Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1908-11-19
" hundred small crafts in the


to unroll from either side of the re-
ceding vessel as she shot down the
ways-belts of tallow, steaming,
white as soapsuds. the residue of al
most four tons of grease. So great
was the momentum Of the huge steel
mass over this. slippery way that the
vessel did not stop until she was sew
eral hundred yards from the cradle,
and then was only brought to a stop
by the combined efforts of four pow
erful tugs.
Speeches at Luncheon:
Following the launching the guests
proceeded to the mould loft, where
luncheon was Served, after which
Rear Admiral Bowles called the as
sembly to order and said:
I want to express our pleasure to-
day at the presence of our country
men from North Dakota and also my
great satisfaction at the efficient
manner in which Miss Benton gave
! the name of North Dakota to this
great ship. Miss Benton does not
know it. but she not only gave the
name North Dakota to this vessel
today, but to whole class of mag
niticient ships, which represent the
sum of 25 years successful effort OF
the navy of the United States"
President Bowles then introduced
Mayor Shea, of Quincy. who said in
part:
"Today the largest and most pow
erful tattleshlp of the United States
navy has been launched from the
yards where it was built within the
confines of an historic city by the
Atlantic seaboard, and named for a
vigorous state of the prairie-girded
northwest by one Of the fairest
daughters of that commonwealth.
, Today the citizens Of North Dakota
and Massachusetts, stand united by a
bond of friendship as permanent and
as powerful as the union of states
typi6ed BY the gallant dag this bat
tleship flies. Wherever the call Of
duty may send this noble ship in..years
! to come; whether her mission be a
peaceful one or whether she clears
her decks to meet a more serious sit
uation, the prayers and hopes OF two
great commonwealths will follow her
with fealty that time cannot d.
minish.
can Honor to the State"
"The North Dakota will be a
splendid addition to the strong, right
arm of the republic-the United
States navy. She will be credit and
an honor to the state whose name
she bears; to the state where she was
built and to the city and company
which has launched her here today.
OF this I feel confident because I
know the men who built her. In her
construction is represented not only
the present development of the
United States navy, but the genius
and farsightedness of naval officers OF
the years gone by who worked and
planned for the development of the
navy that represents our country to-
day and will represent it in the years
to come. And among these there
was none who planned higher or
worked harder to place his country's
flag in a respectable position upon
the high seas than Admiral Bowles.
At the close of Mayor Shea's ad-
dress, three hearty cheers were given
for the North Dakota at the request
of President Bowles. Gov. Burke
was then introduced and was re-
ceived with three cheers for himself.
He said in part:
II want to say on behalf of North
Dakota. represented here today 100
strong, that we are grateful to the
shipbuilding company and to the
citizens of Quincy for the many ia
vors and courtesies that have been
extended to us on this occasion.
"YOur tOastmaster said something
about being afraid Of the west, but l
want to say to him and to the people
of Quincy, that after the splendid
reception you have extended to us,
you need not be afraid of North Da-
kota, at least during my administra-
tion.
Could Feed Ships Crew.
81 have heard on this trip many
people express fear that the spon-
sor had selected to christen this
ship might not be successful in break
ing the bottle. Now, ! never had any
fear about that at all. The only
thing was afraid of was that she
might smash hole In the ship.
(Lsughter.) ! stood very close to her
as she drew back her arm to strike,