of President Harrison on the 28th day of April, 1891, and was delivered to the Government January 31, 1892. The Monterey is 262 feet in length over all, 59 feet beam, moulded depth 17 feet, mean draught of water 14 feet 10 inches. Displacement 4084 tons, and the speed at full power is 15 knots. She has twin screws, with vertical triple expansion engines of 5400 indicated horse power. Her patteries consist of two 12-inch B. L. R. guns in forward turret, and two 10-inch B. L. R. guns in after turret, for the main battery; and six 6-pdr. rapid-fire guns,

sels should take in the naval establishment, officers who have served on the Monterey have pronounced her to be a good ship to go anywhere, and do good work when she gets there.

The success that has attended the work so far done for the navy at San Francisco, encouraged the Union Iron Works to try for ships of more importance, and a bid was made for cruiser No. 6, the Olympia, although the estimates indicated that the appropriation for this vessel was not quite enough to leave any chance for profit. The Eastern ship

four 1-pdr. rapid fire guns, two Gatlings, and one field gun for the secondary battery. She has 13-inch armor on her sides, and forward barbette, and 11% inch armor on after barbette. She was also fitted with the first large installation of water tube boilers for the U. S. Navy.

The Monterey has done good service for the Government, and has proved that low freeboard ships of this class can safely take long voyages. While there is some difference of opinion amongst naval officers as to the part these ves

builders had evidently reached the same conclusion, for the bid made by the Union Iron Works was the only one that came within the appropriation. The speed 'required by the contract was 20 knots, with a large premium for each quarter knot in excess.

When the working plans for this vessel were prepared by the Union Iron Works it became evident that in order to make sure of earning a premium the vessel would have to be lengthered at least ten feet, and a proposition to that effect was made to the Navy De

partment. This was accepted, provided the Union Iron Works would make the change at their own expense. So the Olympia was increased in length by the builders without cost to the Government.

The keel of the Olympia was laid on June 17, 1891, and she was launched on November 5, 1892. The date of completion and delivery to the Government was January 26, 1895.

The Olympia is 344 feet in length over all, 53 feet beam, moulded depth 35 feet 10 inches, mean draught of water 21 feet 6 inches. Displacement 5870 tons,

of the best known ships of the Navy, and is still a very fine example of the modern protected cruiser.

The next contract entrusted to the Union Iron Works was that for the famous battleship Oregon. Much has been written about this vessel, and her picture is a familiar one, both in this country and in Europe. Her keel was laid on November 19th, 1891, and she was launched on October 26th, 1893. The date of completion and delivery to the Government was made July 7th, 1896. The Oregon is 350 feet 9 inches long

and her speed on trial was 21.66 knots, 1.66 knots over the contract speed. She has twin screws, with vertical triple expansion engines that indicated 17,000 horse power on trial. Her batteries consist of four 8-inch B. L. R. guns, mounted in barbette turrets, and ten 5-inch rapid fire guns, for main battery, and fourteen 6-pdr. rapid fire guns, seven 1-pdr. rapid fire guns, and one Gatling gun, for the secondary battery.

The Olympia, through the part she played in the Battle of Manila, is one

over all, 69 feet 3 inches beam, 35 feet moulded depth. Mean draught of water 24 feet. Displacement 10,288 tons, and her speed on trial was 16.78 knots, 1.78 knots over the contract speed. She has twin screws, with vertical triple expansion engines that indicated 9,000 horse power on trial. Her batteries consist of four 13-inch B. L. R. guns in turrets, eight 8-inch B. L. R. guns in turrets, four 6-inch R. F. guns, for main battery, and twenty 6-pdr. R. F. guns, six 1-pdr. R. F. guns, two Colt guns, and two 3-inch R. F.

field guns, for secondary battery. Her waterline armor belt is 18 inches thick;

Installing a 13-inch gun on board the Oregon at the Union Iron Works.

her barbettes are 17 inches, and turrets 15 inches thick.

The splendid record of this ship Las established the reputation of her builders, not only in this country, but in every country where naval vessels attract attention.

The Oregon was about completed before any other contracts came to San Francisco for naval vessels. The contract for the sheathed gunboats Marietta and Wheeling was signed on November 26th, 1895. Both keels were laid on April 10th, 1896, and both vessels were launched at the same time on March 18th, 1897, and they were both completed and delivered to the Government on June 12th, 1897. These vessels are alike, 189 feet in length over all, 34 feet beam, and 21 feet 9 inches moulded depth. Mean draught of water 12 feet. Displacement 1,000 tons. They have twin screws and vertical triple expansion engines that indicated 1,200 horse power on trial, the maximum speed being twelve knots. The batteries of these gunboats consist of 6 4-inch rapid fire guns for the main battery, and four 6-pdr. R. F. guns, two 1-pdr. R. F. guns, and one Colt gun, for the secondary battery.