The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-10-22
NEW COAST DEFENDERS.
The -Four Monitors to BE Added t.
the NAVY.

the Navy.
Four monitors are soon to be added to
the American Navy. These are the Ar
kansas. Connecticut, Florida, and Wyo-
ming,
The naval programme for 1S9S-'99. I'M
der the act of Mays4, 1893. provided for
three rst-elass-baetIeships, four coast
defence monitors, twelve torpedo boats,
and sixteen torpedo boat destroyers. The
four harbor-defence monitors called for
Will present some of the most radical adj
Vances In the modern fighting machinery.
The monitor principle has always been
dIstinctiveiy American. There are many
VINO regard them as the best all-round
warships yet designed.
The act of Congress appropriating for
the naval service for the fiscal year end
ed June 30, 1899, under increase of the
Navy, referring to the four harbor-de
fence vessels of the monitor type limits
tiie cost OF these vessels to 81, 500, coo each.
The limit of time of completion was TWEEN
ty-seven months, with penalties from $500
to $500 day for failure.
The Navy Department, in the construc
tion of this class of YES
sells has sought to obtain
| the greatest results at the least expendi-
ture OF money, and has in view not only
the securing of the mainland harbors OF
INC Shitsu pul also Oh us
possessions in the Atlantic and Pacific
oceans
The design fer the monitors was pre-
pared by Chief Constructor Hichborn. It
was decided that the best all-round ar
rangement that could be built with the
available appropriation, was the arrange
ment with single balanced turret on the
centre line forward, containing tive high
powered Pinch brcech-loading rifles,
gun thai has just been designed to be
used with smOkeless powder; four 4-inch
rapid-ire breech- loading rifles also to be
| used with sn5keless powder completes
the main bat cry The secondary battery
will consist Of three 6-pounder rapid-hre
and four 1-peunder automatic rifles.
| The genera! characteristics of these
vessels as shown in the elements of de-
sign will be: Length on load water line,
2o2 feet; breadth extreme, at water line,
so feet; mean draft. at normal dispIace-
nent. II feet inches; normal displace-
ment, about 1926 tons; total coal capaci-
ty. loose storage, 400 tons.
In the details OF design Will appear
these characteristics:
The hull is to be OF steel not sheathed,
with double bottom and close water
! tight subdivisions.
There will be one military mast, fitted
with fsh ting and searchlight tops.
Seven boats are to be slowed clear of
the blasts OF the guns. Two, being the
! lifeboats, are to be carried at dayits, SO
as TO be quickly lowered.
The protection OF the hull against in
| jury to the water line region is TO be af-
f0rded by means of a side armor belt,
the maximum thickness being II inches,
tapering to 3 inches at the armor shelf.
| the depth being 5-feet. The maximum
| thickness is abreast the engine and boiler
| spaces; from thence forward and aft it
| is reduC ed by steps to a minimum thick
| ness of iEcnes at the bow and stern.
! The barbettes for the 12-inch guns will
| have armor about 10 inches thick.
| The turret is. Of the Hiehborn balance
! type, with front plate inclined fOrty-two
| degrees from the vertical. The side
| plates of the turret armor are TO be 9
! inches thick. sst-
| The main or protected deck is to extend
! throughout the length of the vessel, TO be
worked fiat. The total thickness viii be
| l 1-2 inches
! coming toT-er Of seven and one-haf
| inches in thickness having an armored
communication tube three inches in thick
ness, will be carried in a suitable COM
manding position forward. the tube extend
| ing TO the armor deck. and affording pro-
| lection to the voice tubes. bell wires. etc.
The vessel viii be driven by twin screws.
| The engines 1.-TWO in NUMBER are to be of
the vertical, triple-expansion type. in one
| water-tIght compartment. The boilers
| flour in nUmber) are to be of the water
| tube type, constructed for a working pres
sure of $50 pounds. and are to be placed in
one water-tight compartment There will
! be the usual auxiliary machinery and
| workshop tools. Distiiling apparatus and
| eyaporators viii be fitted for supplying
! fresh water.
These vessels will have staterooms, in
! addition to one for the captain, for six
officers; require a complement Of crew of
| 125, for whom ample berthing space has
been provided Storerooms are provided for
| one months supply of clothing contin-
| gent and small stores
The electric generating plant will con-
| SiSt of four units. each unit to have an
| engine dynamo, and compensation bed
plate, and each dynamo a rated output of
400 amperes cf 30 volts. The turret-turn-
| ing gear, ammunition hoists, elevating
| gear, rammers and yentilating apparatus
will be operated by electricity.
! The estimated speed CT the vess-l is to
be twelve knots-amply sufficient for a
| harbor defence vessel.
| Al! wood used in the construction of
| the vessels viii be freprcofed.
| The vessels will be fitted with decking
| keels. which will also serve the purpose
of bilge keels.
| 1t is pointed out that the United States
| revolutionized naval construction and
| methods in 1851, and it has been revolu-
| tionizing them ever since. It is true. it
Is said, that other nations have been
! progressing more rapidly numeric LILY.
| but scientifically, in bulls machinery,
| and ornaments, the United States naval
| constructors have again set the pace of
| the world The experiences CT the war
| with Spain have suggested new depar-
| lures. The ships CT the future additions
| to the American Navy viii be marked
/ advance ON fnrnner DESIGNS