The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-20

high official summed UP the situation by
saying the negotiations were getting Very
hot. The San MARITIME was originally built
Tor the italian government and ives then
known as the Varez. but since her purchase
~ Argentine she has been renamed. Her
dimensions are: Length. 32S feet; beam. 50
feet draft. a feet: displacement, G. $40 tons;
horsepower. 1900; speed, 1898 knots. Her
armament Is two eight-inch rapid-fire guns,
mounted in barbettes and protected by
hoods. ten six-inch quick-fre guns in
central redoubt; six four and seven-tenths-
tEch quick-fire guns on the upper deck.
and twenty-five smaller siuick-fire guns on
the upper deck. All the guns on the upper
decks are protected by steel shields. The
General O'Higgns IS battle ship of $500
tons. built at Eswick Her dimensions are:
Length, 100 feet; beam. 81 feet. draft p
feet. Her contract speed is 21A knots. Her
armament is four eight-fnch ten six-inch,
four four and seven-tenths-inch Armstrong
guns. eight twelve-pounders, ten six-pound-
ers and four submerged torpedo tubes. Her
protective deck is belt Of Harveyized
steel seven inches thick. Her gun houses
for the eight-inch guns and the easements
Of the six-inch guns are protected by six
inches of nickel steel.
Both the Navy and War Departments con-
finue their active preparations, and emer
geney contracts in all branches Of arma-
ment are being made daily by the various
bureaus. The naval Bureau of Ordnance
has contracted for 100000 pounds of brown
powder. which is probably the largest single
order ever given. This was divided between
the California Powder Company and the
Dupont Powder Company These concerns
together are furnishing the, bureau about
20OVe pounds daily, and within a week or
so 1t IS expected the capacity of these two
works will be brought up to 10000 pounds
Of powder daily. The order is sufficient in
the aggregate to give zoo rounds for every
gun afioat in the American navy, and with
this large supply on hand the navy for the
first time in years will be more than amply
supplied with powder.
The dynamite cruiser Vesuvius. which has
been ordered here to have her guns repaired,
arrived at the navy yard this morning. hav-
ing remained at the Indian Head proving
ground over night. 1t is expected the work
necessary on the vessel can be completed
within fifteen days. Lieutenant Commander
John It. Pillsbury Is in command. s
An important contract was let by the bu-
reau Of yards and docks of the Navy De-
partment to-day. 1t =ras for dredging about
300 900 feet of the harbor about Fort Jeffer-
son at Dry Tortugas island which will en-
able large naval and merchant vessels to
anchor near the shore to take on coal. This
IS the first step taken by the Navy De-
partmenf toward making a naval supply
coaling station at the Tortugas, which will
now be pushed as rapidly as possible. The
Alabama Dredging and Jetty Company. of
Mobile, yas awarded the contract at 80
cents per cubic yard. The department also
had under consideration bids submitted for
building wharves and coal sheds at Tortu-
gas and at Key West, but they were re-
jected and fresh proposals will be invited
promptly.