Omaha daily bee., 1899-05-28
WHAT WILL NEBRASKA Do?
Handsome Gifts to War Ships Named After
States and Cities.
SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE REFERENCE
Dictum of Custom Requires the state
to DO the Right Thing for the
Bnttieship Ncbrnskn.-whnt
other stateA Have Done.

The Navy department, having decided to
name one OF the new battleships Ne
braska, it will be necessary for the people
of the state to follow the custom OF giving
the ship suitable gift. 1t is yet too early
TO give the matter serious consideration, as
II will take at least two years to con-
struct that modern fighting machine. What
the gift will be is subject for future dis
cussion. The gifts to ships now in COM
mission are useful examples OF what the
people of Nebraska are expected to do and
1t will be we'll to keep them in mind for
future use.
THE city of Minneapolis gave to the
cruiser of that name n magnificent grand
piano valued at $1,000. This was ac-
companied by seven pieces Of silver worth
$4,000, the soup tureen alone costing $1,000
and the meat plate $3.50.
Tho battleship Indiana received from citi-
zens of Indiana, in addition to library,
silver service valued at s9,526, and consist
ing OF thirty-nin pieces. Thirty-two pieces
of silver, given by San Francisco to the
cruiser of that name. cost s7,4s6. But the
handsomest and most expensive silver serv-
ice was furnished for the cruiser Chicago
by tho people of the big town on Lake
Michigan. 1t comprises 22S pieces, includ-
ing dozen and a half OF everything
Brooklyn gave to the armored cruiser
named after that city two silver candelabra
worth $1,000, soup tureen that cost S9So
and lot of other silver that ran up the
value OF the service, excluding the candle
sticks, to $S,397.
Treasures of the In-Fnted Maine.
When the ill-fated Maine went into COM
mission citizens of that commonwealth
gave her three silver dishes, worth $1,000,
and several photograph albums containing
views of Maine scenery. On March 10, 1897,
several residents of New Orleans, natives
of the Pine Tree state, presented the ship
with a loving-cup of silver with moose
horn handle. This cup 10 now exhibited
in a glass case at the National museum,
having been recovered from the wreck in
Havana harbor.
The cruiser New York has been the re-
cipient of a greater number of gifts than
have been bestowed upon any other vessel
OF the navy. Among them may be men
toned silver service of twenty-four pieces
from citizens OF New York; silver punch
bowl and ladle from the New York Yacht
club; two silver candelabra from the New
York Board of Trade; large music box
from a manufacturer and ships bell from
the Seventh regiment, N. G. S. n. Y A
patriotic merchant of clippings has given
to the ship number of scrapbooks con-
tanning practically everything that the
newspapers have ever said about her. and
the late George w. Childs presented her
with pigeon cote stocked with homing
pigeons of the best blood.
The cruiser Baltimore has received from
citizen Of the big town of that name a
portrait of Lord Baltimore, the acceptance
OF which is the subject of a letter written
January 2, 1890, by George Dewey to Win
field Scott Schley. AT that time Dewey
was chief of the Bureau of Equipment, and
Schley was in command of the Baltimore.
Bay states Gift.
The state of Massachusetts has given to
her namesake ship bronze statue of
Victory valued at $4,000. Not to be out
done, the city Of Concord has bestowed
upon the little cruiser of that name a
miniature copy in bronze of the famous
statue Of the Minute Man of 1875. 1t weighs
300 pounds, is two and a half feet high
exclusive OF the pedestal, and stands at
present on the forward part of the poop
deck OF the Concord. Nevertheless, the
Navy department does not consider that
statues are appropriate gifts for ships they
are cumbersome and are sure to be in the
way. No American war vessel has even
fgurehead, the place of that ancient and
respectable institution being taken by
shield and flags.
The cruiser Charleston has been pre-
Senteu Dy ner name CITY Win silver punch
bowl, but among her gifts the one mos
priced is a ships bell, owing to a rather
romantic incident connected with it. She
was built at San Francisco, and the work
men engaged in its construction, number.
ing over 1000, decided that ordinary bronze
was not good enough for her bell. So ever.
one OF them put into thet mold when tn,
molten metal was poured in, a silver coin
and thus 1t happens that the bell of tn,
Charleston has a particularly sivery ring
What Iowa Did.
The state of Iowa has bestowed upon thu
battleship Iowa a silver service of fort,
pieces, valued at $1,000 Most importan
among the Oregon's gifts are a portrait o
Mr.. Irving Scott, its builder, and an OF
painting of Mount Hood by Miss Eugenii
Shelby, who launched the vessel From
citizens of Texas the battleshp Of tha
name has received fourteen pieces of silver
The city of Detroit presented the cruise
Detroit with a painting of the city for thu