Omaha daily bee., 1888-09-10
UNCLE SANS NEW FIGHTER.
What the Line OF Battleship Maine
Will BE When Built.

What the Line OF Battleship Maine
Will BE When Built.
In 1880 il is expected that the pride of
the American navy will be the warship
Maine. The Maine does not amount to
much as yet, but hundreds Of men are
making the Brooklyn navy yard hum
with the industry that will in time re-
suit in the grandest ship ever turned
out in this country. The Name is going
to be fighting ship. Unlike the At
lanta, Boston and Chicago, which are
designed as fast armed cruisers, the
Maine will be a regular line of battle
ship. She will be fast and still be u
fighter.
The Maine is the first big ship to be
built at the Brooklyn navy yard in many
years, and the consequence is, livelier
state of affairs exists in the yard than
has been known in some time. 1t will
take at least two years TO build her.
Since the war little has been done at
the Crooklin navy yard except to put
the finishing touches upon vessels. The
Atlanta and Boston were completed
there, and the Chicago Is lying in the
yard now, receiving her finishing
touches.
II takes great deal of machinery to
build "a big ship--machinery too, OF a
complicated kind. There must be almost
a complete rolling mill to roll the iron
into shape. There must be big ma
chimes to punch rivet holes, immense
steam hammers to pound the iron, and
great planers to plane it. TO build
solid foundations for these heavy ma
chimes. to arrange shafting and tram
ways. overhead, takes sconsiderable time,
skill and experience. That is what is
being done at present. Four big sheds
have been constructed, and in each
some branch of the work that is to re-
suit in the big shi p will be done. In
another month work will be actively
begun in every department, and little
by little the parts of the monster war
rior will be completed.
In order to sec how a big ship is built
a reporter paid visit to the yards.
The first thing he did was to seek out
Master Shipwright J. II. Magee.
Talk about clockwork, why clock
work is nothing TO building one of these
ships said the veteran shipwright, as
he hurried over to where gang of men
were finishing two long and narrow
tanks. "Thesc are acid tanks, and here
is where the first work on the ship
begins"
These tanks are six feet deep, about
three feet wide and about ten feet long.
They are placed in line with each other.
The iron for the ship is received in
sheets. 1t is loaded on small railroad
cars and pushed, by men, to the big
she'd, at the end OF which are the acid
tanks. The sheets are stored in this
shed until they are wanted. When
this time comes one OF the tanks is
filled with acid and the other with
water. The sheets of iron are loaded
on Car again and rolled up to the
tanks. BY machinery they are raised
from tho car and lowered into the acid.
This cleans away all the dirt, rust and
foreign substance upon the iron. The
sheets are lifted from the acid and
swung by means Of an overhead tram
way to the water tank and rinsed Off.
Then the iron is bright and clean and
and ready for working.
In the big shed next to the storage
shed are to be the rolling machines, the
big planers, steam hammers, etc. Some
OF the machinery is ready, and the rest
is being placed rs rapidly as it arrives.
An immense engine will furnish the
force to drive all OF the machinery in
this department. The boilers are al
ready in place. The biggest planer in
the United State will be among the mu-
chinery to be found here.
Inc preparations tNtt urc Dtlnp
made are not temporary ones. They are
permanent, and no doubt if the Maine
turns out to be as great n ship MS it is
hoped she will, more of the armored
cruisers will be constructed at the
Brooklyn yard
But the most interesting part Of the
preparatory work for the Maine is being
done under the supervision of George
McMullen, the master joiner OF the
yard. His men are constructing the
frames lor molds. Every piece OF iron
that goes into the ship must be
framed" A trip to the mold loft is
one of great interest. The loft is a room
of great size, and on the floor are laid
out two big block sections Of boards.
Each one IS fifty seven feet wide and
sions OF the Maine. On this block sur
face. In white lines, are marked of ali
the frames that are to be constructed.
1t is wonderful fine piece of work, and
indicates how minute and exact must be
all tho calculations that enter into the
work. The frames are made OF half
inch pine stuff. Men are busy turning
them out, and mauy have already been
completed. Each piece is numbered on
the diagram, and as it is turned into
wood the numbers are transferred, as,
for instance: "rrame 43--Maine." I"
These designations are marked in plain
letters that will not rub off.
Tho keel blocks of the Maine are al
ready laid under the big shed, where
she will gradually take shape. The
blocks indicate the length of the chip
| and show tho graceful curve Of stem
and stern. All OF the preparatory work
such as getting in the machinery and
placing it, is under the supervision Of
Master Shipwright Magee, and busy
man he is, too.
While considerable attention is being
paid TO the Mains, IT is by no means all
that is going on in the yard. Work is
being done on tho Chicago and the iron
monitors Terror and Miantonomah
The Terror arrived at the yard few
days ago. She and the Miautonomah
will in time he fitted for sea, but as
there is no demand for their services
now the work will not be hurried.
When completed the Maine will be
a 6,0oo-ton vessel. She will be supplied
with the heaviest guns, such as the two
4 -. Il f,,a \.