The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-30
SPECIAL TRAIN BEARS THE
 BIRMINGHAM PARTY FROM
 BOSTON TO CRUISERS BOW
tcoNT1NuEp FROM PAGE 1.l


 power stations of the yard let out a rip roaring greeting of welcome to the new bride of the sea.
 The moment Miss Campbell smashed the bottle of wine against the side of the vessels bow, a boy stationed at the bow of the boat pulled up the streamers and secured the broken glass, which had been held together by the meshwork. This meshwork, with it's yards of ribbon, were placed in a box of teak wood, made es- pecially for the occasion, and was later presented to Miss Campbell by Admiral Bowles as souvenir of the launch The moment the Birmingham 1oated clear from her cradle she was taken in tow by three tugs and was hauled around to the ftting-out dock alongside the big Morgan liner Creole, built for the New York and New Orleans route, and which Is almost ready to leave, and also near the submarine boat Octopus, which has been making world breaking records dur ing the past three weeks, and which lies at this yard in company with her sister submarines, the Cuttlefish, Viper and Ta- rantula.
 70 Per Cent Finished.
 The Birmingham is 70 per cent finished. and is further advanced at the launching stage than any boat yet sent out from this yard. As soon as the tugs had se- curely good hold of the Birmingham, Ad- miral Bowles gave Miss Campbell hls arm, and together they led the way 10 the big mould loft, where Boston caterers had provided a tempting banquet. Hun dreds of guests were invited to partake of the hospitality for which the Fore River company Is noted, and soon south erners and northerners had become fast friends. As the guests gathered around the big dining tables, Admiral Bowles called for a health to the Birmingham and her fair sponsor. which was drunk standing Admiral Bowles then proposed three cheers for Miss Campbell, and In doing so complimented her for the fine way in which she christened the ship There were lusty cheers from the lands men, while the naval men let go the shrlll Hip, hip of the naval service All sorts of good luck were drunk to the ship and her sponsor by little dinner parties, and it was said by officials of the yard that no ship went forth with more friends than did the Birmingham.
 In the course of a few days the big en- zines of the Birmingham will be installed. They have been under construction in the Fore River machine shop for months. and the visitors were given a chance to See them before the special train left the yard for Boston. In the respect of machinery the future of the Birmingham will be watched Wlln eSceptlOnal interest Dy naval men and by marine engineers every where, for in the three ships of the Br- mingham type the United States govern ment is testing three distinct types of engines.
 The Birmingham will be fitted with the usual style of marine reciprocating en- zines. while her sister ship. the Salem, building al this yard, will have the Curtis or American turbine engines and the Ches- ter, building at Bath, will have the Par son-Westinghouse or English turbine en- zines. Each boat with it's own respective type of engines will have to make twenty four knots an hour to be accepted by the government. and upon the way in which these engines do their work depends the future installation of the reciprocating or turbine engines in the United States war vessels that are yet to be built