Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-09-18

WASHINGTON, d. c., September H.
Special 1.-THE three new battleships to
be built for the navy under the authority
of the Act of Congress approved May attn
uItimo. and the contracts for which were
recently awarded, will be powerful war
vessels. One Of these great ships VIII
be constructed at the Newport News Dry
Dock and Ship-Building Companys
yards. and will necessitate the employ
ment there of q large force of additional
mechanics and other employees. cir
cular issued by the department. defining
the chief characteristics of the ships, and
which it was very difficult to obtain,
classes them as "three seagoing coast
line battleships." The bidders on these
ships were required to specify the time
in which they agreed to complete their
contracts, and no bids were considered
which named a period in excess of thirty
three months for such completion. The
following penalties will be imposed for
failure to complete the vessels within the
limit of the time specified by the bidder,
viz: During the six months next sue
ceeding the expiration of the period, 5000
q day. and for each and every day during
which such completion shall be delayed
thereafter, 500, Sundays, in both cases,
excepted.
The following general characteristics
we're embodied in the departments &C.
mt
were required in all designs submitted:
ELEMENTS OF DESIGN.
Length on load water line, normal dis
placement, S6S feet; moulded breadth at
water line. u feet; mean draft at normal
displacement, about % IL feet; normal
displacement, about 1850 tons; total coal
capacity, loose stowage, 100 tons.
The hull is to be of steel, not sheathed,
with double bottom and close water-tight
subdivision.
The arrangement Of decks above water
is to provide ample free board and berth
ing accommodations.
No sail will be carried, but two military
masts are to be fitted with fighting tops.
The boats are TO be slowed clear OF the
blast Of the guns, and two life-boats are
to be so carried as to be rapidly lowered
under all conditions Of weather.
The protection of the hull against in
Jury to the water-line region is to be af
forded by side armor belt Of maximum
thickness of not less than 16 IL inches,
and a mean depth of feet inches. The
belt to extend at least from the stem TO
the after barbette. and to maintain the
maximum thickness through the engine
thence I'd
il may be .tapered gradually to a uniform
thickness of 4 inches. The transverse ar
NOR at the AFTER end OF the belt and that
lust forward OF the boiler space will be
not less than IL inches in thickness. Bar
bettes for 13-inch guns will have armor -
inches thick, except in the rear, where IT
will be reduced 10 10 inches.
The turret armor is to be IA inches thick
throughout The ships side. from the
armor belt to the main deck, will be pro-
tected by not less than IL inches of
steel armor, from barbette TO barbette.
Coal is to be carried back of portion of
this 1-2-inch casemate armor
THICKNESS OF DECK.
A protective deck is to extend through
out the length of the vessel. Where this
deck is worked fiat, the total thickness
will be not less than ga inches and
where worked with inclined sides the
slopes will be 8 inches in thickness for
ward and inches in thickness aft. A
cellulose belt is TO be fitted along the
sides the whole length Of the ship.
A coming tower of not less than 10 inch
es in thickness. having an armored com
munication tube not less than inches in
thickness, will be carried in a suitable
commanding position forward, the tube
extending to the armor deck and afford
ing protection TO the voice tubes, bell
wires. etc. An additional armored sta
ton will be fitted aft having armor not
less than inches in thickness.
In wake Of the 6-inch guns on the main
deck there is to be continuous armor
IL inches thick extending between the
turrets. Further protection is to be af-
forded by 1-2-inch splinter bulkheads be-
tween the guns, extending from deck TO
deck
The 6-inch guns on the upper deck will
also be protected by 51-2-inch armor,
with 1-2-inch splinter bulkheads between
guns.
Protection is to be afforded the smaller
guns by shields and extra side plating.
THE ENGINES.
The engines will be of the vertical triple
EXPANSION four-cylinder type. two in num-
two separate water-tight compartments.
The boilers 10 be cylindrical, single ended,
eight in number. 10 be placed In four
eenarate watAr-tight compa ctments, to be
constructed FOR working pressure Of 2l0
pounds.
There will be required the usual auxili-
arv machinery and space for operating
the same for use of the engineers depart
ment.
The total coal capacity is to be such
that AT least 200 tons can be carried with
loose stowage without trimming.
The total weight of propelling ma
cbInery. including engines, boilers. and
annurtenances, all fixtures in engine and
are-rooms. smoke-pipes. distilling appa-
rains stores spare parts. heating appa-
ratus tools in workshop, water In boilers,
condensers. pumps. pipes. and stern
,nhes Cbut not including turret-turning
,,,ach,nery. capstan. windlass. steering
GEAR. or winches), shall not exceed l,lSo
tons
AUXILIARY MACHINERY.
The following auxiliary machinery, In
add,,ion TO that pertaining to the main
snsines and their dependencies, is to be
onerated by steam power-viz.: Anchor
srd steering engines. deck and boat
winches. ash HOSTS, blower engines, air