The evening times., 1898-09-24
Plans for the Construction of
Four New Monitors.
BIDS SOON TO BE OPENED
Guards for the Mainland and Island
PossessiOns of America-Designs
Prepared by Chief Constructor
Hichborn-The Names Selected for
the New Defenders. *

has been revolutionizing, them ever since.
1t is true, other nations have been pro-
crossing more rapidly numerically. but
scientifically in hulls, machinery, and
armaments the United States naval con-
structors have again set the pace of the
world. The experiences of the war with
Spain have suggested new departures.
The ships of the future additions to the
American Navy will be marked ad-
vance on former designs.
The naval program for 1S9S'99. under
the act of May 4, 1898, provides for three
first-class battleships, four coast defense
monitors, twelve torpedo boats, and six
teen torpedo destroyers.
The harbor defense monitors called for
will present some of the most radical
advances in the modern fighting ma
chinery. The monitor principle has al
ways been distinctly American. There
are many who regard them as the best
all-round warship yet designed.
The act of Congress, appropriating for
the naval service for the fiscal year end
ing June 30, 1889, under increase of the
navy" referring to the harbor defense
vessels of the monitor type, limits the
limit of time of completion is twenty
seven months with penalties from $500 to
$500 day for failure.
The Navy Department in the construc-
tion of this class of vessel, securing the
greatest results at the least eXpendi-
ture of money, has in view not only the
securing of the mainland harbors of the
United States, but also of its inland pos
sessions in the Atlantic and Pacific
Oceans.
The design for the monitors, which have
been named the Arkansas, Connecticut,
Florida and Wyoming, was prepared by
Chief Constructor Hichborn. II was de-
cided that the best ail-round arrangement
that could be built with the available ap-
preparation was the arrangement with a
single-balanced turret on the center line
forward, containing two high-powered l2-
inch breech-loading rifles, a gun that has
just been designed to be used with smoke
less powder; four 4-inch rapid-fire breech-
loading rifles, also TO be used with smoke
less powder, complete the main battery.
The secondary battery Will consist Of
three 6-pounder rapid-tire and four l.
FOUNDER automatic rifles.
The general characteristics OF these ves-
sells, as shown in the elements of de-
sign, will be:
Length on load water line, 225 feet
Mean draft at normal displacement, Il
feet inches.
Normal displacement, about 2,760 tons.
Total coal capacity, loose stowage, 200
tons.
In the details of design will appear these
characteristics: The hull is 10 be of steel,
not sheathed. with double bottom and
close water-tight subdivision.
There will be one military mast, fitted
u-gth Eohr
Seven boats are TO be slowed clear of
the blast of the runs, and two, being the
life boats, which are To be carried on
dayits, so as TO be quickly lowered
The protection OF the hull against in
jury TO the water-line region is 10 be
afforded by means of side armor belt,
the minimum thickness being eleven inch
es tapering 10 five inches at the armor
shelf, the depth being five feet. The max
imum thickness is abreast the engine and
and boiler spaces. from thence forward
and aft it is reduced by, steps to min
imum thickness of five inches at the bow
and stern. The barbettes for the 12-inch
guns will have armor about ten inches
thick.
The turret is of the Hichborn balanced
type, with front plate inclined ~ degrees
from the vertical. The sides plates of the
turret armor are to be nine inches thick.
The main or protected deck is to ex-
tend throughout the length OF. the vessel.
10 be worked fiat. The total thickness
will be about one and one-half inches.
A coming tower of seven and one-half
inches in thickness, having an armored
communication tube three inches in thick
ness, will be carried in a suitable com
manding position forward, the tube eX-
tending TO the armor deck, and affording
protection to the voice tubes, bell wires,
etc.
The vessel will be driven by twin
screws. The engines 1.-TWO in NUMBER are
TO be of the vertical, triple-expansion
type, in one water-tight compartment.
The high-pressure cylinder II inches in
diameter; the intermediate 26 IA inches
and the low-pressure 40 inches: the stroke
of the engine to be "a inches The boil
ers Uour in number) are to be of the
water tube type. constructed for a work
ing pressure of 250 pounds, and are TO be
placed in one water-tight compartment
There will be the usual auxiliary ma
chinery and workshop tools
Distilling apparatus and evapora tors
will be fitted for supplying fresh water
The total coal bunker capacity will al
low at least 200 tons, with loose Stowage
without trimming.
The total weight of machinery (but not
including turret turning machinery. cap
stan. windlass, steering gear, or winches
| is limited to 240 tons Fifty tons of waite,
| for steaming purposes must be carried ir
| the double bottom.
Steam windlass. steering engines ant
| beat winehes will be provided.
| These vessels will have state rooms. il
| addition to one for the captain for 81,
| officers; require a complement of crew O.
| 125, for whom ample berthing space ha.
been provided. Store rooms are provide.
for one months supply of clothing, con
| tingent and small stores.
| The electric generating plant will con
| sist of four units, each unit to have al
engine, dynamo and compensation bee
plate, and each dynamo rated output o
| 400 amperes of eighty volts.
| The turret turning gear, ammunition
! hoists, elevating gear, rammers and ven
| tilating apparatus, will be operated by
| electricity
| The estimated speed of the vessel is t.
| be twelve knots-amply sufficient for
| harbor defense vessel.
| All wood used in the construction of the
vessel will be fire-proofed
| The vessels will be fitted with docking
| keels which will also serve the purpost
| of bilge keels.
These harbor defense monitors. which
| will have all the latest Improvement.
| known to naval science, will be important
| additions to the navy, and being small
| with large accommodations for vessels o.
| their size, they will be valuable for tn,
| use and instruction of the naval militia
| that important organization which has 81
| ably served the Government in the late
| war with Spain.
| Bids for the construction of these yes
| sells will be opened October I.