Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1903-09-12
Uncle sans Newest ship.

NEWPORT NEWS, Va, Sept. III
There was launched from the ways at
the big plant Of the Newport News
Shipbuilding and Drydock company
today the latest addition to Uncle
Sans new ~nayy--the ffteen.thousand
ton armored cruiser Maryland The
launching was in some respects the
most notable In the history Of the
city. 1t was, moreover, n q the
most beautiful and imposing. There
was something inLescribably majestic
In the sight Of this tremendous bulk
Of gracefully assembled steel descend
ing with rapidly increasing speed
down the long creased ways 70 the
bright river, In which so many aplen.
did ships have been christened There
was something curiously inspiring IN
the scene-the mountain Of nodded
metal rushing riverward, headlong
down the ways, the fluttering Of thou
AID UNCLE SANS NEWEST Ship
sands Of handkerchiefs and the cheers
from thousands Of throats, the music.
the ceremony.
The available space about the ways
was packed with enthusiastic human
cd In the yads, and thousands Of
brawny workmen mingled In the great
crowd. From the city came every
one who could spare the time. All
the fashion and life OF the city was
there.
From Baltimore, Annapolis and 9th
err points In Maryland came big
crowds BY special and regular trains.
| Washington sent q large contingent.
Richmond was represented, and hun.
dreds Of other persons came from m
termediatc points. On the launching
stand were parties OF distinguished
visitors, including Governor Smith AID
party of Maryland and numerous ma
val officers and others from Washing
ton.
When the hour for tho launching
arrived the block was sawn apart at
the big ships bow. and she started on
her journey down the ways. 1t was
nm instant after the ship began to
move that Miss Jennie Scott Waters,
daughter Of General Waters of Balti-
more, flung the christening bottle
against the vessels shapely PROV. In
less time than II takes 10 tell II the
ship was riding gracefully on the bos-
ON OF the James. AZ she came to an
Choir In midstream q renewed cheer
went up from the assembled thou
sands. while the countless tugs and
other craft on the river added to the
general din with ~deafening screeches
from their whistles.
Tho cruiser Maryland was author
lied by congress along with the West
Virginia, the Colorado. tho South Da-
kota, tho Nebraska and the California.
The vessels represent q long step
ahead for the navy. Practically no
advance was made after the Brook.
Ign and New York were built BY the
Cramps. The new ships have the in
vulnerabiliiy OF a b~attleship, with the
speed Of a ilrst.class cruiser, and com
parc favorably with the best yessels
OF foreign powers.
The principal dimensions OF the
Maryland are MS follows. Length on
load water line. 502 feet; extreme
beam, 60 feet 6 IL inches; draft on
normal displacement Of 1876 tons. "a
feet 1 inch; full load displacement,
ammunition and stores aboard, 49,.
i0t tons; designed indicated horse
power. 2a,ooo. speed, % knots, coal
supply. 1850 tons: complement u
officers. AZ, complement OF seamcn,
marines. etc, 1888.
The ship will be propelled BIZ TWO
Gets OF twin screws. serticle inverted
triple expansion, direct acting engines.
designed for 5000 collective horse
power, having a stroke or four feet
and running ii 100 revolutions a min
ute. Each engine will be placed In a
separate watertight compartment. and
will have cylinders ss ~ inches.
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