The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-04-08
NEW BATTLESHIP
WELL ADVANCED.
The Minnesota is 81 Per Cent
Completed, Work Having Been
Rushed by Builders. 81
BY r.. c. stevens.

Newport News, Va, April S.-When
the battleship Minnesota entered the
water today the Newport News Ship
building company had completed 81 per
cent Of its contract. which was signed
by the department June 20, 1908, and
vessel-hull and machinery only by
Dec. 20, 1905, forty-two months after
date of contract.
The people Of Minnesota may be in.
terested to know just what "61 per
cent Of completion" means. It indi-
Gates a complete shell, with side armor
in place, part of the superstructure-
turrets, masts, etc.-lower deck plates
in position. partitions and bulkheads
machinery has yet been installed, but
the interior of the vessel is ready for
| engines, boilers and the accessories Of
this part Of the ships construction.
| In some yards, where there is lack
Of docking facilities, the propellers
and rudder are in position when yes
sells are launched, but here the company
has ample room for docking and the
rudder and propellers Of the Minnesota
put into drydock.
Work Has Been Rapid.
The Newport News company has been
| expeditions in constructing the Mime
sofa up to date. Usually war vessels
! are locked when so per cent COM
pleted. 1t is explained that the addi-,
tional IL per cent Of construction in
the case Of the Minnesota was made
possible by. the fact that the company
had an ample force at the yard pushing
l work on the Louisiana
When congress authorized the con-
struction of the battleships Connecticut
and Louisiana it provided that one
should be built in a government yard.
The navy department decided to build
| the Connecticut in the New York pa1S
went to the Newport News company.
Then began a race between the gov
eminent and private yards, and in or
der to keep UP it's end the Virginia
company put on large force of men
to push the work. These men were
shifted to the Minnesota after they had
performed their part of the work on the
of construction on the Minnesota.
Other vessels Of the Minnesota class,
the Vermont and Kansas, are not near
ly so we'll advanced toward compile
ton. The latest report, April /, shows
that the Vermont is only Al per cent
, and the Kansas 46 per cent toward
, completion.
Not Yet Ship Of Beauty.
: The Minnesota as she lies in the
water today is not the beautiful, proud
, warship she will be within couple
; of years, when she takes her proper
= place as the flagship Of a squadron.
All that one sees is a, long, rather narrow
hull, with a couple Of masts showing
above her sides. The entire structure
, is covered with a thick. coat Of red
lead, as protection FROM rust: When
, the department is ready to put the
Minnesota in commission the vessel
will be completed in every particular,
with big and little guns showing from
! every gunport, the red lead replaced
, with cleaning coat of white paint,
flags flying and officers and men upon
her decks. She will then be thing
9 Of beauty indeed.
Founded by Huntington.
4 The Newport News Shipbuilding com.
!, pany was founded by Coils P. Hunting
: ton fifteen years ago. In that time the
7 company has built many war vessels
Il but none larger than the Minnesota
>, The total of the company's contracts
. amounts to upwards Of $10O, OO0, 900. To
day, besides the Minnesota, the com
pany is constructing the battleshiI
a Maryland, which will go into commits
{ sion in about month; the North Caro-
g lima and Montana, whose keels hav.
l. just been laid; the Virginia and Louisi
: ana. The protected cruiser Charleston
n is also in course Of construction in Thu
e yard.
The payroll carries $500 names, in
e Guiding professional men, mechanic
IS and laborers of all classes. The gov
r eminent s. inspection, force at the var,
L is in charge Of Naval Constructo
p Stahl, who has fifty subinspectors an,
e craftsmen under him.
vi The docking facilities are the best o.
the Atlantic coast. Recently James J
Hill IS monster freighter Dakota, whicl
:, is run from Seattle to the Orient, wa
n locked and cleaned here. The activ
p management Of the company has bee
7 in the hands Of G. B. circuit of Ney
=, York, who was in charge Of the launch
le ing Of the Minnesota today, and VIII
le has taken personal charge Of the chris
n tening party since it arrived here yes
y terday morning.
le