Durango semi-weekly herald. (Durango, Colo.) 1899-1907, 1903-09-14
CRUISER
MARYLAND
LAUNCHED

SnipDul!uiuS and Dryuock company
today the latest addition to Uncle
Sans navy-the fifteen thousand ton
armored cruiser Maryland. The
launching was in some respects the
most notable in The history OF the
city; 1t was, moreover one oil the
most beautiful and imposing There
was something indescribably majestic
in the sight OF this tremendous bulk
of gracefully assembled steel de
scending with rapidly increasing speed
down the long creased ways to the
bright river. in which SO many
splendid ships have been christened
There was something curiously inspir
ing in the scene-the mountain oil
nodded metal rushing riverward, head
long down the ways, the tluttering o.
thousands of handkerchiets and th,
cheers from thousands OF throats. the
music. the ceremony.
The available space about the ways
was packed with enthusiastic human
ity. The school children were pres
ent in thousands. Work was suspend
ed in the yard, and thousands oil
brawny workmen mingled in the great
chowd. From teh city came everyone
VINO could spare the time. All the
fashion and me OF the city was there
From Baltimore, Annapolis and 9th
er points in Maryland came big crowds
by special and regular trains. Wash.
ingtou sent large contingent. Rich
mond was represented and many nun
dreds of other persons came IRON in
termediate points On the launching
stands We're parties OF distinguishes
visitors, including Governor Smith anu
party of Maryland and numerous nava.
officers and others from Washington
When the hour Tor the launching ar
rived the block was sawn apart q
the big ship bow. and she started OF
her journey down the ways. 1t was
an instant after the ship began It
move that Miss Jennie Scott Waters
daughter OF General Waters OF Baiu
more. flung the christening bottle
against the vessels shape.y PROV. H.
less time than II takes 10 tell IL the
ship was riding gracefully on the b.
Som OF the James. AS she came II
anchor in midstream renewed cheer
went up from the assembled thOus,
ands. while the countless tugs anl
other craft ON the river added to the
general din with deatening screeche-
lrom their whistles,
The cruiser Maryland was author
lied by congress along with the IVES,
Virginia, the Colorado, the South Da
kota, the Nebraska and the California
The vessels represent long step
ahead for the navy, Practically no
advance was made after tho Brooklyn
and New York were built by the
Cramps The new ships have the in
vulnerability OF battleship, with the
speed of a first class cruiser. ant
compare fayprably with the best yes
ssls OF foreign powers.
The principal dimensions OF the
Maryland are as follows: Length on
load water-line. SOP feet; extreme
beam. 50 feet, 61a inches; draft on
normal displacement of 1856 tons, q
feet l inch: full load displacement,
ammunition and stores abroad, 10
IV4 tons, designed indicated horse
power, $4,000; speed, % knots;- Goa
supply, 1850 tons; complement OF oil
hcers, Az complement OF seamen, ma
rlpes. etc. lS3.
The ship will be propelled by TWO
sets OF twin screws, verticle inverted
triple expansion, direct acting engines,
designed tor 5000 collective horse
power. having a stroke oil four ieet
and running at 100 revolutions min
plp, Each engine will be placed In
separate watertighL compartment,
and will have cylinders SSi2 inches,
634z inches and two "a inches in dia
meter, Steam at $50 pounds pressure
to the square inch Will be supplied
from l6 water-tube boilers OF the mos
improved marine type Teh boilers viii
be arranged in six watertight compart
meuts, the total crate surface being
1900 square feet, and the total heating
surface 70,9i4 square feet. There VIII.
be- four tunnels, standing fore and AT
The main battery Will consist OF >
eight-inch breech-ioading rires and l.
six-inch rapid-fire rifles. The eight
inch guns will be mounted in pairs IL
TWO electrically controlled elipucai bal
anced turrets OF the Hichborn type,
placed on the middle line OF the ship,
one forward and one ait, each having
an arc oil train OF at least go degrees.
On the upper deck at the corners OF
the superstructure there will be six
inch guns mounted on sponsors, one
In each corner, and having either a
bow or stern fire, with an arc Of train
of at least las degrees. There Will
also be the gun-deck battery of 10 six
inch rifles forming a broadside, hve
on each side, the arc of fire OF each
being not less than 10 degrees, or nj
least 55 degrees forward and 55 de
grees abaft the beam, except in the
case of the forward pair, which are
80 arranged as to DO capable OF direct
ahead fire.
From present indications it is hoped
that the cruiser will be completed and
ready for commission before this time
next year,