The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1904-11-10
CHRISTENED BY MRS. WILLIAM
3. KINNEY, DAUGHTER OF
GOVERNOR MURPHY.
When Completed It Will Be One Of the
Most Powerful Ships in
the World.

QUINCY, Mass, Nov. 10.-Christened
by a daughter of the state whose name
she is to wear, the magnificent bat
tleship New Jersey, was launched today
from the yard of the Fore River Ship
and Engine company. Hundreds OF
persons saw the ship plunge into the
water, and for some time after their
cheers echoed along the river banks. 1t
was Mrs. William B. Kinney, daughter
of Governor Franklin Murphy Of New
Jersey, who smashed the traditional
bottle of American champagne against
the steA prov of the huge ship as it
started down the ways. The New Jer-
sey party included Governor Murphy
and numerous other state officials, to-
gether with visitors from Trenton,
Jersey City, Camden and other cities
IF the state. On the christening stand
also were prominent naval officers from
yards, from Philadelphia, Washington
and other points.
The New Jersey, when completed,
will be one of the most powerful bat
tleships in the world. She is one of
the five ships authorized by congress,
in 1900, and belongs to the Virginia
class. Her sister ship, the Rhode Is
land, was launched at the Fore River
yards last May. This class are all
constructed with double turrets. The
New Jersey is the last, ship with
double turrets the government intends
to build. The double turret has it's
disadvantages, according to naval ex-
perts.
After considerable delay the keel OF
the New Jersey was laid in 1901. Since
then the work has gone rapidly on,
but it will be another year before the
vessel will go into commission, when
the total cost to the government will
be about $5,OOO,OOO. The New Jer-
sey's length on loadwater line is 435
feet, breadth rs feet and full load draft
26 feet. Her displacement will be 49,
900 tons.
The New Jersey will have a speed of
at least 10 knots. She will be propelled
at this high speed by twin screws
driven by two four cylinder engines
Of 10000 indicated horsepower.
The New Jerseys armament will
consist of four twelve-inch guns,
one turret being located forward of
the superstructure and the other aft.
CT the eight eight inch guns, four will
be mounted by pairs in turrets, and
four in two broadside turre.s located
amidships. There will also be broad
side battery on the gun deck of twelve
six-inch rapid-fire guns, mounted six
on each side.
The secondary battery will consist of
twelve three Inch fifty calibre rapid
fire guns, twelve emi-automatic, eight
heavy automatic, two thirty calibre
machine guns and six thirty-calibre
Colt automatic guns. She will also be
fitted with submerged torpedo tubes.
To make her defensive qualities pro-
portional to her offensive qualities she
is provided with complete water line
belt of armor, eight feet in width,
eleven inches thick at the top and eight
inches at the bottom. The New Jersey
has also a. casemate armored belt ex-
tending over 245 feet Of her entire
length. - I'll e u 4
1t is the intention Of the government
to make all the vessels of the New
Jersey and Virginia class f1agships.
With this end in view Accommodations
were made for one flag officer, one
commanding officer, one chief of staff
nineteen wardroom officers, ten junior
officers, eight warrant officers and a
crew of 772 men, including a force of
about sixty marines.
In the matter of electrical appliances
! the New Jersey will be superior. to any
| other battleship ever constructed for
| this government.