The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-03-27
Work Is Being Rushed on the
Torpedo Destroyer.
MEN WORKING DAY AND NIGHT.


With men WORKING dag ana nighs ~ ali
posslbes speed. the torpedo destroyer
1swan. under oonss raessSn by toe Seat
sjs shipbuiidsng fra Of Moran Bros. -
being rapidly compicssd.
Direct from Secretary % the Navy Long
came orders by wire TO raSn the last work
n DE Rowan, known sEso 40 No. >.
Thnse orasrs were recssyed only few
days ago. and since then Moran Bros.
hsss brought every facility they possess
20 the work OF isassening the construction
Il Us naval terror.
In The light OF recent syents a. wash
snxtou shis is looked upon simply as an
>xner Indication OF the zeal now being
Ai,psaysd by the authorities AZ the na-
ttenal capital TO put tais nation on war
feotiug. There WAS no mistsk.ng he
tone OF Secretary Longs order. which
>ams Grect from himself and net through
any subordinate
The Rowan viii be Iannehes somewhere
betwsen April and 10. This Subsequent
work on her wilt require two weeks. Thea
size VIII be ready To hsgsn her grim work
Of blowing hostile warshlps nigh ogt Of
the water. or, IL they are Spanish. to per
dition.
Moran Bros. received ths contract for
the Rowan from thn navy department late
Ia ths autumn Of lss. Earis thu follow
Ing year actual work on her was conn
meneed. From time 10 time csresm-
stances arose by waleh her construction
was delayed. She was 90 have been I'm
sshed several months ago. bat the navy
department gave the firm extensions OF
time ON their contract. AS they were re-
Qulret.
The arrangements for har launching
have not yet been made. II IS probable
that some of tho naval constructors viii
inspect tie Rowan before she finally slips
from her frames and slides gracefully into
the blue waters OF the Sound. ready for
the nnisning touches to her hull
The Rowan is a model destroyer Of her
Kind. She IL 10 feet long. is feet beam
and 10 feet depth OF hold. She Is built OF
steel, and she will be- a marvel OF beauty
and OF speed. She will he able to dart
over the waters at a two-minute gait. or.
accurately speaking. twenty-sEx knots per
hour. This Is equal te thirty miles. or the
average speed OF a railroad train
While the destroyer viii ba al the mercy
Of hostile hattiaships. as far az armament
and ordnance are concerned she will be
able TO turn more thaa one Of them over,
and ali tho advantages OF speed when II
comes To getting away. viii be with her.
In ordinary service the terpesio boat VIII
b manned by three officers and eighteen
or twenty men.
The Rowan has been bull. on elaborate
plans furnished ID The navy department.
which have been adhered 10. il IL stated.
BY even so much as the traditional hair.s
breadth. She has been pat together piece
meal. so 10 speak but in the operation.
every particles Of metal has he4ts smf4fuily
and even scientifically weighed 80 as ia
come exactly within the requirements.
Not pound 81 metal has been wasted or
placed whete II would M, DO the greatest
amount OF service
The Rawan's stem ia OF steel. ons-hais
inch thick TIE sfesi plating Tor the main
dsok. forecasila deck crew sfaes ard ont
eide varies from one-eisAth 10 oas-auarter
Of an inch ia thickness. Tier coming
towers. rising from tho main ae,.k ARC
nstei with fve-iach ltsats set in aluminium
frames
Whiie The first consideration IN the con-
sUuesion 90 The Rowan has been her en-
psosty fer dealing ssdlcn death % an
enemy, hep ntseainefy and steering sear
have hsen designed with special ryfsssnr.
10 speed ana capacity "a haadge herssls
nnaer urs, In the FIRST place. her enasnea
are constructed % the nue>t material /.
Is possible 10 oataia Eaea o. tie iva
powerful enRiHes Is sst in separate
wster~sish; compartments. 80 that II On.