an eight-inch gun which, because of the position of the barbette and the shape of the superstructure was to have a wide sweep on both sides as well as over the ends of the ship. Besides these great guns three six-inch rifles were to be provided for each broadside, and one on each side could be used for fore or aft fire as well.

This plan, according to Admiral Simpson, "is an innovation that was very startling to the conservative mind; but the more familiar the idea becomes, the more apparent becomes the increased offensive power of the ship."

"It is not unfashionable now," says Bennett, "to criticise harshly that board for not knowing everything that experience has taught since, but its work speaks well enough in results for the thoroughness and the earnest endeavor of its members to do the best possible for the service in the beginning of its new life." As a matter of fact one of them was to speak for herself in actual battle. The Boston was at Manila.

It was provided that the ships must be made "of steel of domestic manufacture," the specifications as to quality meaning that it should be of the best known to the world at that time.

A considerable technical knowledge of steamengines is nee led to fully understand the re

Dolphin, Despatch-Boat. Dimensions, 240 x 32; draft, 17; displacement, 1,486. Speed, 15.5 knots. Main Battery, two four-inch guns.

quirements for her machinery, but it may be worth while saying that the engines of the new cruisers consisted of small and large cylinders, the steam from the boiler passing through the small cylinders at full pressure, and then to the large at greatly reduced pressure—a system that, as since developed in the "triple," and the 'quadruple expansion" types, has effected enormous savings in coal consumption, while increasing in wonderful fashion the power applied to driving the ships. The engines of the new cruisers were, on the whole, planned in the right line of development. Twin screws were also provided.

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As to the despatch-boat, she was to be 240 feet long by 32 wide-a leaner model than the others-but there was nothing about her to

especially distinguish her from a big yacht, and as a yacht for "junketing" parties she was hailed by the political opposition. In guns she was to carry but one six-inch rifle, backed by a few rapid-fire rifles, of an average of two-inch bore. She was named the Dolphin.

It is a curious fact that the prejudice excited by the tales of junketing prevented, in the years that followed, the construction of any other vessel than this for carrying despatches in time of war. The people could not be made to see that such vessels would be needed, and so when war came we found ourselves in a plight, where we had to buy all the available yachts in our waters, paying enormous prices, and finding them at best makeshifts. Only the skill of our officers saved them from being really ridiculous.

The bids sent in answer to this call are now chiefly interesting as showing the number of firms in the United States willing to undertake the work. Three firms on the Delaware River, two firms in New York City, one from Baltimore, one from Boston, and one from St. Louis answered the call.

Mr. John Roach, who owned a shipyard at Chester, Pa., the Morgan Iron Works in New York, and controlled steel-making works at Thurlow, Pa., had found by experiment that he could produce steel of the required quality