Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-03-07
Showing Naval Progress.

America for two centuries has led the
world in naval progress. the novel prod
uCtS of Yankee ingenuity, devised TO
meet the diverse conditions OF the ma
TONS rapid advancement. having contin-
ually forced the other maritime powers
to modify their systems OF naVigable Of
fence ana defence in accordance with
the lines adopted on this side OF the Al
lantiC. The revolving turret OF the orig
inal Monitor, which displaced the broad
side batteries of every battle line ship on
the globe. was only one conspicuous in
stance OF the permanence of the Ameri-
can idea, which has been manifested in
armOr protection, rapid fire guns. ram
bows. twin and triple screws. straight
water tube boilers. mobile torpedoes. sub
marine boats, fireproofing. and hundreds
of other devices evolved from the prac-
teal experience ana far-Sightedness Of
American naval officers.
The navy department has just been en-
riched BY series OF handsome paint
ingS. prepared under the direction OF Al
miral hlchborn and mounted in the
arches above the doors ana windows OF
The chief constructor : office depicting The
evolution and dpOtheOss OF what must be
called the national naval architecture OF
this country from its earliest modest be-
ginningS TO its latest triumphS. presenting
ChronOlosically and Irtisticaly an accu-
rate representative OF each famous type.
Beginning with the historic fleet Of Co
lumbus. The Santa Maria the Nina AMI
he Pinta, the first vessels. with the ex-
ceptiun Of the semi-mythical Morse boats
that crossed the ocean ana foated in our
waters. and which involved the principles
~ |! liS NH v>i9tlll7 II n tne III
49, ~ 1 LII n n 'ii't Vine tIltl
~ ,t,, 5li'p7 II 'ltti HI tIie III
side OF the modern cruiser.
,;I,. nf ~, - ~ ieS ~ ON Luz
,Iilit ., oie sara yer. uhtl me mrs ntNai
NSsSei Wa pul!l III tillS country. ms Gel
ebrated ship was the Falkland. repre-
'tu ia me 5etuId Ptrlur' "i the series
enc ,,H Ma 4Hlplt'td al foftsmgulh y. T.,
an 4p'"' anu was presenter l" tNt EilSiSn
SoEefIihtHi py me toIohls's. ana she was
III , ta91iS "uueu f" 'lt 1oNdI navy Mafcl
: Io'o.
en- III nt%t pig,4!t Sow tne historic
i!ol Only sui ~ existence. out, 'hE author
ltE q lonSresS ana with N" subScrip-
,lohs q palrl9uc women. soon 70 DC thor
9 .i.st rehabllltaitd. She was one OF the
!iltSt HlSdteS aliodj IN her ume. No
American needs 10 De toid OF her history
when a secretary Long mas recently
stuu' Is the cornerstone oi our naval gio-
rHt
FROM the days of the Constitution and
hei numerous class that Tor nifty years
luleu me seas. thtre was mite change
picture represents two types Of Inc earl
ieI steam Irlgates. the Powhatan and the
minnesota me former was side wheel
Iessei, bullt al philadelphia in 1880. The
Mihhesotd was OF a class OF SIX power
iui auNiilarN steam irlgateS which were
IN their day the best war vessels in the
Morld. 10 ms cidsS belonged the Roam
oke ana the Merrlmac. both cut down and
cohEerted INTO lronclads At the beginning
OF the ClVll war. one by the Federal ana
the other by the Confederate authorities:
the Franklin. in which Admiral Farragui
made his tour of European ports after
Inc close OF the war, and the Colorado
ana the Wabash. All were excellent
ships. and performed splendid service
Inc Minnesota was built at the Wash
MSton navy yard in 1913. and is still atloat
az me practice ship of the Massachusetts
naval militia.
Inc most radical departure from prcCe-
dent IN the history Of warship construc-
tioh came while the Minnesota and her
CLASS We're sun new, and one of them. the
RANKIN. unfinished. and is represented
IN the next painting of the series which
shows the original Monitor. accompanied
Dy the latest development of the monitor
type, the Arkansas, and class now build
ing. The Monitor was built by John
Ericsson in 1861, and though individually
she was the first crude embodiment of n
scheme to meet an emergency. she revo-
lutionZed the naVies of the world Her
wonderful achievements quickly showed
that spars and sails must no longer he
regarded as part of a war vessels means
of propulsion, and that fighting shins
must be protected by armor 10 meet IN,
improvements in ordnance While the
low freeboard monitor tyDe has nasSnd
out of favor as deep sea fighter. there
are certain phases of national defence for
which many authorities consider its lat
est development as the best vessel thar
can be devised, and in the Arkansas. the