Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 40, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 January 1908 — TWO NEW BATTLESHIPS. [ARTICLE]

TWO NEW BATTLESHIPS.

Government J7ew Building Largest in the World. Coincident with the departure of the Atlantic fleet for the Pacific, there was laid down in the Fore River shipyard, at Quincy, Mass., the keel plates of the battleship North Dakota, which Is expected to be far more powerful than the most effective ship now under the command of Rear Admiral Evans. The biggest vessel in tlie Pacific hound fleet is of .10,000 tonnage, but the North Dakota will be of 20,000 tons displacement; nearly 2,000 tons heavier than

the famous Dreadnought, of the British navy, and _2_3 per ceut more effective in guu-fire than the latter. The North Dakota will be 510 feet long. It is already figured out that the launching will take place next October, or in ten months frojn the time of the laying of the keel. iAlthqugh the keel was laid only recenny / the North Dakota Is regarded as nearly 8 per cent finished. . Long before the keel block* were placed in position the ship was completely laid down in the mold-loft and over 50 per cent of all the plans In the construction of the ship were developed . ««a * approved. The North Dakota is a sister ship of the Delaware, now being built at New port News.