Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-08

daughter of Gov Mickey Stoou sponsor ior
the vessel. The Nebraska is the first battle
ship constructed on the Pacific coast north
of San Francisco, and all the leading army
and state officials in the forts west took
part in the program.
The New Battle Ship Nebraska.
Congress, in March, $780, appropriated
money for three sea-going coast-line battle
ships carrying the heaviest armor and
most powerful armament for vessels OF
their class, and provided for two more by
the act of June 7, 1900.
The bureau of construction and repair
fully carried out the evident purpose of
Congress, for the design of the Nebraska
and class represents five of the most power
full battle ships.
The general dimensions and chief char
acteristics of the Nebraska are: Length on
load water line, 435 feet; breadth. extreme,
at load water line, 70 feet 2h inches; trial
displa cement, about ID. 94S tons mean draft
at trial displacement, about % feet y inches;
greatest draft, full load, about 26 feet.
In the 1900 tons represented in this
vessel the many antagonistic qualities es-
sential to perfect fighting machine have
been compromised and Incorporated In pro-
portion which experience seems to have
pointed out as'ithe most desirable and eff
fcient.
Will Have High Speed.
To begin with, the battle ship will have
a speed of at least nineteen knots, which
compares most favorably with any battle
ship under construction abroad as well as
with any In the projected stage.
The Nebraska will be propelled at this
high speed by twin-screws driven by two
four-cylinder, triple-expansion engines Of
about 1900 indicated horsepower. The
steam necessary to this power will be sup
piled at pressure OF go POUNDS per
square inch by "a Niclausse water-tube
boilers.
The battle ship will carry four Pinch
guns, four calibers In length, mounted by
pairs in balanced turrets, one turret being
located forward of the superstructure and
the other aft, and each having total arc
Of train of 27O degrees. OF the eight g.
inch guns. forty-fve calibers in length,
which will be carried on this vessel. four
will be mounted by pairs in turrets, super
posed upon the Pinch turrets above men
toned, and four in two broadsde turrets
slightly forward of amidships, the amidship
turrets having a total arc OF train OF $50
degrees In the Nebraska there will be
broadside battery on the gun deck of
twelve 6-inch rapid-fire guns, fifty calibers
in length, mounted six on each side, each
with total arc Of train Of 121 degrees.
The secondary battery will consist Of
twelve 3-inch 5O-caliber rapid-fire guns,
twelve 3-pounders, semi-automatic, eight
1-pounders, heavy automatic. two 30-cali-
DER mdchne guns ana SIX oU-cdilDer Colt
automatic guns, all mounted in command
ing positions and having large arcs of fire.
The Nebraska will also be fitted with SUBJ
merged torpedo tubes.
Magazines Specially Fitted.
The magazines will be specially fitted to
enable her to carry, with absolute safety
in all climates, the new smokeless powder.
Provision will be made in the magazines
for the stowage of at least sixty rounds
for each of the Pinch guns, 125 rounds
for each Of the S-inch guns, 200 rounds for
each Of the 6-inch guns, 800 rounds for each
of the 3-inch guns, and plentiful supply
of ammunition for the smaller guns.
So much for the vessels offensive quail
ties. To make her defensive qualities pro-
portionately great she will be provided
with complete waterlne belt of armor
feet in width amidships, II inches thick
at the top and inches at the bottom,
taperfng to a uniform thickness Of inches
at the ends of the vessel
She VIII also have caSemate armored
belt extending over about 245 feet of her
length, of Uniform thickness of six inches,
rising from the top of the main belt to the
upper or main deck, and Joined at its after
end to the barbette of the Pinch turret by
a 6-inch armored bulkhead, and having at
its forward end an armored bulkhead of six
inches thickness extending from side to
side, thus forming a citadel or redoubt
within which the Finch guns will be
mounted Within this citadel or redoubt2
and extending from the forward turret to
the after turret, light armor one and a half
and two and half inches7i in thickness, will
form subdivisions OF the gun Enclosures,
thoroughly protecting the guns crews from
flying splinters ana fragments of bursting
shells.
Will Have q Signal Tower.
In addition to the .lconning tower there
will be. aft. second tower known as the
signal tower, which will be constructed of
5-inch armor. Frunp the bottom Of the
water line armor sbe1t there will rise
curved turtle-backed nickel-steel protective
deck one and a halfs inches thick on the
sides. to make assurance doubly sure that
no projectile of theRnemy finds its way into
the vitals of the ship.f
As an additional protection to stability q
cofferdam belt, three feet in thickness and
packed to a density of eight pounds to the
sides, above the protective deck. for the
entire length Of the vessel N.
The material of construction Is the high
quality of steel which has entered into all
the vessels of our navy. The main or upper
deck. in addition to being built of steel.
will be the only one upon which wood Is to
be laid. The lower decks will all be of steel,
covered with linoleum The use of wood in
the construction of this vessel will be limit
ed even more strictly than it has been in
the later battle ships. and the wood work
above the protective deck, except deck
plank, will be fireproofed. Bilge keels and
heavy docking keels are fitted.
It is proposed to make all of the vessels
Of this class iagships, and to do this it is
necessary to make provision for the ac-
commodation of one flag officer, one COM
handing officer. one chief of staff, nineteen