Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-02-08
RIVER AND HARBoR.
The New Dredge of Messrs. Ross g
Sanford to be Ready for Operation
by March

The New Dredge of Messrs. Ross'IS
Sanford to be Ready for Operation
by March /.
Messrs. Rsss d Sanford, the new con-
tractors foy dredging the Savannah river
and harbOr, are building dredge at the
lower end Of the Savannah, Florida and
Western Railway Company's wharves,
which, when completed, will be the most
powerful dredge in the South. 1t is ex-
pected it will be in operation on or be-
fore March /. The hull is about finished
and is ready for the launch.
which would have taken place yes
teTday had the tide proved suitable.
Should it be favorable the craft will be
launched early this week. The blocking
foI the dredge was laid on Dec. II, and
while the work is nearly all done it has
been delayed by the n0n-arrivaf of the ma
chinery, which is rot all here yet. A
small portion Of it, with some Of the iron
castings, arrived last Wednesday,
the manufacturers installing the
~0int of shipment for Charleston,
y here - arrived about ten DAYS ago, and
only reached neSrT from TnarIest0n on
Wednesday. This Mistake costs the con.
tractors, sSccsiues delay in the work, $500
additional expense, which is understood,
however, will be borne by the shippers of
the machinery. The work Of construct
ing the hull IS under the supervision Of
Mr.. Edward Fair, thorough mechanic
OF long experience, having been in the
employ OF the contractors for sixteen
years. and VINO has superintendent the
building OF nearly all dredging machines.
The dimensions of the hull are as fol-
lows: 90 feet in length, "a feet 4inches
breadth, and 8 feet 8 inches over all in
depth. 1t is to be dOuDle-bOttOmed with
fOur-inch plank and sealed with timbers
and sheathing "double-clinched," the
frame work being built according TO the
Howe Truss" style, which gives the hull
tremendous power and resistance, neces-
sary for the character of the work she is
to be employed in, and the heavy
machinery and iron work which will
have to be carried. The house work on
deck will be about IS feet long, 23 feet
wide and 9 feet high. The machinery Will
be of the newest and most approved pat
tern, and is being built by the LedgerWOOd
Manufacturing Company of Brooklyn, \.
Y. The craft IS to be fitted with double
friction drums 14x1S feet friction on both
ends, drum gearing log to II with feet
inch Ditch and ! foot face, 8 inch shaft;
crank shaft 6 inches in diameter, and with
gypsv engines for hosting spuds, which
are very complete, being of double
action, going backward and
forward, also gypsy shafts for turning
her around, supplied with two hanging
chains and schieYes , feet inches in
diameter, with brass boxes. She will have
two spuds 81 inches square, with wells.
There is also an a frame already COM
pleted and which is a tine piece OF work,
with three pinch iron connecting rods.
This frame goes up forward. She is also
multiple effect water condenser
with, copper pipes attached, and
wrecking pumps with two 6-tnch sea-
cocks for supplying and dlscharglng
water. Neither the dimensions OF her
boilers and their power nor the power OF
her engines could be given by Mr.. Fair,
as they have not yet arrived. 1t IS their
| non-arrival that delays the completion OF
the wood work. The dredge will draw
| about five feet Of water with all her ma
| chinery in and ready for work.
! AThe contractors are also build
! ing scOW as companion
| of the dredge, the frame and woodwork
/ Of which is already cut out. The wood
/ material in both the dredge and scOw Is
/ strictly of pitch pine. The dimensions OF
| the scOw are as follows: Length, 30 feet;
width. - feet 4 inches; depth, s feet .
/ inches, the bottom to be sheathed with
/ felt. The scow will be ready in
about two weeks. When both the
dredge and scOw are completed
their cost. it is estimated, will be
between $45,O 600 aud $50, 900. The firm has
a smaller dredge on the way here from
Washington, where it has been dredging
for two years past. They have also one
Of their dredges at work az Wehawken
for the West Shore Railroad; one at
! WicomicO river, Maryland, working for
the government.
! Messrs. Ross & Sanford are said to be
the largest contractors in the United
States, and have a large amount Of
wealth invested in floating property.