New-York tribune., 1909-03-10
FLORIDA'S KEEL LAID
Building of Big Battleship Started
at Brooklyn Macy Yard.

An all nervading danpness and quickly fulfilled
threat Of rain had effect Yesterday morning on
the enthusiasm Of group Of navy yard ofhcers'
workmen and youngsters who assembled at the
launching ways o'clock to place the first rvets
in the keel plates Of the Florida the largest vessel
So far laid down at the Brooklyn yard.
Renhold Schultz and his marine band played
national airs and he big had keel plate sus-
pended ready for putting in place. when Rear Ad-
rnlraI Goodrich who in charge Of operations
drove the first nail fastening the sver-plated horse
shoe which ia supposed To bring good luck to the
signboard at the head Of the ways Miss Gladys
Goodrich. his daughter CIinched the nail; then
Naval Constructor Baxter drove the second nail.
his daughter. Miss Heather Baxter, ciinching It.
the other nails going in in rapid succession.
When the adverse fates had been propitiated. or
their evil influence warded off, by this means the
signal was given and Tn" first Of the keel plates
was swung into place. The second was landed at
the proper distance from it, and the third dropped
. into place so that ends overapped the two
first plates the rivet holes being in line Then
Naval Constructor Baxter handed ont some silver
plated riyets, and the young folks began putting
them IN place being followed by the riFeters who
fastened them. The band played, the yard tugs
and shops footed their whistles. and the clang OF
hammers on steel announced that the actual con-
strzcton Of the ship had begun
The official party the platform at the head OF
the launching ways included Rear Admiral Good
rich and Miss Gladys Goodrich. Naval Constructor
Baxter and Miss Heather Baxter. Commander Glen
non and his son Ralph. Naval Constructor Roberts
and his son Gaines. Faymaster Tobey and MS son
Henry Paymaster Arms and his daughter. and
Ciyn Engineer Gregory and his twin daughters
Eleanor and Esther.
only two Of the 10 frames which Will form the
ribs OF the ship we're placed yesterday. owing 10
the rain which began falling soon after the keel
plates had been rIveted together, upsettnK the
plans OF Mr.. Baxter. who anxious 10 get IN
"A FUN days work the ship on the ann
versarv Of the victory Of the Monitor over the
Nerrfmac tn Hampton Roads forty-seven years ago
Work viii 20 ahead with a rush from nov on
however and IT viii D." long before the skeleton
frame will be visible to passengers up and down
thr East River
The Florida Is the third and largest of the new
Brooklyn the first having been the original Maine.
now at the bottom Of Havana Harhor- She was
completed I'm 1892 Then came the Connecticut the
nagshIp Of the world glrdliTg' feet which was
completed in ieoi The new ship will be a giant
alongside the Connecticut she will register Hs2o
tons. against 1900 FOR the flagship, or difference
bout equal To- the cruiser Cincinnati, which was
also built "a the yard.
This difference IN size made necessary an eNien-
sion Of seventy feet In length and twelve in width
on the launching ways and the driving Of a small
forest Of piles 10 support the extra weight. She
Will be 80 feet long. 20 feet beam. and carry ten
Pinch and sixteen 5-inch guns. giving her more
powerful armament than Is now possessed 10y any
foreign war vessel Her hull and machinery VIII
cost about SG0r0G0