New-York tribune., 1908-11-11
NORTH DAKOTA AFL0AT
Giant BattEcship Is Successfully
Launched at Quincy, Mass.

Quincy Mass Nov. lo.-The bsttleship North
Dakota was successfully launched from the yard
Of tAe Fore River shiphuilding Company to-day
With the foam OF the wine streaming down her
box plates from the bottle broken by Miss Mary
Benton Of Fargo. " u. and under the watchful
eye OF Governor John Burke of the state for which
she is named the North Dakota fosted of into
the basin about 60 per cent completed. Some time
next summer she will be turned 10 the govern
rnent for acceptance and II she fulhs the test viii
20 into commission next September.
distinguished gathering OF officials Of North
Dakota. together with several representatives OF
The State of Massachusetts,. naval officials and
three foreign naval attaches, saw the launching
The party arrived quincy special train
which R5s run directly into the shiPyard The
customary platform had been erected al the bow OF
the vessel. and there Governor Burke and Miss
Mary Denton. sponsor for The ship. together with
Francis Bo.les president Of the Fore River com
Tssny took their stand. AS the noon whistles blew
in the yard :he worknen began 10 knock away
the shores AT I2.Z7 the last piece was cut, giving
the vessel motion At that moment q beTfhboned
bottle Of champagne crashed from the hand OF
Mss Denton against the bow, and she said: Il
chrIsten thee North Dakota"
So great the impetus OF the ship she left
the WAYS that the tugs could not stop until she
was nearly half mile from shore. but she was
scarcely fifteen seconds in gaining after
she began While the vessel rested on the
ways she critically inspected by the govern
officials. who looked her lines over. but did
not enter the interior of the ship.
After the launching the invited guests gathered
in the great mould loft OF the company. where
luncheon served Speeches were made by MI.
Bowles and Mr. Burke
Washington Nov. Io-secretary Metcalf to-day
sent Z message TO President Bowles Of the Fore /
River shiphuding Company congratulating him on |
the excellent progress made in the construction Of
the battleship North Dakota. The keel Of the
sci laid on December Is last. the date which
tbs battleship feet sailed from Hampton Roads. |
and Il the present rate Of work her is main |
tanned, e is expected the snip will be in commits
zion within two years after she was begun. The I
teoors OF construction Of the North Dakota is said
10 be the fastest any battleship built the
United States On October : her percentage OF
eorrpaerton wes 5z2
When placed in commission the North Dakota
gil oe Sio feet long the load waterline. with |
breadth of s. feet IS inches the point !
The length over all will SIS feet inches /
me hatueship viii have displacement Of 1900
tons Seso tons IN excess Of the original British
D-sadno5lsht II IS estimated that speed OF more
than twe.ty-one knots will be attained on her !
cisI and that the battleship's horsepower will ex-
oeed ZaOnA. Unlike her sister ship the Delaware /
nov under construction st Newport News vs. the /
North Dakota VIII he fitted with Curtis turbine /
engines Including officers. the crew will number
more than nine hundred men II is estimated that /
when formally taken over by the government the /
North Dakota will have least 10000. the
contract price OF her hull and machinery alone /
being s4sT. 600
TIE active armament OF the battIeship will con-
fEt OF ten Pinch b-eech loading long range rifles
fourteen 6-ineh rapid fire. guns four S-pound and /
Ike number of 1-poun6 serni-autoratic guns two I
5-irch field pieces. two machine guns Of calibre
and tUo E-ineh submerged torpedo tubes. Pro
teetive errnor the extent OF about eight inches
Will cover practically every available spot which /
might be reached by enemy's guns, and, as .
result Of the recent naval conference many minor
Of Ia1so ba
To Captain Charles J. Badger, [. s y. recently |!
superintendent Of the Naval Academy At Annapo- /
lis, viii go the honor OF being the first command /
ing officer OF the North Dakota