The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-01-29
The OLD CONSTELLATION
The Famous War Craft Again TO
PlOW the Seas.
Secretary Long Trying to Secure nm
Appropriation Sufficient to Rebuild
Early History of the Republic.
To Serve ~ TRIMMING Ship.

Another warship of the famous fleets
that carried terror TO the British seaman's
heart and destroyed and captured some of
her smartest and finest frigates during
the early days of the American Navy IS TO
sail the seas once more. SO rehabiIitated
that her lines. battery arrangement and
general appearance viii be faithfully pre-
served She will be. N fact. the same old
vessel modelled over the decaying shell,
and while the expense viii reach figures
that would cover the cost Of a new ship,
the Government will not hesitate to ap-
propriate the money necessary TO carry
out the plans of the Navy Department.
This vessel is the Constellation, next in
point OF conspicuous service to the Consti-
tuition. and in far better state of pres
eryation than the old craft which patri-
Otto women of Massachusetts are now
raising a fund to rebuild There is almost
as much sentiment in the navy surround
ing the Constellation as attaches to Old
/ Ironsides. and it has grown so strong OF
late that Secretary Long proposes secur-
I. ing a sum sufficient to again put the vessel
in commission and send her cruising The
seas with young apprentice boys from the
Newport Training school
While not 81 famous as the Constitution.
the career of the Constellation gives her a
distinguished Place in naval history She
has the advantage Of being still well
adapted TO service. and as her hull is well
preserved it is believed by the expenditure
of q moderate sum she can be made one OF
the NEST efficient vessels for training pur-
poses Lying now at Newport as receiv-
ing ship. she has seen no active service
for her seven years. since her detachment
from the Naval Academy, where she serY-
ed for many years as the practice vessel,
and sometimes in the winter months was
OF for the West Indies on cruises with
! apprentices.
Recently Secretary Long ordered the in
/ specticn board 10 examine her condition
| and report what repairs were necessary
/ Today the board of bureau chiefs had
/ under consideration the plans, and IL vas
found that the Consultations lines can
not be improved on It is believed her
! hull VIII be found in such a state of pres
/ PTvatiCn that. aside from new decks and
/ bUlBasks, little mere would be required
/ on the body Of the ship The sail ar
rangemcnt Will be retained and when
! ayoIdable none of the interior Of the yes
/ sci viii suffer alteration. 1t IS intended,
! however. TO substitute new guns for the
( old smoothbores, Built at Baltimore in
/ 1877, the Constellation was one of the
| finest vessels Of the old navy.
| Information has been received at the
/ Navy Department that the work OF raising
! funds with which to reconstruct the Con-
/ stitUtion. now at the Boston yard, task
/ that the daughters of the Revolution have
/ undertaken, has progressed 50 that there
! is no longer doubt that the necessary
/ sum viii be secured Permission viii he
/ given b. the Navy Department TO have
( IL performed at the Boston Navy Yard.
4 and when completed the Constitution is
/ expected TO be sent on d cruise to many
f. American seapoTts and exhibited to the
/ people as a reproduction OF the old yes
/ sci with All OF the original parts main
tanned as far as practicable Secretary
/ Long viii approve the suggestion that he
! ship be delivered 20 the Daughters OF the
/ Revolution