The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-06-12
NEPTlINE'S PRIDE,
Queen of the Seas of the World.

whose shell weigh only so pounds each.
Again. while they both have Harveyized
steel armor. the Oregon's ranges from
ten 10 eighteen inches IN thickness
against the Prince George eight TO
fourteen inches.
SPEED NOT OF MUCH VALUE.
IT Is true that the Prince George may
have about a knot more speed, but this
advantage would cut little figure in an
action, because It's chief value would be
10 enable the faster ship 10 choose hes
own distance As the Oregon has the
heavier guns the Prince George would
not be benefited by trying 20 fight at
long range. while at short range the
Oregon's superior battery would overpow-
er the Prince Georges fire. \ great eX-
cess OF speed would give the faster ship
a chance to ram her adversary, but the
Prince George is not enough faster than
the oregon TO make her superiority in
speed of much use. especially when the
greater hardness Of the Oregon is con-
sidered.
Taken all in all the Oregon has no equal
in any navy I'm the world.
INSIDE THE FORT.
The interior Of the Oregon IS no less
remarkable than the exterior. Nor is its
armament any more wonderful than its
internal arrangements. While IL Is speed
ing through the water at an unpreced-
ented rate. a little regiment is living in
side the body and doing a variety OF
work Almost every trade known In a
town goes on inside OF the Oregon.
In the center. we'll along the hull, Is an
immense coal bin out Of which coal
beavers take the coal and pass II along
TO the strokers. who feed the boilers.
Further along. toward the bow Of the
boat engineers are at work at the hy-
draulic pumps. The slightest cessation
IN the rythm is noticed and skillful mo
chanics are put at work 10 set all going
right again. In tho hole there Is packed
an immense amount Of cruiser baggage
and baggage men constantly guard and
handle IL.
There is a storehouse. too. where food
is kept and here is packed away n guam
tity Of general stores to be used in case
the cruiser should spring a leak and drift
in midocean at the mercy Of the wind and
waves Enough food is stored here to
last the ship two years II need be.
In another part of the interior Is a paint
and oil room where all sorts of chomi-
Gals are kept for stopping the leaks and
keeping the mechanism in repair.
Should the Oregon lose a portion OF her
outside paint, painters are lowered down
into the water TO touch up the color on
one room and there is a whole apartment
devoted to bread. All kinds of ships
bread are kept here and the cOmmissary
daily deals out quantity TO the ships
cook.
The ammunition passage Is an interest
ing one, for here is wheeled along the i'm
mense cartridges which are TO be fired
foom the ships guns. The room con-. r.
ing ordnance stores has powder. dyna-
mite and everything that goes 10 fire off
the smaller pieces and dangerously near
them as II SCENE 70 the landsman, IL
the room Of electrical plant where the
electrician can go for wire. dynamOs and
anything he may need to keep the cleo
trio guns I'm order.
You who live at home where n faucet
supplies your drinking water can have
no idea Of the immense demand at sea
for fresh water Should the supply OF
fresh water fail Uncle Sans bows would
be speedily untitled for fight Therefore
In the great body OF the ship. is a tank
filed with fresh water. II IS n wooden
tank made perfectly air tight and hun
dreds of gallons are carried 10 sea on
every sea-going cruiser.
Up above the water line are the wash
rooms ard other cOnveniences for the
officers. But It is in the middel Of the
ship above the water line that the most
important work goes on. for here the
armored tubes lie here the great pro-
iectiles are passed mp by means Of hOis-
ing tackle 20 the big guns. 1t takes a