The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-10-30
new CADET SHIP
YOUNG AMERICA
Contract Awarded for the Con.
struction Of the Vessel.
MUST Be DELIVERED AUG. 20, 's3
She Will Be Built at Perth hHhuy, and
viii Be the Largest Sailing Vessel
HiIIiag From This Port.
MUST Be EDELIvERED AUG. 20, 'S3

Visions OF oliver Optic and the infinite
pleasure taken in reading the Young
America books OF a generation ago. are
again brought out today by the announce
ment OF the signing OF the contract yes
terday afternoon for the building OF the
new cadet ship Young America.
This enterprise was chartered In this
state at the January session OF the lesis-
iature OF the present year, many of the
incorporators being Providence men, and
Providence will be the home port of the
ship.
The idea OF a nautical school to be pat
termed somewhat after tho famous Young
America OF Optic, the stories Of which
have delighted and fascinated two OF
three generations OF boys, every one OF
whom wished he could have been there.
first took form In the brain OF Lieutenant
CommansAr Charles III. Harlow OF the
United States navy. now navigating offi-
Ger OF the cruiser Olympia.
This was Ave years ago and the idea
has grown until II reached a point where
tho success Of such a venture 10 assured
and contracts were signed yesterday at
the Office OF the corporation In the Bani-
gan building.
The contract was awarded 10 the Perth
Amboy 6hipbuilding and Engineering
company. The name chosen, as Is well
known. Is Young America. She will be a
steel ship Of $500 tons. a full rugged
ship. and the largest sailing vessel ever
registered at this port. The next largest
sailing vessel In the nve- mast schooner
Governor Amos. of 1.77s tons.
DELIVERED AUG. 20, NEXT.
The contract calls for the delivery OF
the ship in Providence harbor Aug 20,
next The plans and specificat tions call
for the very best material and workman
ship under United States navy inspection
rules. The proposed construction has
been approved by the American Ship Own
ers' and Underwriters association. the
highest authority. Upon completion the
Young America will be rated Al, 20
years. which is the highest classified tion
obtainaole. The plans are the work OF
William II. Winant naval architect of
Washington. D. c., who Is assistant to
Admiral Bowies. chief OF the bureau of
construction. United States navy. The
cost OF the ship. equipped and with
stores on board, will be s2so,ooo.
The construction will be under the
personal supervision OF Mr.. Charles
Schofield. president Of the Perth Amboy
Shipbuilding and Engineering company
Mr. Schofield is descended from long line
OF shipbuilders and is well known In ship
building circles.
He had charge of the construction Of the
United States ships, Machias Castine and
the ram Katahdin. at Bath, Me-. also OF
the steamer City OF Lowell and the we'll
known Slater yacht Eleanor. Later Mr..
Schofed was superintendent Of construc-
tion for Harlan a. Holingsworth, and
still more recently he occupied the posi-
ton Of superintendent with the Cramps.
While with the Cramps. he built some of
the largest merchant vessels and battle
ships ever launched In the United States.
or the Young America Mr.. Schofield
says: For stability. easy sailing, com
fort OF crew, combined with strength OF
construction and economy OF handling
this cadet ship represents the latest
ideas in designs for sailing ship craft
and II only remains for us Ohe builders)
to build a vessel equal to the design to
have a perfect ship. This we propose TO
do, and IL the best workmanship possible.
combined with the highest grade Of ma
terial procurable can attain this end. l
can assure you we shall be successful
In turning out a vessel that will be
lasting credit to all concerned"
NAUTICAL PREPARATORY SCHOOLS
Commander Harlow in evolving the
lQtd TtdllLcu VI tilo oShtuc
and perceived that much care and fore
thought would have TO be taken, and
accordingly organized the corporation
which is known as the Nautical Prepara-
tory school.
The people were quick TO grasp the
idea and applica tions began TO come In
for places on the ship very rapidly, the
plans of a preparatory school on ship
board with "A tour of the world I'm the
four-years course, with all the advan-
tages OF travel and study OF foreign COM
mercial conditions, the discipline OF a
man-o'-war and the wholesome and
healthful life that veuld be afforded the
young students and all the attendant
features calculated TO benent the cadet
physically and mentally. aroused wide
spread interest that IL hardly limited
even by national boundaries.
The selection OF Narragansett bay as
the home port of the ship was a fortu-
nate one IN many respects. especially In
connection with the impressive naval
establishment at Newport. There is a
further advantage in the fS,t that under
the naviga ton laws Of the United States
IL will be possible to secure for the COM
mand OF the ship an officer OF the United
States navy. Indeed the prospectus of
the school sets forth that the command
Ing officer will be naval officer OF not
less than rs years experience.
The ship will sail from this port on It's
first cruise I'm September next, and al
ready tho list Is nearly full Forty states
are represented, and Canada and Mexico
In addition. The boys all come from
good families.
OVER 400 PEOPLE.
The ships complement will comprise
over 100 people. and besides the cadets
the following callings Will be represent
ed: Instructors. doctors. chaplain. secre-
tary, seamen, seaInen apprentices, stew
ards. walters, pharmacist, machinists,
oilers. electricians. water tenders, cooks,
bakers, carpenters, painters, tail0rs,
printers, laundrymen. musicians photog-
prefsrsnce prefer for the these ~'IS positions win be
given TO residents OF the state.
IL will cost something TO run the school,
a. the annual expense for food alone 10
over $1,000. while the clothing bill VIII
be $4,000. A. the bulk OF the ships busi-
ness Will be done In Rhode Ialand the