Telegram-herald. ([Grand Rapids, Mich.) 18??-1892, 1890-08-21

s5iFH0LeE WE1hE taE AAA1A Is 81
re sUur
When the initial task q the drznghts-
nan and Bs01elsF IS done = schedule Of
material FOR the frames. aoor plates
outside plating. risets. etc. = pre- pared.
each piece having is letter and nuIa-
Der, and the list is sent - lie contrae-
tors ahose bids have been accepted.
There are no facilities Ia the navy yard
for making steel castings. and The ma
ter.al must DO purchased Of private
foaniriss.
Ia the meantime the bsilding slip Is
got ready. IL lies under the covered
ship-hoase. where work can be done in
al weathers. and runs down 20 tho
water side Keel blocks and cribbing
are put in and staging poles are set up
70 far the preparations have tue appear
ance ~ a tangle OF woodwork and are
most confusing TO the eye The lofts
men. as they are called, now make
molds FOR the keel and bottom francs
q the ship and send them % the bend
ing shed Hcre the sections Of steel
that, riyetted together. make the hull
are given the right shape and curve and,
piece By piece. are removed 70 the
building slip They are there laid down
and the work OF rivetting. which seems
T. have such fascination for the visit
ors. begins
At FIRST the fabric looks like the skel-
eton Of an immense fish. the keel CORE
spending 70 the back bone. but day by
day, a. plato succeeds plate along the
whole length Of the hull, as the vertical
beams are put in and the inner bottom
IS fitted and bolted, she ship takes
shape and towers in the air like bas-
tion. Her great sides are painted TO
preserve the material as soon as
a large section OF the hull is COM
pleted. The Maine is now u bright red,
but when she is ready for commission
she viii no doubt be painted an i'm
rnaculate white like other ships of our
virgin navy. From the outside to-day
her hull seems 20 be in position. Go on
board and you win find she is still q
mere she'll. Two OF her decks have been
partially laid down, openings having
been left for her engines, but the fore
tASL4t, pEOstCslfrs
decks yet remain TO be built
After she is launched this fall, the
finer work of fitting and equipment will
be done, and it is estimated that this
will take between one and two years
An electric plant for illuminating cab
ins, decks and quarters and for operat-
ing search lights is now an indispensa-
- - nd
construction IS a labor requiring infinite
delicacy and care. Then the intricate
machinery OF the engines and the guns
must be put in; quarters for officers and
crew, state-rooms, ward-rooms, a dis
pensary, hospital, lavatories and bath
rooms are to DO divided off, fitted up.
furnished. painted. etc. A thorough
system Of ventilation by blowers with
reversible valves TO force and exhaust
air must be provided; sides, decks and
turrets are 20 be covered with hard
steel rolled by tho Snyder process.
Cruiser No. 7 is not attracting much
attention just now. Only $50 men are
at work on her, while nearly 500 are en-
gagged on the Maine. Nevertheless the
unnamed cruiser will be remarkably
fine vessel, and the yard constructors
are very proud OF her. She will be oil
5000 tons displacement and will have
twin screws. a heavy, protective deck,
great speed and powerful batteries OF
rapid-hre guns. Her principal features
will be: Length on load limo, 800 feet;
extreme breadth, AZ feet; mean draught,
is feet; tons per inch, 90; indicated
horsepower. 10000; speed in knots, 10.
il will DO seen that cruiser No. should
10 able 70 run away from the Maine
She will have two-masted schooner
rig and Will spread 1910 square feet OF
canvas A main battery Of one 6-inct
and ten 4-inch rapidfire breech-loading
rifles on center pivot mounts, a second
AIRY battery OF 6-pounders, 3-pounders, a
1-pounder and two guns OF the Calling
type, and six Howell torpedo tubes will
make up her armament As a com
mercedes troyer she will be as servicea
bic vessel as any navy In the world