In 1901, the Moran Brothers shipyard of Seattle won the bid to build one of three battleships for the U. S. Navy, the USS Nebraska (BB-14). The shipyard underwent major renovations to accommodate the construction of such a large vessel, including the building of a 600 foot long ship shed. The ship's keel laying ceremony was held on Independence Day and over 7000 people showed up to witness the formal recognition of the start of the ship's construction, including a delegation from the state of Nebraska headed by Governor Ezra Savage. The letter pictured here is on Moran Bros. Company stationary and is signed by Robert Moran (1857-1943). The letter is addressed to "Mr. L. B. Youngs, Supt. Water Dept." Luther B. Youngs was born in 1858 in Nebraska but had moved to Seattle by 1887. He was the superintendent of the city water department from 1895 until his death in 1923.

Caption information source: "Moran shipyard in Seattle launches battleship Nebraska on October 7, 1904," by Alan J. Stein, HistoryLink.org Essay 5401. Caption information source: "L. B. Young Dies While on Outing at Hope Island," The Seattle Daily Times, June 11, 1923, p.1.

• Subjects (LCTGM): Boat & ship industry--Washington (State)--Seattle; Moran Brothers Company (Seattle, Wash.); Nebraska (Battleship)