The age-herald., 1898-06-01
THE ALABAMA
 IN FIVE MONTHS

 in which she was handled at the League Island navy yard. Yesterday morning be- fore all the governments workmen had arrived at the yard the Cramps employees who had charge of the work on the warship had taken her out of the drydock and start cd with her up the river to the ship yard. The big vessel was fioated out of the dock at high tide. half-past T o'clock. In two days the blades of the twin propeller had been adjusted and three coats of paint put on the ships bottom. None of the navy yard employees were engaged on the ves- sel not even the dockmen.
 One of the largest crowds that has visited the navy yard for over month half ex- pected that there would be some delay, and that the Alabama would be in the dock in the afternoon. but the visitors missed their guess and had to be content with sight of the gunboat Princeton, picket Peoria, gun boat Fish Hawk, city ice boat No. 3 and the old monitors. The battleship was towed up the Delaware by the tugs Newcastle, Churchman and Harry W. Wall. The trip was slow one. the shipyard being reached about 1 o'clock
 In the Alabamas case preparations are to be made to break all speed records in completing a first-class warship. Besides turning a small army of workmen on the vessel proper, every department that can aid in the work will be started on her fit- tings. The engines are already nearly com- pleted. and are being set up in the machine shop. while the boilers are nearly finished.
 It has been stated by the Cramps that the T~1 AoI f.. 6xra months, as far as their work is concerned. It was feared, however, that the heavy turret, barbette and water-line belt armor would be delayed, as in the case of the Massachusetts and Indiana, and that the vessel could, therefore, not be finished un- der a year or more. Arrangements have been practically completed, however, by which the early delivery of the armor is as- sured, hence the determinat tion to rush the work. It is understood now that, In conse- quence of having their ship first in the water, the Cramps will have first call on the armor plate, and that orders have been issued from Washington to the Carnegie and Bethlehem works to complete the plates for the namesake of the confederate terror first of all.
 Shortly before o'clock last evening the torpedo boat Mckee. which has just been built at the Columbian Iron Works, Balti- more, arrived at League Island, on her way to Newport R. l., to receive her torpedoes. The Mckee is making the trip to the inland route, having come from Baltimore through the Delaware and Chesapeake canal. She will proceed through the Delaware ana Rartan canal on her way to the torpedo station, and is to leave the navy yard this morning.
 The Princeton is to go into the navy yard dry dock tomorrow and it is hoped by the officials that the work to be done on her will be finished so that the vessel can leave to join one of the blockading fleets next week. The main job is to copper her DOL tom. At the same time a lining of cellulose will be placed between the inner and outer plates on the bottom. In case shot should penetrate the bottom, the cellulose Is sup posed to swell and fill the hole, and keep out the water. The rigging is expected to ar rive from New York today. Captain West says that his vessel will not remain much longer at the island.
 The receiving ship Richmond was crowded yesterday afternoon by the nearly 4O0 men who belong on it and the friends who called upon them. Two of the women visl- tors mothers of two of the recruits, were in great grief because they could not se- cure the release of their sons from the serv- ice. The lads have been picked out for crews that are soon to start away on fight- ing craft and the mothers had learned that they would not have many more op- portunities to see their offspring. The as- sstance of officials at Washington had been sought by friends of the women, but they could not secure the discharge of the sons. Both women cried bitterly over their boys. and one of them almost tainted, but was brought around all right through the en- ergetic use of fans.
 The nearly 1900 workmen In the shops and on the various vessels at the yard are having holiday with pay today, the first since Washington's birthday. On the first Sunday after the latter date the men were kept at work, and they have worked every day since.
 Among the visitors at the yard yesterday was R. B. Bradford. chief of the bureau of equipment, at Washington, D. c. He was one of a party who called on Commo- dore Casey and looked over the old moni- tors and other vessels
 While the yard force at Cramps ship yard is hustling on the big battleship Ala bama another force is working night and day on that part of a ship building contract which the public seldom sees. It Is the first stage of construction of the two ships for the Russian government. Tfne consists in laying down the shlpS In the mold lo1t, or, in other words. placing every detail of their hull construction. or a scale of actual size on view. To do this the great polished floor of the mold loft, an apartment about 600 feet long and 70 feet broad. is trans formed into two huge blackboards and then with detail plans and chalk the draughts- men and engineers set to work to lay down the ship.
 Every plate of the hull is drawn. every rivet hole marked out and each curve faith fully reproduced, showing the broadside construction. The cross sections of the plans fore. aft and mid-shlp are drawn. so that when all is finished a glance tells the exact size and shape of each piece of steel in the whole tremendous fabric. This work will be done in about tUs weeks. and then the keels of the ships will be laid. that of the cruiser probably first.
 THE NEGRO SOLDIER
 From the New York World.
 Thara can he m lop1er any Gnr,ht that