The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-09-27
HISTORY OF WARsHIPs.
An Interesting Series of Pictures at
the Navy Department..

Admiral Hichborn has had placed in his
office. in the Navy Department. a series Of
pictures representing the evolution of naval
architecture in this country from its be-
ginning to its latest development. and
showing a good representative of each OF
the prominent types. The series begins
with the fleet of Columbus. and shows the
Santa Maria, Nina, and Pinta.
From the time of Columbus until the
first naval vessel was built in this country
there is gap of two centuries. This YES
sci was the Falkland. She was built in
Portsmouth in 1890, the first ship of the
line built in the United States and pre-
scented to the English Government by the
colonists, and added to the navy March
g 1886. She was OF 637 tons burden and
carried 81 guns and crew of 225 men.
Another picture of the series shows the
historic Constitution. built at Boston n
1897 and still in existence. she was one
Of the finest frigates aioat in her time and
is IFS feet long 40 feet wide, and when
ready for sea drew 20 feet of water, with
ZOO tons displacement. No American need
be told her history which Is perhaps the
cornerstone OF our naval glory.
From the days OF the Constitution there
was but little change in type until the al,
vent O. steam. and the third picture repre-
sents two types OF the earlier steam fris-
ates-the PoYhatan and the Minnesota.
The former was a side-wheel vessel. built
at Philadelphia in 1850. She was vessel
of 1850 tons displacement, carrying II
guns, and she continued in service until
1887, when she was condemned and sold.
The Minnesota was OF class Of six power,
full auxiliary steam frigates which were
IL their day the best war vessels in tee
world To this class belonged the Roanoke
and Merrimae both cut down and convert
ed into irohclads at the beginning Of the
civil war by the Federal and Confederate
authorities, respectively; the Franklin. in
which Admiral Farragut made his tour Of
European ports after the close of the war:
the Colorado. and the Wabash All were
good ships and performed splendid service.
The Minnesota was built at the Washing
ton Navy Yard in 1855 and is still afoat.
having been turned over 10 the Massachu-
setts Naval Militia. She is 264 feet IL
inches long, 81 feet inches wide. and 70
feet draft OF water displaces 400 tons.
She carried originally a battery of 46 guns.
Her engines, of Loco horsepower, were con.
sidered only as auxiliary power. her sails
being mostly relied upon for propulsion
The most radical departure from prece-
dent in the history OF warship construction
came while the Minnesota and her class
were still new, and one OF them, the
Franklin, unfinished. and is represented in
one OF the pictures, which shows the origi-
nal Monitor, accompanied by the latest de-
OF the monitor type. the Arkan-
sas and class. The Monitor was built by
John Ericsson in 1861, and, although indi-
she was the first crude develop
ment of an idea, she revolutioniZed the ma
vies of the world. Her splendid service
showed that the spars and sails must no
longer be considered as part of a war YES
sells means Of propulsion, and that ships
must be protected by armor to meet the
in ordnance. While the
Monitor type has long since passed out Of
favor as a sea fighter, there are certain
phases of national defence for which many
consider its latest development,
the Arkansas. the Connecticut. the Florida,
and the Wyoming, now building, the best
vessels that can be devised. In them the
only radical departure from the original
in providing living accommoda-
tions above water. Other differences are
those of detail.
Another picture shows the Katahdin and
tie Holland. The former is in a sense the
outcome OF the idea given by the Confed-
crate ram Tennessee. Admiral Ammen,
who participated in the fight between that
vessel and the Federal ships, always there
after held fixed belief that the ram was
the most formidable weapon of marine
warfare, and finally persuaded Congress to
the construction Of vessel after
his designs, and the Katahdin was COM
menced at the Bath Iron Works in July,
1891.
Owing to the difficulty In procuring her
lrmor she was not completed until Feb
ruary, 1886. She is PSI feet long 4S feet
inches wide, u feet deep. and at 10
-nnt draft disnlaces @1hh IONS