Democratic Sentinel, Volume 18, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 September 1894 — THE MINNEAPOLIS. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THE MINNEAPOLIS.

The Fastest War Vessel Aflo.it on the Waters of the Eirth. In the matter of shipbuilding the nations of the earth bow to Uncle Sam. Several European nations have stronger tieets numerically than our Government, but our infant navy for its quality easily leads the world. The test of the new cruiser Minneapolis demonstrates the fact that we have the fastest war vessel in the world, and, counting the Columbia, the two fastest ships afloat on the waters of the earth. The Minneapolis developed a sustained speed of over 23 knots and for a distance of over two knot* a speed of 25.02 knots. According to the English plan of determining speed—running their vessels over a measured mile—the record of the Minneapolis would be 25.02 knots, something never ap-

proached by any foreign vesse l . By the same standard the Columbia’s record is over 24 knots. This is a remarkable record, inasmuch as the United States is only in the infancy of shipbuilding. Oui naval progress is watched with surprise in Europe, and a foreign writer in comparing our vessels with those of Great Britain says that, considered as all-around fighting and scouting machines, our cruisers are better than the English by not less than from 15 to 40 per cent. The Minneapolis. of which we present an illustration, is 412 feet long, 58 feet in breadth, 22 feet 6 inches in draught, has a tonnage of 7,350 and 21,000 horse power. The Columbia’s dimensions are the same, but the horse ptwer is 18,000. In design and finish the Minneapolis is entirely American.