The professional world. (Columbia, Mo.) 1901-192?, 1902-09-26

Boston, Mass, Sept. 22.-There was
launched from the ways at the big plant
OF the Fore River Ship G. Engine Co. at
Quincy today the largest war vessel
built in Massachusetts since the early
days of the American navy-the steel
cruiser Des Moines, sister ship to the
Denver. The launching was in many
respects the most notable that has ever
taken place in this vicinity. 1t was,
moreover, n of the most beautiful
and imposing. There was something
Curiously inspiring in the scene, the
mass of nodded metal rushing headlong
down the creased ways, the fluttering of
thousands of handkerchiefs and the
cheers from thousands of threats, the
music, the ceremony.
The available space about the ways
was packed with enthusiastic human
1ty. Work was suspended in the yard,
and thousands Of brawny workmen
mingled with the great crowd. On the
christening stand was a distinguished
party from Iowa, including Governor A.
B. Cummins and his staff, other state
officials and representative citizens of
Des Moines. The national capital was
represented by high officials of the
navy department.
1t was shortly after IL o'clock when
Miss Clara n. Carleton of Haverhill
severed the cord and the big ship start
ed on its journey down the ways. 1t
was an instant after the ship began to
move that Miss Elsie McComber of Des
Moines flung the christening bottle
against the vessels shapely PROV. In
less time than it takes to tell it the
ship was riding gracefully on the bosom
of the river. AS she was swung
around and anchored in full view of
the assembled crowds a mighty cheer
went up from thousands of threats and
simultaneously there was a deafening
roar from the whistles of tugs and 9TH
er craft in the vicinity.
The cruiser Des Moines is similar in
design to the Cleveland, the Tacoma,
the Chattanooga and the Denver. Her
total length on the water line is 292
feet; length over all, sos feet 8 inches;
nodded beam, As feet 3R inches; ex-
IRENE breadth, A feet; free board for
ward. 20 feet; free board aft, IS feet G
inches; mean draft, Is feet 9 inches;
displS cement, fully equipped for sea,
all stores on board and a normal up
ply of coal. $500 tons; full load dis
placement. $500 tons.
The Des Moines has triple expansion
engines, which will furnish 400 horse"
power. and which will enable her to
show better than the required speed Of
1G 1-2 knots per hour. Her coal capacity,
with the bunkers full, is 700 tons, which
will give a steaming radius of 10000
miles, or allow her to cross the Atlantic
three times without ~recoaling. At full
speed her coaling radius will be 1900
miles.
The main battery of the Des Moines
will consist of ten 5-inch 5O-caliber
breech loading, rapid-tire. guns. The
secondary battery will comprise s G.
FOUNDER rapid-fire guns, 2 1-pounder
rapid-fire guns, and 4 automatic Colts
machine guns. Corn pith, with an es-
timated capacity of 6,720 cubic feet, will
be used as an obturating material for
the water line protection, so that if the
hull should be pierced by a shot the
swelling of the corn pith placed be-
tween the outer and inner plates will
prevent the ingress of the water.
The building of the Des Moines was
authorized by an act of congress March
s, 1899. and on Aug. %. 1901, the keel
was laid in the Fore River yard, the
newest shipyard in the country, where
also the largest seven-masted schooner
in the world vas recently launched.
According to contract, the Des Moines
will be ready for delivery to the gov
eminent juno IA, 1901, and will cost
81, OG5, 900.