Show TO MAKE st SHRINE IRINE OF battleship OREGON ranks with old ironsides in naval history portland ore the battleship oregon commission Is launching a campaign to finally provi provide de a fitting resting place for the famous old battlewagon tle wagon that figured so prominently y in the spanish american war the fate of the de commissioned battleship which was given by the federal government to the state of oregon in 1923 and saved from the scrapping provisions of the limitations of arms conference has been referred to the children of oregon the pennies of school children will be used to move the vessel from present temporary quarters to portland city property bordering the willamette river and the site will be converted into a marine park A fund of approximately will be needed the commission estimated to be penny fund the oregon ranks with old ironsides in united states naval history and the same method of penny contributions will be used to perpetuate it as a patriotic shrine an act of congress passed june 30 1890 gave authority to build the battleship and the union iron works at san francisco built the vessel at a cost of henry L howison was the first command er the Or egons lame fame come came when it sailed under secret orders in 1898 around the horn the battleship sailed and miles out of san francisco it nosed into havana harbor cheered by men aboard other vessels in the warn torn port the battle was fought july 4 when the maria theresa oquendo viscaya biscaya and the colon of the spanish fleet were engaged and beaten legislature votes praise the measure adopted by the oregon legislature in accepting the ship said the gallant performance of the whole ship and the valiant deeds of the heroic crew that have manned her are forever enshrined in the hearts of the people moving the oregon will be no less lob job than moving a 14 story office building with a 40 foot frontage it weighs more than pounds is nearly as long as one and one half portland city blocks feet 2 inches is 69 feet 3 inches wide carries four 13 inch guns eight 8 inch guns twelve 3 inch guns and four 6 operation cooperation co of spanish american war veterans and other patriotic and civic organizations will be sought and medallions struck from brass and copper of the oregon may be distributed |