Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1894-09-07
LAUNCHING A sATTLesHlp.
II Is Complies Problem. and n slight Mis-
take would Cost lIillions.

Abort Frlutli Matthew'S tells an in
! torcstng story Of Tho Evolution of "A
! B1ttloship' in The Century. This IL n
! history Of the obstruction Of the Indiana
| After describing the wonderful power Of
! this monster and the manner of its CON
| stucti0n Mr.. Matthews says:
So Che building goes on until the launch
| ing day comes and two broad ways are
! buit mp against the bottom Of the vessel,
and the keel blocks on which it has been
resting are knocked away. In tho launch
of thc Indiana Mr.. Nixon ran row OF
electric iights beneath the bottom OF tho
vessel adding another innovation to the
"details of American shipbuilding. Each
launching way consists of upper and low
yr plunEiur, between which is spread
thousands OF pounds of the best tallow
AT the bow of the boat these upper and
lower panks are clampcd together and
when all is ready they are sawed apart,
ana the vessel starts. The upper part of
the ways slides into the water with the
vessel, and the lower part, with the smok.
ing hot tallow, remains stationary.
n launch in these days L. 50 smooth and
so soon ended, rarely occupying more than
- seconds from start 10 finish, that one
scarcely realizes its difficulties Three
things are absolutely neccssary-it must
be on time, when the tidal water Is high
est, it must be of smart speed so as not to
stick on its downward journey TO the wa.
ter and il must be accomplished without
stmining so complex thing is a launch
that the careful engineer in charge is able
90 estimate the strain on every part of the
vessel for every position it occupies at in
tvWals of one foot on its Way down tho
incline
There Is one supreme moment. 1t is
when the vessel is nealry two-thirds in
the water The buoyancy of the water
raises the vessel and throws its weight on
its shoulders. Here is where the greatest
danger of straining comes, and should
The ways break down the vessel would DO
ruined, matter of nearly s., 600, 600 in
ship like the lndianawhen it was launched
The launch over, the machinery is lifted
i'm 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 neryously to every culver of the
vessel, the engines are run at full speed.
a premium or a penalty is at stake now
The breakagc of a bolt or the disarrange
dollars loss to the contractors. Trained
Worlmcn are locked in the hrerooms, not
to be released until the test is over. Cooled
drinking water with oatmeal sprinklcd
upon it, is run down TO them in rubber
tube from barrel on the deck a hose
81, played on the costly machinery in places
where there is danger from overheating,
as though it were on fire Almost every
pound If coal used on the trip is carefully
selected
Whom the four hours are passed and the !
strain is over, a sigh Of relief from every
ono ON board and even the vessel herself |
goes up, and the ship passes from the con.
tractor To the government and day after |
day, while She is in commission, the flag |
viii bc ,aluted, and the score or more Of |
other ceremonies and fornalities observed |
on man of-War will follow