The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1885-04-04
ottawa, ILL.,, April 2. 1888.
From New Orleans.
New ORLEANS, March 20, 1885.

NEW ORLEANS, March 20, 1885.
In former letter on the Mexican depart
ment justice was not done to the exhibit II
natural history, literature and art, nor to the
beautiful marbles and onyxes, the interest
ing exhibit of sugars, or the very large dis
play OF native liquors.
Within the past week two very great at
fractions have been added to the already
large and interesting exhibit of Mexico
One is the opening of the Mineral Build
ing, beautiful structure In the Moresque
style, gorgeous with stained glass windows
and dome, and brilliant painting In the
richest of ColOrs.
Within this building, as a fit setting fol-
the rich treasures of her mines, Mexico
displays samples of all the ores that bring
her wealth, gathered from every state OF
the republic. IA i-s III! u
To a certain extent, however, the very
magnificence of the display defeats itself
for seen in the food Of colored light pour
ed from the brilliant-lined windows and
dome, the minerals lose almost all distinc.
tiveness and their naturally beautiful colors
are obliterated or entirely changed.
The other exhibit is that of %, working
model of the 'rehuahtepec Ship Railway
system, projected by Captain James b.
Eads. The model, which is finely finished
and is said to have cost $4,000, Is 80 feet
long and consists Of portion of the basin
leading from the harbor, the lifting pom
toon, section of the railroad track, with
ship carriage and turntable.
A ship seven feet long and weighing $50
pounds is used, and the operation of rails
ing the ship from the water, transporting
it on the railroad, turning 1t on the turn
table and returning 1t to the water, is gone
through with many times day to large
and appreciative audiences.
As this railroad seems to be destined to
be built and used, u brief description of
the working of the system may be of inter
est To make 1t clearer the working di,
mensions of the railroad will be given.
A pontoon or floating dock, Is feet deep,
IS feet wide and somewhat longer than the
longest vessel to be transported, is arranged
with water-tight compartments, so that 1t
NAV be made to sink or float in a basin of
water by pumping water into Or from these
compartments.
On this pontoon, running on rails cores.
ponding with those of the railway, is a
cradle capable of supporting and carrying
loaded ship.
The pontoon with the ship carriage on it
il sunk, by admitting water into its com
partments, to depth sufficient to allow the
ship to float over it, The pontoon is then
pumped out until its deck is on level
with the railroad track. Engines are then
attached to the carriage and the ship is
hauled off on the railroad track, to begin
its journey across the isthmus. A reversal
of this process transfers the ship to the
water again.
The track has six rails, the outer ones
being 30 feet apart. On 1t runs the ship
carriage, consisting of strong transverse
gIrders, supported by 800 wheels, each one
double Hanged and having an Independent
axle. Between the Orders and each wheel
is a strong spring, which will not be fully
closed by the weight of the heaviest ship.
To support the weight of the ship without
unequal strain, 100 supports are used, re-
sembling somewhat in appearance the or
binary orchestra music stand These sup
ports consist of strong steel columns, bear
ing at the top by means of teggle joint a
plate about three feet square. These plates
will be cushioned to prevent injury to the
ship. The columns may be moved freely
up and down, but are capable of being
locked firmly at any point by means of a
strong screw nut. When the ship is run
on the pontoon series of connected n.y.
draulic rams raise these columns SO that
the plates bear firmly against the sides and
bottom of the ship. The valves admitting
water to these rams are now closed and the
ship raised by pumping the water from the
compartments of the. pontoon. ---.-@-.
The ship now rests upon the 100 steel
columns, which In turn are upheld by as
many columns of water in the hydraulic
rams. As these rams are all connected, 1t
is evident that each support bears It's exact
proportion of the weight Of the ship. The
screw nuts are now turned down, locking
the columns firmly, and the rams With
drawn, transferring the weight to the car.