The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1910-05-01

bunker capacity for $500 tons Of coal.
with tanks for 400 tons Of Oil fuel.
Her main armament will consist OF
ten twelve-inch breech loading guns,
mounted in Eve turrets, on the central
line of the ship, two forward, one
amidships, and two aft.
Constructor Baxter and the naval Of
ficials at the Brooklyn navy yard, who
haveb cen connected with the con-
struction of the Florida, are jubilant
over the rapidity with which the bat
tleship has been built. The heads OF
private shipyards in the east have
always claimed that they could build a
ship so much quicker than than gov
eminent yard could carry out the
work In the case of the Florida it
has been demonstrated that the gov
eminent can construct warships as
rapidly as any private concern, and
also come well within the estimated
cost. The Utah was launched at Cam
den December %, with so per cent
completed, while the Florida will be
launched on May II with 6S per cent
of the work completed.
The people of Brooklyn are taking
keen interest In the progress made
on the battleship and worry the Off
Gals Of the navy yard daily with
questions as to whether the launching
is certain to take place on May IL,
and whether 1t would be quite safe to
go close up to the hull Of the warship
in case 1t went over on its beam ends
when the checks were taken away.
In addition to being present at the
ceremony Of the launching of the Flor
ida President Taft has accepted an in
vitation to attend the dinner that the
mechanics who are building the battle
ship are going to give on the night Of
May IL to Constructor Baxter at the
Mosque, Nostrand avenue and Her
kimer street, Brooklyn.
When the question was put to the
president by the Brooklyn delegation,
he replied that he would attend the
Launching, but he was afraid that he
could not accept the invitation to the
dinner.
But, Mr. President" said Congress
man Calder of Brooklyn, eve want you
to meet the men who are building this,
the first government constructed
Dreadnought."
That's right" the president re.
piled quickly, IT do want to meet and
talk with those men, and I will go to
the dinner"
When the Florida goes into commits
sion next year she will have a, COM
plement of so officers and $40 men,
and with her sister ship, the Utah, and
the battleships North Dakota and
Delaware, will constitute the first d.
vision of Dreadnoughts in the United
States navy. The two latter ships are
already in commission.
Constructor Baxter said yesterday
that every effort would be made by
the officials of the navy yard to make
the ceremony on May II a great sue
cess. The list of visitors who have
already accepted invitations, he said,
will make it the most notable assem-
bly, of distinguished persons that have
ever attended the launching of a war
ship in this country.
The crews of the battleships will be
available to draw upon to keep the
lines clear and the bands in turn will
keep the crowd entertained with popu.
lar music "All that we want Is fine
weather." said Mr. Baxter, ito make
the day one to be remembered in the
annals of the Brooklyn navy and in the
state of Florida
Tickets of admission for the
launching of the battleship can be pro-
cured by any Floridian who will be in
New York on May 18th, by applying
at once to Governor Albert w. Gil
christ, Tallahassee, Fla.
Upon request to the governor, such
tickets will be mailed direct to appli-
cant at his New York address or other
address, as requested.