The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1912-10-25
Shows That Assistance of Private
Concerns Is No Longer
Necessary
WILL HAVE ,4-'NcH GUNS


United States battleship New York is
TO be launched ut the Brooklyn navy
yard next week. and President Taft
Secretary or the Navy Meyer. Cover
nor Dix, Mayer Gaynor and many
other notables are expected to he on
hand to watch the most powerful ves-
sci in the United States navy take her
first plunge into the water
The New York and her sister ship,
the Texas, are each 1000 tons heavier
than any other warship that has ever
been launched in this country. The
New York Is 6.f75, tons heavier than
the battleship Florida, the last war
ship constructed at the Brooklyn navy
yard and which was the biggest ship
of its class afioat at the time OF her
completion only two years ago.
The battIeship New York was au-
thorized by Congress in 1910. AT first
bids were asked for but Later these
were rejected and II was decided to
build the vessel IN the Government
yard at Brooklyn.
70 Per Cent Completed.
The keel was laid on September IL,
1911. and board hoisted near the
site where the ship grew says: 'U. S.
S New York. Battleship No. 81,
Length. b73 feet breath 95 feet ?S
inches: displacement 1900 tons; mean
dranght. Is feet 6 inches" Since then
the huge vessel has grown steadily and
when she takes the water she will
be nearly 20 per cont completed. Early
next fall she II, to be completed and
ready to take her place as one OF the
five units in the first division of the
Atlantic Fleet. of which she will prob
ably be the flagship.
Not only In size but In the calibre
of the guns at their main batteries
were the New York and Texas de-
signed to be the most formidable bat
time the 13-lnch gun, which has not
beer used on any of the newer ships
of the navy. has been the limit in cali
Der of naval guns. The New York and
Texas, however, will each carry ten a.
inch guns. mounted two TO turrct and
so arranged that all of them can be
i. fred in broadside. or forward. or
aft, at the same time.
The arrangement of three turrets aft
and two forwards If the bridge is the
work of the Naval Construction Corps
of the United States navy. Great
britain has followed this design IN her
new dreadncughts, and this is con-
sdercd one OF the highest compliments
ever paid American designers and con
structors .hll f
Has Many Safeguards
The New Ycrk's engines will be of
5000 horse power, 1900 more thar
those Of the Florida. II the eXpecta
tons Of her designers are fulfilled che
will he able to maintain u speed of II
knots an hour or better. The engines
are triple expansion. four cylinder re-
ciprocating engines.
rhe arr,or of the new battleship will
be of sufficient thickness FOR defense
against torpedo boat attack, and there
viii be strong buikheads as an ad-
ditional protection against mines and
torpedo explosions.
The New York and the Texas vii
be Of the same type as the dread
noughts Oklahoma and Nevada, whicf
have been authorized by Congress. The
two last named. however will be about
ten feet longer and of 500 tons greater
displacement than the New York ano
the Texas.
The launching of big battleship II
an important event in itself. but I'm the
case OF tho New York the ccremon!
VIII be. more notable because the Nav,
Department will. have demonstrates
mat 1t is fully equipped and competen
enough to construct the largest battle
ships IN its own shipyords without ao
sistancc from private concerns. True
the progress In the construction OF tn
New York has not been so rapid al
That on her sister ship Texas. nov
nearing completion at Newport News
put the fault has not been with tn
o"cials or workmen ut the Brookly'
navy yard. After the keel of the New
'"rk was laid down the work on tn
snip N0Q at<.Upod for a xrbilc nv Sec