accept the limit of price fixed
nv nd n tha statutory
hibiticn against its purchase abroad. none but
the diagonal side plating of the two ships has
been manufactured.
Congress further required that one OF these
battle-ships should be named the Kearsarge for
the famous frigate that sunk the Alabama ana
after long career went down on Roncador
Reef few years ago. special provision had
to be made by Congress for this. as. under the
law ships Of this size must be named for States,
and Congress alone can modify this require
ment. The name Kentucky was chosen for the
other by the officials OF the Navy Department
but in accordance with the usual custom Of con-
structors they have been known as mo. o. and
mo. G." and will be up to the time OF their
actual baptism, the four other battle-ships
having been the Indiana. Massachusetts,. Oregon
and Iowa.
FIRST SHIPS UNDER THE LAST SECRETARY.
The Kearsarge and Kentucky were the first
battle-shps authorized and designed wholly
under the last Administration, and the last
Secretary Of the Navy exceedingly anxious
that they should be- without question. the best
Of their class hence all questions arising in
their design were carefully and fully invest-
gated. and advantage was taken Of the ex-
perience gained in the construction of our other
battle-ships, as we'll of the development
abroad of similar types.
One of the paramount requirements laid down
was that these vessels should draw less water
when fully laden, than any other first-class bat
tle-ships either in this country or abroad The b,
largest foreign battle-ships when fully laden
draw in the neighborhoOd Of twenty-eight feet
Of wafer and The previous American battle-shlps
touched twenty-four feet at normal displace-
rnent but with all weights on board. owing not
on,v to the increased draught due to the weight,
but to the settling by The stern accompanying
the increased weight, draw twenty-seven feet
Battle-ships Nos 5 and e, however, have been de-
signed to draw but twenty-five feet with t"eiVe
hundred tens of coal OH board and equipped with
all stores and ammunition. This VIII enable
them to reach all of the principal navy YARDS
and ports of the United States even when iuiiy
laden and will make their docking less diff
cult than that of the other battle-ships
The question Of the calibre and disposition or
the large guns gave rise to more discussion than
INV other question in connection with these
vessels Chief Constructor Hichborn, VINO IS re-
sponsbIe for all designs under the recent rulings
a, tho NAVY Department, held views diametri-
IL a;0arinp from those of the CHIEF or ord