The Portland daily press., 1894-07-14
LAUNCHING A BATTLE-SHlP.
1t is a Complex Problem and Slight Mis-
take Would Cost Millions.

Albert franklin Matthews tells an inter-
esting story of 1.-The Evolution OF Battle
ship in the July number of 1.-THE Cen
tury." This is history of the construc-
ton of the Indiana, SO far the only vessel
OF this class we have in our navy. After
describing the wonderful power of this
in the world, and the manner of it's con-
struction, Mr.. Matthews says:
So the building goes on until the launch
ing day comes, and two broad ways are
built UP against the bottom of the vessel,
and the keel-blocks on which it has been
resting are knocked away. In the launch
of the Indiana, Mr. Nixon ran a row of cleo
trio lights beneath the bottom of the YES
sci, adding another innovation to the do
tails of American shipbuilding. Each
launching way consists of upper and 10 wer
planking, between which is spread tn GUS
ands of pounds of the bsst tallow. AT the
bow of the boat these upper and lower
planks are clamped together, and when all
is ready they are sawed apart, and the YES
sci starts. The upper part of the ways
slides into the water with the vessel, and
the lower part with the smoking hot tallow
remains stationary.
n ldunSA Ill bu6S0 uttyS rs So SIQOOGn, anu
so soon ended, rarely occupying more than
twelve seconds from start to fnish that
one scarcely realizes it's difficulties. Three
things are absolutely necessary: it must
be on time, when the tidal water is highest,
itsmust be of smart speed, so as not to stick
on its downward journey to the water;
and it must be accomplished without strain
ing. So complex a thing is a launch that
of,7Io ,o1.,, IL
innate the strain on every part of the YES
sci for every position it occupies, at inter-
walls of one foot, on it's way down the in
cline.
There is one supreme moment. It is
when the vessel is nearly two-thirds in the
waer. The buoyancy of the-water raises
the vessel, and throws it's weight on its
shoulders. Here is where the greatest
danger of straining comes, and should the
ways break down. the vessel would be ruin
ed.a matter of nearly So, 600, 900 in a ship like
the Indiana when it was launched
The launch over, the machinery is lifted
in and fitted. and then comes the board of
government experts, who look the vessel
over inch by inch. the fires are started, and
the trial trip follows. For four hours. amid
suppressed excitement that answers ner-
FOuSiy W every culver OI UL0 vessel, Gn0 en-
gines are run at full speed. A premium or
a penalty is at stake now. The breakage
of a bolt or the disarrangement of valve
may mean thousands of dollars of loss to
the contractors. Trained W orkmen are
locked in the tire-rooms. not to be rele ased
until the test is over. Cooled drinking
water with oatmeal sprinkled upon it is
run down to them in rubber tube from a
barrel on the deck. A hose is played on
the costly machinery in places where there
Is danger from overheating, as though it
were on fire., Almost every pound of coal
used on the trip is carefully selected.
When the four hours are passed and the
strain is over, a sigh of relief from every
one on board, and even from the vessel her.
self, goes up, and the ship passes from the
contractor to the government, and day
after day, while she is in commission the
flag will be saluted, and the score or more
of other ceremonies and formalities observ-
ed on man-of-war will follow.