The evening times., 1899-04-08
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NAMING OF THE new
AMERICAN WARSHIPS
Keen Rivalry Between the
States and the Cities.
Scores of Claims and Petitions for
Recognition.
Virginia to he Recognized When An
other Fighting Craft Is
Authorized.

With the naming of the twelve new bat
tie craft by President Mckinley yesterday
a vigorous contest among States and cities
for the honor of having ships named fol
them came to an end.
Practically every State and city foI
which no naval vessel has been previously
named presented its claim, and there has
been much rivalry and good deal of po-
litical pressure exerted to have certain
sections favored. Petitions and communi-
cations from organizations and individuals
were filed with the Navy Department set
ting forth the reasons why certain cities
and States were entitled to recognition.
and IL there had been some financial bene-
fit sccruing to those cities the competition
could scarcely have been less keen.
In making selections Secretary Long was
guided solely by the purpose Of distribute
ing the honors as widely as possible, and
no geographical section was ignored. The
Middle, the Southern, the Western, and the
Pacific Coast States are all recognized.
The Secretary said last evening when his
attention was called to the fact that Vir-
ginia had been ignored and was entitled
to consideration, that he would most GER
tainly urge that the next battleship au-
thorized be called for this State. He had
asked the President this time. he said. to
call one of the battleships Virginia, but
It had been decided to give West Virginia
the preference. Mr.. Long insisted that
Virginia had been honored by having one
of the new ships called the Yorktown. but
that name he was told. was for the battle,
rather than for the village. whose popula-
tion scarcely equals the number Of men on
the gunboat bearing its name.
1t was pointed out to him that West
Virginia already had the Wheeling. and
that it was unjust to Virginia to be ignor
ed when every other Atlantic border State
has either a battleship or cruiser named
for 1t or some Of its cities. He admitted
that the arguments presented seemed well
taken and was apparently surprised when
told that Maryland had been honored by
having three vessels in the navy called aft
er its cities a1d the bay, while Virginia
had been left out repeatedly when the
question Of naming warships was under
consideration.
In the names given yesterday old officers
of the service Will recognize those borne
by former vessels Of the service. There
was once a PENNSYLVANIA, but u was fail
ure and met the fate Of several other ships
at the Norfolk navy yard when the station
was SeiZeu py I1s SonicueioeeS. AHS oau
Pennsylvania was without peer in the ma
vies Of the world. :. 1t was the most formid-
able war vessel OF its day, having three
decks and one hundred guns. She made
but one cruise, from Philadelphia to Nor
folk, and after that was never deemed
safe ship to send TO sea.
There was alseIa California once, which
did some service IN the Civil War. A lit
tie Union guibostiwas called the Chatta-
nooga, but it's record was not conspicuous.
None Of the yestefs named yesterday will
be completed pndef two years.
The battles6ips Pennsylvania, New Jer-