New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-06-27
II probably saved the

steamer having double skin. II probably saved the
great snip In moment Of peril.
The cellular system must DO COMPOUNDED with the
water tight compartments or bulkheads used in
all our transatlantic steamers. These bulkheads are
iron divisions runnng directly the ship from sids
to side and from kelson to decks dividing the vessel
into as many separate transverse compartments or d.
visions any OF which may by accident become full
of water without endangerng the safety OF the vessel
The construction OF the bikheads may be illustrated
by long hall divided by walls into number OF
sections communicating By doors. Shut these doors.
any divisions might be filed WITH say smoke.
without the others being penetrated Their distance
apart should be about equal to the ships beam. Tho
idea originated with the Chinese their trading vessels
and was introduced in England by Mr. Williams about
1882 few years earlier In very nearly the present
form.
The recent loss OF many vessels has given q
foundation to the idea that their strength inferior to
that Of the old wooden steamers, least that they
liable to sudden aud serious disasters and that
less rough usage will unit them efficient sea-b0ats.
What safeguards provided against accident In
ordinary transatlantic steamers They are all provided
with watertght bukheads. which divide them into
seven eight sections, and which are supposed " be
a sufficient safeguard against any ordinary calamity.
but they are built the cellular system. with
double skins from the keel TO the water line.
SAFETY OF CELLULAR CONSTRUCTION.
BY this latter mode OF construction actually reduce
the chances OF accident TO fraction. for we place one
ship inside the other and make 1t necessary that
both the inner and outer skin be pierced before have
recourse to water-tight bukheads which under all
circumstances are last The facts OF the
are these iron vessels at present built are not
as strong the old wooden ones Less force Is re-
CURED pierce hole either by rock or by COLLISION
through the plating OF iron steamers than was re-
qued break through the seven or eight inches OF
solid wood used in the vessels OF few years ago.
of fhp %
money has thus induced them TO depart from the sound
practice by building single skinned ships weaker than
their modern predecessors, 10 Is no argument agains,
the use the construction OF vessels Tae more
we study the Of shpbuding the more VIC learn
TO appreciate the fact that vessel IL to be regarded
simply as beam grder, subject TO different strains.
depending upon the way she happens 70 DO sup
ported by the waves, whether in the middle by ono
wave whether by waves, one at each end Ihns'
in calculations treat ship, and as the result Oh our
figures we find that the strength must be placed In the
Sotom and in the top OF vessel; that the resisting
power of the upper deck to crushing and tensile strains
must be about equal TO that OF the ships bottom IL
will be observed 10 looking at an iron beam or girdef
that the strength placed at the top and bottom In
this case the dictates Of both science and pTaeee nave
been observed But, IN opposition TO THIS SYSTEM WHICH
has been proved be correct our present IRON Veses
grow gradually weaker from the bottom up III tho
upper deck 4. weakest OF alb Now strength could
no insured in the bottom which should least equal
not more than equal that OF wooden ships; bnt 10
do this would require that the rcn be much thicker
than at present. and the weight would be increased In
greater proportion than the strength
STRENGTH INCREASED IN PROPORTION TO WEIGHT
Here comes In tho value OF the cellular construction
with the double bottom the weight is Increased III pro-
portion to the strength, and obtain result when
for safety ahead OF that secured by the mass OF
wood in the wooden ships. II the longitudinal system
of framing adopted, shall also have gain as 10
weight over the system. and this amount Oh
iron saved can be used in making the upper deck cer
ular also, as was done in the Great Eastern, tnus
making our conform closely to the structure OF
q grdcr or BEAM the result which we wish to obtain.
Let us see whether the cellular system has done any
thing 10 prevent sinking When the Great East
ern was entering the Sound she struck on rock anu
aed her outer plating The damage WIS seronS
seven holes made SIS feet long Dy four or nvo
wide. Transverse bulRneads "a put into snip Wouu
not have saved her; she would have sunk go rapuiy
that her could not have reached tue upper
deck had she a double bottom three ieet insie
of the one pierced which being intact Kept ncr ah,st
and would have continued to do SO had she desired 70
make the voyage home again. sac was repaired IN Wv
York without being removed from the water by Mr. r..
& Renwick. Other can be given OF n'ai 'esois
with the cellular construction which have been sdVeu
after almost equally severe damage 10 tner ou.e'
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