The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-31
THREE NEW BATTLESHIPS.
Plans and Specifications for ThOse
Just Authorized by Congress
Completed.

NEW YORK. May 3o.-The navy depart
ment will call upon sh.p-bullders today 10
prepare to build the three battleshirs au-
fhorized by the present session OF congress
with limit of cost excluding armament
and armor OF $4,000 each says the
Washington correspondent Of the Tribune.
Heretofore the limit OF cost was some
what larger. as it included armor, the
navy always building its own guns. Pro-
posais will be invited within two weeks.
the first on the departmental plans ana
specifica tons, and the second upon designs
to be furnished by the bidders. which
must however fully cover certain iimita-
tons laid down by the board Of construc-
ton.
This board, after continued sessions for
a month, has decided tina. the three new
ships shall be almost IDENTICAL with the
Illinois. the Wisconsin and the Alabama,
now building at Newport News. San Fran
cisco and Philadelphia respectively. and
In all probability the new vessels will be
built at those places, the Cramps. the
Scots and the Newport News companies
possessing the patterns which will enable
them to do the work more exped.tiousiy
and at less expense than other establish
ments.
The circular which will be issued today
provides for vessels of i.500 tons displace-
ment. with a coal capacity Of 100 tons on
d
feet and - feet beam The hu.ls will be of
steel with double bottoms and close water
tight divisions with ample free board and
berth!ng accommodations on decks above
water. There will be no sails. but two
auxiliary masts with lighting tops. Two
lfeboats will be carried so as 10 be rap
idly lowered in all conditions Of weather
The side armor belt will be seven and a
half feet broad and 16ss inches thick
through engine and boiler spaces. taper
Ing 10 a thickness OF inches at bow and
stern, and there will be transverse armor
forward and aft IL inches thick. Barbettes
for the l3-.nch guns will be ID inches thick
except in the rear, where they viii be 10
inches. The turret armor Will be IA inches
throughout. The ships sides above the ar
NOR belt as far as the main deck will be
protected by 5ls-inch armor. behind which
coal is to be carried for further security.
The vessels will have a protective deck
throughout the entire length "a inches
thick where fiat, and inches forward,
and inches aft, where it Is inclined.
The coming tower will be 10 inches thick
and there will be an additional armor.
All 6-inch guns will be protected by 5i.
inch arnor and by lls-inch splinter bulk
heads between the guns The smaller
guns viii have shield protection and extra
side plating.
The vessels VIII be driven by twin
screws. with two vertical tripie~exp ansion
four-cylinder engines. one on each shaft
and in separate water-t!ght compartments.
There viii be eight cylindrical sng!e-end
boilers with working pressure Of 2lo
pounds In four separate water-tight COM
partments. The weight of the machinery
Ia limited TO 1i3o tons.
These ships are TO be completed under
heavy penalty within two and half
years. After they are delivered to the gov
eminent Their guns and other equipment
will be installed Their main battery viii
be composed OF four thirteen-inch guns in
two barbette turrets .one forward and the
other aft, and ten six-ineh rapid-tire guns
in hroads.de on the main deck and four
similar weapons on the upper deck with
the superstructure. Two submerged tubes
will he provided with eight seventeen-foot
torpedoes. Accommoda tons must be ar
ranged for complement Of 500 officers and
men. The turrets and ammunition HOSTS
are TO be operated by electricity.
A speed OF sixteen knots is required. with
heavy penalties for any deficiency. and II
the vessel fails TO make fifteen knots she
may be rejected altogether.