Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1901-02-20
the CRUISER WEST VIRGINIA.
To be the Finest of The Navy.

the honor conferred upon the thrifty
young commonwealth of West Vir-
ginia, in giving its name to one of
the proposed new armored cruisers,
the State Legislature several weeks
ago appointed committee to call
upon the Secretary of the Navy and
give expression to the pleasure felt
by the citizens of the State in being
thus distinguished. The committee
came to Washington TODAY and dis
charged their duty. The party con-
sisted Of Senators Harmer and Price
and Delegates Scherr, Willis and
Hayes. Accompanied by United
States Senator Scott and Represents
tive Dayton, the gentlemen called
on Secretary Long, and after meet
irg him, were greeted by Assistant
Secretary Hackett, Admiral Eudi-
colt, chief of the bureau of yards
and docks, Captain F. f. Chadwick,
president of the naval war college,
and Lieutenant Homer G. Pound.
stone, of the United States navy,
the last two named being West
Virginians.
MEMBERS CORDIALLY RECEIVED.
The members of the legislative
committee were cordially received
by the head of the navy department,
and after discharging the duty i'm
posed upon them, were formally
assured that one of the armored
cruisers now under contract shall be
known as the West Virginia, and
being the first 10 be constructed up.
on the new plan, sets the pace. The
vessels of the same character TO he
built later will be known as the
West Virginia type.
The Armored Cruiser of the
modern West Virginia pattern will
be one of the most powerful fighting
vessels the country has ever owned.
It will be superior to and have great t
er displacement than the Oregon.
recognized now as the most formid
able OF the navy's vessels. The
West Virginia Will make twenty two
knots an hour, and vessels of its
capacity, propelled by engines OF
$4,000 horse power, will therefor,
be the most rapid of United States
war vessels. the largest, the safest
and most effective ships afOat.
READY FOR SERVICE IN TWO YEARS
The West Virginia will be read,
for service inside of two years
referring to the desire of the peo
pie to present the cruiser token OF
its appreciation of the honor of hay
ing it named for the State, Secretar,
Long said any gift of appropriate
design would be acceptable to IN,
vessels future commander, and &c
the department The naval officer,
suggested several articles. Lieu
tenant Poundstone's design being
two silvered bronze sneilds, bearing
the great seal Of the State, one TO bC
attached to each of the two mair
turrets.
1t was finally determined that il
the Legislature shall see proper al
the present session To take action il
the matter, and it would seem
necessary, as the body meets bien
nially, the proper course would be
to appoint committee representa-.
tives of the two houses of the Iegis.
lature, to act in conjunction with a
committee appointed by the govern.
or, with power To select design,
the cost TO be fixed in advance by
the act making the appropriation.
1t is conceded on all hands that
the State will want to make a
creditable showing. The vessel, il
is also conceded, will be built on the
Atlantic coast, not on the Pacific.
The Newport News Company is
likely to get the job.-Special to
Intelligencer.