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SCIENCE 



[Entered at the Post-Offlce of New York, N.Y., as Second-Class Matter.] 



A WEEKLY NEWSPAPER OF ALL THE ARTS AND SCIENCES. 



Seventh Year. 

 Vol. XIII. No. 333. 



NEW YORK, June 2r, i{ 



Single Copies, Ten Cents. 

 ^3.50 Per Year, in Advance. 



THE NEW TWO-THOUSAND-TON CRUISERS. 



The new 2,000-ton cruisers authorized by an act of Congress 

 approved in September, 1888, are improvements on the Yorktown 

 and Concord class of vessels, being somewhat larger, and intended 

 to make higher speed. They are twin-screw protected cruisers, 

 having, in addition to coal protection to the machinery, a curved 

 steel deck covering the magazines and stearing-gear, besides the 



These vessels, in their batteries, show how the modern idea of a 

 ship's armament has changed, even in the short time that has 

 elapsed since the United States began the rehabilitation of the 

 navy. Guns of heavy calibers and few in number have gradually 

 given place to those lighter in weight but greater in number, and 

 capable of firing in a given time a much greater weight of projec- 

 tiles. The main batteries of these vessels, which are the first to 

 carry rapid-fire guns in the primary battery, will be made up of two 



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NEW 2000-TON CRUISERS. 



engines and boilers, and also a coffer-dam protection extending 

 throughout the entire machinery space. The interior arrange- 

 ments of quarters are thought to be better than those aboard any 

 of the other vessels, and present many innovations that will with- 

 out doubt meet the hearty approval of those detailed to occupy 

 them. The ventilation and lighting of all below- deck quarters, 

 storerooms, passages, and so forth, are of the latest approved de- 

 signs, and will conduce greatly to the health, comfort, and con- 

 tentment of officers and crew. 



six-inch and eight four-inch rapid-fire guns ; the secondary batteries 

 being two six-pounders, two three-pounders, two revolving cannon, 

 and one Gatling gun. The motive power for the twin screws is 

 furnished by two triple-expansion engines of 5,400 horse-power. 

 The boilers are of steel, five in number, of the return fire tubular 

 type, designed for a pressure of 160 pounds. Three of these boilers 

 are double-ended ; and the others, to be used as auxiliaries, are 

 single-ended. The engines and boilers are in separate water-tight 

 compartments. There will be independent air and circulating 



