The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-10-01

constant and safe communication with
all parts of the vessel An after con-
ming or signal tower is also provided,
having an inside diameter of six feet,
with thickness of six inches.
The turrets will be operated by cleo
trio power; also the ammunition hOists
and the dynamo and auxiliary blowers
for Yentilating purposes.
Has so Engines.
There will be some eighty odd auxi1-
iary engines in the vessel thus adding
greatly to the efficiency of the ship, in
the celerity and certainty with which
the work can be done. The cranes for
handling the boats are operated by
steam; also the deck winches, pumps,
windlass and steering gear. This latter
is located beneath the protective deck
and several feet below the water line.
The introduction of these auxiliary
engines is brought about mainly by the
variety and nature of the work to be
done, and the demand for the. latest and
best in every branch of mechanics
represented in a man of war. Manual
labor is therefore reduced to a. min
imum; a condition of affairs which must
result in a greater interest and develop
ment of the crew in their special duties
as now required in modern battleShip,
where fighting, and all leads up to
thorough efficiency in that line of art
is not handicapped by the constant
drudgerY so universal in the old time
vessels of our navy
Height freeDOaTQ
sells hull power is 20 feet and at the
stern 1S1z feet. The floor of the pilot
house is A feet high, thus placing the
eye of the steersman, for ordinary cruls-
ing about so feet above the water. The
sight holes in the armOred coming tow
er for use in close fighting are 3412 feet
above the water.
Monster Fighting Guns.
The bore of the forward 18-inch guns
will have an elevation of 2612 feet and
the aft 13-inch. 19 feet above the sur
face of the water. The 6-inch guns va
~ from Is to 2275 feet, ana the b-pound-
ers from 30 to 401z feet above water, ac-
cording to their location on the vessel
The smaller guns are mounted IN the
military tops at heights of from 50 to
70 feet. This great height above water
of both main and secondary batteries
will enable the vessel to be fought in
any weather; a quality always sought
for, but obtainable only in vessels of
good size, and considered of immense
advantage.
She is also provided with bilge keels.
placed before and abaft the rnidship
body only, so as not to interfere with
docking her These keels have a max
imum depth of three feet and will large
ly tend to lessen her motion in a sea
way and so contribute to her steadiness
as a gun platform, so essential for cor
rect gun fire.
Rapid Construction.
There VIII be Two sets OF IGlpIe eApdH-
sion tyyin-screw engines, each in its own
separate water tight compartment: the
collective indicated horse power will be
10 600, with 120 revolutions per minute
stroke four feet. There are eight single
end cylindrical boilers, each 15Ih feet in
diameter by feet III inches long. hav-
ing a total CRATE surface of 6S5 square feet.
with q, 200 square feet of heating surface;
pressure, $50 pounds. These boilers are
placed, two each, in four separate water
are two in number and stand abreast of
each other.
The first keel plate of this vessel was
laid February 10 1897, not quite twenty
months past. and the percentage Of work
sci fitted out and ready for sea is now
reported between So and "a per cent. The
contract price was 81. .595 900 and the date
of completion is stated to be October 5,
1898.