The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-10-05

down to the protective deck. TO house all
wires or other means OF interior COM
munication. so that the officer coming
the vessel in action can be In constant
and safe communication with all parts
OF the vessel An after coming or signal
tower is also provided. having an inside
diameter of feet and a thickness OF
inches.
The turrots will be operated by electric
power. also the ammunition HOSTS and
tho dynamo and auxiliary blowers for ven
ulating purposes.
AUXILIARY ENGINES.
There viii be some eighty-odd auxiliary
engines IN the vessel. thus adding greatly
to the efficiency Of tho ship In the ce-
lerity and certainty with which the work
can be done. Tho cranes for handling
tn boats are operated by steam: also. the
deck winches. pumps. windlass and steer
ing gear (this latter IS located beneath
tho protective deck and several feet be-
low the water liue). The Introduction OF
these auxiliary engines Is brought about
manly By the variety and nature Of the
work to DO done, and the demand for
the latest and best In evsrv branch or
mechanics represented in a man-of-war
Manual labor is therefore reduced TO a
minimum-a condition Of affairs which
must result In a greater interest and de-
yelopment of the crew In their special du-
ties, as now required in a modern battle
ship where fighting land all .leads up to
thorough efficiency in that line OF arD is
not handicapped by constant drudgery
so universal in tho old-time vessels OF
our navy.
The height OF tho freoboard forward OF
the vessels hull proper IS 20 feet and at
the stern IL Ia feet. The floor OF the
pilot house is a feet high. thus placing
the eye OF the steersman. for ordinary
cruising, about 30 feet above the water.
The sight holes I'm the armored coming
tower for use in close fighting are "a II
feet above the water.
GUN ELEVATION.
The bore Of the forward l3-inch guns
win have an elevation OF &c II feet. and
the after l3-lnch. 10 feet. above the sur
face Of the water. The 6-inch guns vary
from Is to % IL feet ana the e-pounders
from 90 20 40 IL feet above water. ac-
cordiug To their location on the vessel.
The smaller guns are mounted I'm the
military tops at heights OF from 80 TO %
feet This great height above water Of
both main and secondary batteries Will
enable tho vessel 10 be fought In any
Nf'NNtif'if a. fNfnllAf utF AN = rWAN IN AWAf NNA
Obtainabie only I'M vessels OF good size.
and considered Of immense advantage by
all naval authorities.
She is also provided with bnge keels,
placed before and abaft the midship body
only, so as not 90 interfere with docking
her. These koels have a maximum depth
of three feet, and viii largely tend to les
son her motion In a se1way. and so con-
tribute 20 her steadness as a gun plat
form. so essential for correct gun fire.
Four powerful electric searchlights are
also provided. two on top OF tho forward
chart house and two on each side Of the
after military mast, all having an eleva-
ton OF twenty-five feet above the water
and commanding a compiete aii-round
range.
There viii De two sets OF trlple-expan-
sion. twln-screw engines, each OF its own
separate water-tisht compartment. the
collective Indicate horse power VIII be
about 10000. with 100 revolutions per min
ute. stroke. four feet There are eight
ainglc-ended cylindrical boilers. each II
l-2 feet in diameter by feet IL IL inches
long, having "a total CRATE surface OF 60
square foet. with 2l200 square feet of
heating surface; pressure, $50 pounds.
These boilers are placed, two each, IN
four separate water-tisht compartments.
The smokepipes are two I'm number ana
stand abreast OF each other.
The first keel plate or this vessel was
laid February 10. 1871. not quite twenty
months past. and the percentage of work
completed t0 This date. based ON the ves-
sel fitted out and ready for sea, is now
reported between J3 and "a per cent The
contract price was S.59jy0 and the date
Of completion Is stated tO be october .,