Saturday press. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1880-1885, 1882-09-23
THE MARINE R4IL WAY.
Go he continued.)

On Monday last we availed ourself of an
opportunity to visit the Marine Railway, now
in process of construction. The building has
been proceeding at rapid pace considering
the engineering difficulties that have had to be
overcome and the limited number of hands
employed, and will probably be completed
abou, January next. When in working order,
it is calculated to accommodate any vessel of
not over 1900 tons total measurement and
may also be used in raising the stems of the
largest steamers that visit our port, when
necessary for the shipping or unshipping of the
propeller or other repairs in its vicinity.
AT present, when viewed by the uninitiated,
it is huge but incomprehensible affair, both
as to its particular location, and the method by
which vessels are to be raised upon it, and is
the subject of many an amusing discussion
among the curious who have only their ocular
view and inner consciousness from which to
elaborate their conclusions Previously to our
visit and conversation with the urbane and
communicative gentleman who is at once the
inventor and patentee Of this particular form
of ship-dock, and also the contractor ~and
builder in the present instance, we had to
plead to a share in the common ignorance as
10 its general merits and prospective working.
Our mystihcation on the subject was soon dis
PEELED, however, by the lucid information fur
nished us by Mr.. Crandal, who expresses him
self as ready and willing to explain its workings
to such as are interested in the particulars.
Prior to our visit We had shared the somewhat
popular conception in regard to the apparently
odd location chosen, and the seeming waste OF
money in making land for its accommodation
when so much already built and better fitted
for its site, existed along the water front. A
little explanation with the elaborate maps and
drawings in possession Of the gentleman refer
red, when placed before one for contemplation
very rapidly changes the aspect of their i'm
promptu reflections, and affords convincing
proof Of the assertion made by Mr. Crandal
that this is the only kind OF dock PRACTICABLE,
considering the topography of our harbor ; anC
capable of being built nowhere else withou
greater inconvenience and at largely inereas
cd outlay Of capital. lie considers the con
stmction OF dry dock, in our harbor, next t,
an impossibility, and fixes the only possibl,
location OF a floating dock at point where !
would effectually blockade the ports entrance
He also considers that to build any kind Of
dock for the accommodation of larger vessels
visit US IN trunsifn, would utterly fail OF ii
object, as such vessels would, under any bu
very extraordinary circumstances, reserve thei
c repairing to be done a, the ffymini OF thei
4 routes.
5 The Marine Railway has four rails, the mid
5 die two OF which are designed TO sustain tn
!, greater part OF the weight, the vessel restin
{ on her keel Immediately between them in tn
c cradle above, the outer two being calculate
S mainly for the preservation Of balance. o
Il these four rails (which have an edging
o wrought iron half an inch thick and four inch,
II broadl the cradle with the vessel fitted into |
II will slide. The cradle will consist Of hea,
e wooden frame work about IFS fee, in lenet
" and corresponding in width, with the trac
upon which 1t Is To run. The bottom, OF fri
d ton surface, is formed by -four rails OF sleepe
: which are superintendent, upon, and corr
c, spond with the rails OF the track beneatl
a upon which they are intended TO slide. Ups
h these. resting tranyersely, are heavy bean
1. placed a, regular intervals throughout its emit
v length which form the floor Of the cradl
nc Bolied to, and rising from the floor, a
ID knees, which. being prolonged, form the an
Of the cradle, and designed to hold the s,ra
an pings BY which the vessel. is maintained
he position. On these arms are arranged pulle
IN BY which SC, Of running blocks placed
to either side. are slid into position on the bo,to
lis and prevent all lateral motion.
~ The cradle, with is burden, will be draw
,b forward upon the track BY means Of two en-
a les chains, attached on either side Of il, Al
&c. driven by an exceedingly powerful eompou
he engine, 80 situated that the track itself acts