Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-11-10
First Of preadnouoht class.


Quincy, Mass, Nov. 10.-When the
great prov of the new battleship North
Dakota struck the waters of Fore
river, where she was launched today
the United States navy received form
ally the bulky body of the first fight
ing ship Of the so-called Dreadnought
class. Incidentally, a new record fo1
speed in the first stage of battleshir
construction has been established, in
asmuch as only 2S2 working days have
been employed from the time of laying
the keel until the day of the launching
As the massive hull of the North Da-
kota stood upon the ways ready for
launching it presented none of the
warlike appearance of the finished bat
tleship. Save for a few temporary fit
tings, the decks were bare and lacked
the martial aspect supplied by the
great guns and secondary batteries
which are to be installed later. Even
the great boilers of the fighting ship
had not been installed, in accordance
with the usual custom Of construction
and as a part of the preparations for
the launching, puffy little tugs were in
waiting to warp the gigantic yet help
less craft, alongside the pier, at the
yard.
Before the conclusion Of the thirty
four and one-half months allowed by
the government for delivery, however,
the hull launched today will present
different aspect. By that time, ten
twelve inch breech loading, 1ong-range
rifles will have been placed in position,
as well as fourteen five-inch, rapid fire
guns; four three-pound, and Like
number Of one-pound semi automatic
guns; two Hhree-inch field pieces,
two machine guns OF fifty ca1iber, and
two twenty-one-fnch submerged tor
pedo tubes. This constitutes the ac-
tive armament of the battleship. Pro-
tective armor to the extent Of about
eight inches, will cover practically ev-
cry available spot which might be
reached by an enemy's guns, and, as
result Of the recent naval conference,
many minor details of additional pro-
lection will also be added.
When placed in commission, the
North Dakota will be $40 feet long
on the load water line, with breadth
of sS5 feet, 25s inches at the same point.
Tho length over all will be about 51s
feet, 9 inches. The battleship will
have displacement Of 10000 tons, g.
900 in excess Of the original British
Dreadnought. It is estimated that a
speed Of more than twenty-one knots
will be attained on her trial, and that
the battleship's horse power will ex-
ceed $4,000. Unlike her sister ship, the
Delaware, now under construction at
Newport News, Va, the North Dakota
will be fitted with Curtis turbine en-
gines. Including officers, the crew
will number more than 900 men. 1t
is estimated that when formally taken
over by the government, the North
Dakota will have cost at least $7O00,-
900, the contract price of her hull and
machinery alone being $4,377,000.
Altho the American battleship con-
etruction record is broken by the North
Dakota's builders, It does not closely
approach that held by the British navy
in the construction Of the first Dread
nought. The keel Of that vessel was
laid in July, 1905, and on Oct. Of the
same year, the vessel was launched
and exactly year later the ship had
its Standardization trial. It is expected
that the North Dakota will be ready for
its first trip about the latter part Of
August, 1910, altho the actual placing
Of the battleship into commission may
be delayed.
To Captain Charles J. Badger, U. s.
N, recently superintendent of the naval
academy at Annapolis. will go the hon
or Of being the first commanding Off
Ger of the premier "Dreadnought" Of
fhe limited States nayy