New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-11-03
NEW PLANS FOR MONITORS.
MUCH MORE FORMIDABLE VESSELS
WILL BE BUILT.
THE NAVY DEPARTMENT DECIDES TO MAKE
NEW CONTRACTS WHICH WILL DOUBLE III"
EFFICIENCY or THE COAST DEFENDERS

THE NAVY DEPARTMENT DECIDES TO MAKE
NEW CONTRACTS WHICH WILL DOUBLE THE
EFFICIENCY or THE COAST DEFENDERS
icy TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBuNEl
WASHINGTON Nov 2-The Navy Department
has decided not to waste the SJ,"DV" aPplo
priated at the last session Of Congress III pu''u
Ing four single-turret monitors on the o'iFi"''
plans for which contracts were AWARDED
month ago. but Will make new contracts 'o'
veesaIs with double turrets. double the coal
caUacity. and a thousand tons greater as
placement. precisely in accordance withthe plans
recommended in The Tribune of October T. As
result Of thu competition for these vessels
ending with tie opening OF bids on OCTOBER
/ contracts were made as follows:
M, ,,.as ,,,no.t News company.......... $500 900
The Connecticut. Bath Iron Works 81 60,
The Florida Lewis Nixon o=2"n
The wyoming Union Iron Works .....''.'.''''' o''o
........ 81 49, 900
As pointed out in The Tribune at the ufne'
this aggregate left S1.57sO0o from the amount
appropriated by Congress. which would nave
enabled the Governme to secure two more
sucb vosscls within the authorized limit Of eX-
pense: but the number Of vessels icing iXed by
law II was shown that the surplus OF a million
and q half could be advantageously put into
tho four vessels where It would do the most
eood after the manner pursued a month carrier
at tie instance of The Tribune in securing
faster bat ships with greater coal endurance
than the Naval Board on CONSTRUCTION h"u
thought IL possible TO design.
ACTION OF THE BOARD ON CONSTRUCTION.
The Board held protracted meeting to-day
TO consider this proposition. which was pre-
scented 10 It's members in the form of an order
from Secretary Long to reconsider the subject
OF the monitors and If an arrangement
could he made with the builders to increase the
original dspla cement OF 200 tons to the neces-
sary tonnage 10 carry four guns instead OF TWO
and to secure as large on Increase OF coal
capacity as possible. The Board had learned d
month ago from The Tribune that the four con-
tractors were not only willing but ANXIOUS TO
add at least 375 tons displacement to each or
the vessels within the appropriation and there
by double the armament. quadruple the coal
endurance and increase the seaworthihess
and other factors OF efficiency many iod' ana
IFS members or some Of them had devoted nearly
a month to the consideration Of these facts.
At to-day's meeting Lewis Nixon. OF Eliza
bethport " J.. who will build the Florida was
present with modified plans. which he had care
fully worked out on the suggested lines, and
after closely questioning him the Board made
"A
Long proposing to have the contractors raise
the displacement Of the monitors from the origi-
nal 200 tons to 1000 tons. substituting four
1O-inch rifles I'm two turrets for the single turret
with twin Pinch guns. and providing for 400
tons of coal instead Of 200. the speed remaining
as at first proposed, twelve krOts.
LESSONS OF THE WAR UTILIZED
II was shown to be entirely feasible to add
another turret containing twin l2-inch guns
estern on the increased displacement similar To
that placed forward in the earlier plans. but it
was deemed best to take advantage of one Of
the greatest naval lessons Of the war with
Spain In making the changes in these vessels
and to secure the benefit Of the latest lo-lnch
quick fire rifles. using smOkeless powder with
augmented initial velocity. instead of the older
pattern 12-nch gun OF materially less enectlNe-
than the new weapon.
The increased displacemei OF the four new
monitors will not only make them larger and
more effective than the Monterey and the
MonadnOck which were sent across the Pacific
to hold Manila and considerably larger than
the Amphtrte. the Mantonomoh and the TER
ror but IL will DO away with the unsteaciness
OF those vessels az gun platforms. which led TO
the sharp criticism Of them by Admiral Sanp-
son at the bombardment of San Juan.
c. b. circuit. OF the Newport News company
which will build the Arkansas. was in Wash
ingtOn to-day, and expressed himself As de-
lighted to have an opportunity 10 make the de-
sired Improvements in that vessel, and Henry.
r Scott Of the Union Iron Works who Is now
in san Francisco preparing to lay the keel OF
the Wyoming told Secretary Long when sign
Ing the contract for that vessel that he dsliked
to build her on the original plans and hoped
the Department would find way of improving
them.
NiTJONiI ART CITR INCORPORATED