Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-12-17

ganeso bronze. The wood sheathins VIII
be OF Georgia pine, fitted IN single 'nlch-
ness OF 1 Inches. secured by competition
bolts tapped through the plating, ana
with nut and washer on the inside. The
copper sheathins Will be OF % 10 sZ-ounce
material.
OVER THE PROTECTIVE DECK
over tho protective deck and along the
watrr-linc a cofferdam Il Inches In width
and about feet IN depth VIII DO httel.
tho top OF the cofer-dam being ABOUT
= 10 feet above tho normal, or 10 feet =
inch water line. Fire-prOofed ccrn-pth
ooilulOsc Will be used az ObturatlnB ma
torial. This Will be packed 20 a density
OF pounds per cubic foot, the tOtal ca
pacity OF the cOner-dam at this rate being
about Il tons.
Tho main deck will be the only one
pianked with wood. and this wood, to-
gcther with all other wood used in the
construction OF the vessel, except outside
sheathing and that used for special pur-
poses. such as eiectric-wire mOuidings,
will be treated with IN approved nre-
prOOfing process before being worked INTO
the ship. Careful attention mas been
given TO reducing the amount OK wood
work I'm the ship TO the minimum. state.
room bullsheGds and the like VIII DO or
corrugated metal.
ance has been made for machinery
weights. the ougine-rOOm weights per IN
dicated horsepower beng ABOUT ~ yer
cent heavier than is the case win the
Raleigh or Detroit classes. The total ma
chinery weight is somewhat reduced, pro-
pOrtiOnately. by the use OF Water-tlDe
boilers and hish pressures. Inc Nehula-
ton OF machinery spaces VIII De tho
rough. and not subject TO the criticism
10 which the Raleigh and Cincinnati were
exposed.
THE ARMAMENT or EACH VESSEL
The armament OF each Of the vessels
viii consist OF a main battery Of ten
5-inch guns OF 10 cal.brcs lengths. and
secondary battery II eight 6-pOunders,
two l-pOunders. four Colts automatic
guns. and one S-inch field gun. Eight OF
the 5-nch guns will be mounted on the gun
deck in recessed ports; the forward PAIR
having q range from directly forward 70
60 degrees abaft the beam, and the second
pair from So degrees forward 20 90 degrees
abaft the beam. the four after guns being
similarly placed as regards stern fire. The
two remaining 5-inch guns will be mount
ed behind shields on the main deck, one
forward and enc aft Four C-pOunders
will be mounted on the gun deck, two
forward and two about amidships. ana
the other four s-pounders will be located
on the main deck. The two i-pounder
guns Will be mounted eft on the gun
deck and the Colt machine-guns on top
Of the hammock berthng amdships. The
plating around the gun ports or the gun
deck battery will he thickened up with
nickel steel 10 81 inches The shields ~
the 5-inch guns on the main deck VIII DO
of Pinch nickel steel
THE AMMUNITION SUPPLY.
The ammunition supply will be unusual
~ large, and viii include 20 rounds To-
each Of the 5-inch guns, and 100 rounds
for each OF the 6-pOunders The use %
smokeless powder is contemplated for az
ammunition. and special appliances VIII
be fitted for keeping the temperature OF
the magazines % a minimum. The nature
of these appliances viii depend somewhat
on The results Of experience with the bat
tleships now building
Each vessel VIII DO fitted with a dis
filling plant ice-machinc. rcfrigeraung-
rooms. electric ammunition hoists,
winches. and blowers. two scarch-lights,
electrical signalling. and other outfits
StOrorOOms for various purposes VIII be
ample and cOmmodiOus. The electric gem
Grating plant viii consist Of four units,
each with a rated output OF 800 amperes
al 50 volts.
The complete deck over the battery adds