Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-10-02

ate the big search-lights, OF which the
ship will be provided with four. Another
engine will be used for the refrigera ting
machine, which will turn out ton OF ice
every twenty-four hours This refriger-
ating apparatus embodies a number OF
new ideas. 1t will furnish cold air for
ventilation in the parts Of the vessel
where otherwise the mercury would run
from 125 to $50 degrees, and the men would
drop In their places from the intense heat.
With the electric fans and cold-air APP
paratus, ii is believed that the atmos-
phere in nearly all portions OF the vessel
can be kept down to at most 100 degrees.
Fully seventy-fve different engines will
be installed on the vessel to furnish
power for hosting ammunition and other
weights, for operating the launch davits,
and for a hundred other purposes. Elec-
tricity and compressed air will be utilized
10 a great extent in communicating ! e.
tween different portions of the decks. For
instance, the engine-room will be con-
nectpd with the coming tower and bridge
and commanders quarters by a telegraph
system, in addition to telephone and bell
signals. If any two Of the means OF COM
munication are cut off the third can be
relied upon.
STRENGTH OF THE ILLINOIS BAT
TERIES.
If the Oregon is termed n bulldog. the
Illinois might well be called the mastiff
OF the navy. For it will have set Of
teeth to make it well worthy of the title
The 13-inch guns with which 1t will be
armed throw a projectile weighing 1,lOO
pounds distance Of thirteen miles with
effect The projectile can penetrate at
least eight inches Of metal at this dis
tance. It's execution on deck has been
shown by the work in the battle off San
tiago, when a single shell of this size kill
ed eighty men and wrecked every steel
structure with which 1t came in contact.
The guns in both turrets of the Illinois
will discharge lilo tons of metal at one
round The deck battery consists of six
teen 6-inch rifles. These seem small in
comparison. but when one considers that
the 6-inch guns turned out by the shops
at Washington navy-yard will hurl shell
weighing l2O pounds through inches Of
steel at a distance OF six miles, respect
for il is considerably increased. The
beauty of the 6-inch gun is that IT can be
discharged from four to five times min
ute without danger. With the entire bat
terry of this calibre on the Illinois, eighty
of these pr0jectiles can be discharged In
a minute. or $500 per hour.
In addition to the t-lncn guns, sixteen
6-pound, four 1-pound, one Colt machine
gun. and two field pieces go to make UP
the secondary battery. The 6-pound and
1-pound weapons can be discharged from
City 10 sixty times minute each. Inc
secondary battery is intended more for
torpedo boats, and the effectual execution
of the little Gloucester with her guns
of this type in sinking the Spanish TOR
pedo craft shows her great value. The
Gloucester he'd less than half dozen.
while the Illinois has twenty-one. The
Illinois also will have four tubes Tor
Whitehead torpedoes,
Considering the size of the Illinois and
the slowness of naval construction, rapid
nroeress has been made. 1t is built under
an act of Congress passed June 10, 1856
nroyiding s2.595 900 for the hull and ma
chinery. The contract Of the New
mort News Ship Building and Dry-Dock
Company was signed September 70, 1871
and three years were allowed TO COM
nIete the vessel. The keel was only laiS
February 10th, last, but to-day the vessel
&c practically ready for launching. 1t Is
calculated that the entire cost will ex-
coed s3.OO0.0Oo The crew will comprise
200 officers and men, including about one
hundred marines.