The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-05-31
THREE NEW BATTLEsHIPs.
Ship Builders Called on to Prepare
to Begin Work.

Ship Builders Called on to Prepare
to Begin Work.
New York May S0-"The navy depart
ment called upon ship-builders to-day TO
prepare to build the three battIeships au-
thorized by the present session of Congress
with limit of cost excluding armor and
armament, of 100000 each" says the
Washington correspondent of the Tribune
Heretofore the limit of cost was some
what larger, as it included armor, the
navy always building its own guns. Pro-
pOsals are invited under two classes, the
first on the departmental plans and speci-
ticadons, and the second upon designs TO
be furnished by the bidders which must,
however, fully cover certain limitations
laid down by the board of construction.
This board, after continuous sessions
for month"; has decided that the three
new ships shall be almost identical with
the Illinois, the Wisconsin and the Ala
bama, now building at Newport News, San
Francisco and Philadelphia, respectively,
and in ali proba biHty lhe new vessels will
be built al those places, the Cramps, the
SCOTS and the Newport News companies
possessing the patterns which will enable
them 10 do the work more eXpeditiously
and at less expense than other establish
mCnts.
The circular of to-day provides for YES
sells of 1850 tons displacement, with a
coal capacity of / POO tons on mean
draught of % feet, a length of 1858 feet end
z feet beam. The hull will be of steel,
with double bottoms and close water
tight subdivisions, with ample free board
and berthing accommodations on decks
above water. There win be but two mill
tary masts with fighting top.
20 cid Il14 -Off
broad and 1872 inches thick al the engine
boilers space, taperng to a thickness of
4-lnches at bow and stern and there viii
be transverse armor forward and aft u
inches thick
"Barbettes for the 13-inch guns will be
10 inches thick, except in the rear, where
there VIII be 10 inches. The turret armor
VIII be IA Inches throughout. The vessels
VIII have a protective deck throughout
their. length ga inches thick, where fla t
and 3, inches forward and 5 inches aft
where it is inclined.
"A cellulose belt will be fitted along the
SIDES for the whole length.
Tine coming tower will be 10 inches
thick
All the 6-inch guns will be protected
by 512-inch armOr and by 11a-inch splinter
bulk heads between the guns. The small
er guns will nave shield protection and
extra side plating.
screws, with two vertical, triple-expansion
four-cylinder engines, one on each shaft
ana in separate water-tight compartments.
There viii be eight cylindrical single-end
boilers with a working pressure of 2fO
pounds IN four separate water-tight COM
pdrtments. The weight OF the machinery
is limited to i ,190 tons.
nese ships are to be completed under
heavy penalty within two and a half
years. After they are delivered to the
government guns and other equipment will
be Installed
Their main battery will be composed of
Tour lS-inch guns in two barbette turrets,
one forward and the other aft and ten
o-inch rapid-fire guns in broadside on the
nam deck. and four similar weapons on
the upper deck with the superstructure.
Two submerged tubes will be provided
ana eight 17-foot torpedOes.
Accommodations must be arranged for
a complement Of 500 officers and men.
The turrets and ammunition hoists are
TO be operated by electricity.
a speed of IS knots is required with
heavy penalties for any deficiency, and if
either vessel fails to make Is knobs she
may be rejected altogether"