New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-06-12
GREAT NAVAL INCREASE
WARSHPs COSTING OVER s1oo,OoOOoC
TO BE CONSTRUCTED AS SOON AS
BUILDERS CAN UNDERTAKE
THE WORK.
THE WORK
[Br TELEGRAPH TO THE TR1BuxE.l

tBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.l
Washington, June 1.-THE Navy is to build
warships aggregating over S1oOooOOOO in cost
as soon as builders prepared to undertake
this great programme, which calls for eleven
armored ships practically doubling the present
American power in this class and for three
highly improved Olympia type of cruisers
The five battleships for whose hulls and ma
chineTy Congress has appropriated $4,000, 600
are ready for the builders to bid upon to-mor-
row. Plans for the six great armored cruisers.
more powerful than any ship present in
vice and 10 cost for hulls and machinery alone
over S25,O0O.O00 we'll advanced, and should
be finally approved next month The general
features of the enlarged Olympia type were de-
termined last fall before Congress appropriated
S2,SOO.eO for the hull and machinery of each of
them. and there is no reason why their keels
should not be laid this summer.
The Navy Department is also preparing the
specifications and advertisements for 80 900 tons
Of the highest quality Kruppized armor, which
is expected to cost between ST., 100000 and $19,-
100000. These vast sums for contract work
which just about equal TO the additional cost
of guns. stores and equipment for the ships
represent more than twice the amount ever az
one time under the disposition of the naval ad-
ministratton, and form a fair expression of the
growth Of the United States as world Power.
THE ARMOR QUESTION
The arnor is for the batteships Maine. Mis-
souri, and Ohio. already well advanced at
the Cramps, Newport News and SCOTS yards
the harbor defence monitors Arkansas, Con
necticut, Florida and Wyoming nearly half
completed at Newport News Bath. Nixou's and
Scott's the battleships Georgia, New-Jersey ana
Pennsylvania and three like them not yet
named. and for the armored cruisers California
named like them.
The most interesting point about the arTnor,
since the long fight in Congress for low price
limit was predcated the understanding that
the Carnegie and Bethlehem companies were
an exclusive trust, is plan proposed TO the
Navy Department, and practically adopted, to
induce other steel workers TO enter the COM
petition for portions of the great contracts
Only the two principal concerns possess the
requisite plant to handle the large side armor
plates and the curved barbettes and turrets re
CURED but IT is believed that many smaller es-
adjustments have capacities for turning out the
thinner plates such as those for protective
decks and superstructure protection, and that
they will be found glad TO try this class of work
at rates below $500 a ton, the two larger plants
declaring that the heavier plates cannot bea fur
nished for less than $3.50 ton. Another I'm
portant advantage TO be gained by greater dis
tribution of the enormous amount of armor re-
quired lies in the speed of delivery. The COM
bined output of the Carnegie and Bethlehem
works is thought to be unequal to meet the
Governments necessities for 5000 tons Of the
highest class product, although it is likely they
furnish the heavier material readily as
the shipbuilders require IL. These two plants
will also be relied upon to make the gun forsings
for the main batteries of the ships while
the smaller works supply the forgings for the
secondary batteries.
SHIPS UNMATCHED IN THE WORLD.
The complete construction programme au-
thorizes contracts for huIls and machinery alone
amounting to sol. 100000 which includes five
battIeships at 100000 each six cruisers at
81. $50 900 each and the three improved
Olympias at 81, 100000 each. The battleshipe.
known as the Pennsylvania class. are to be
nearly 5000 tons displacement, or over 5000
tons heavier than the Oregon, more than 100
feet longer than that famous vessel. and with
at least three knots higher speed. The six
cruisers of the California class OF 1900 tons %
knots speed and 5000 knots steaming radius,
will be unmatched in the world They will be
5000 tons larger than the Brooklyn, and at
least three times as powerful for fighting uses
All these vessels will be armOr coated from the
extreme bow to stern and will be the most
formida BILE ships yet laid down in any dockyards
The three protected cruisers Of about 1000
tons displacement Will be just about twice
the Oynpia's size, but will preserve the excel
lent characteristics of that vessel, which, have
proved her TO be about the most useful type Of
cruiser now in the service These three
vessels which to be named for cities. will
have coal capacity for steaming three times
across the Atlantic. and their maintained speed
will be % knots
rected by the last Naval Appropriation act TO
contract for five Holland submarine boats to
cost $4,000 each. and 10 be built within a
year.