Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1894-08-30
LAUNCHING A eATTLEsHIP.
II Is Complex Problem and Slight Mis-
take Would Cost Millions,

take Would Cost Millions.
Albert Franklin Matthews tells an
interesting story OF "The Evolution
of a Battleship" in the July number
of the Century, This is Il history Of
the construction Of tho Indiana, so
far the only vessel of this class we
have in our navy, After describing
the wonderful power Of this mon
ster, the most formidable engine of
war In the world and the manner Of
its construction, Mr. Matthews said;
$50 the building goes on until the
launching 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 row Of electric
lights beneath the bottom Of the YES
sci, adding another innovation to the
details OF American shlpbulldlng.
Each launching way consists of upper
and lower planklng, between which
Is spread thousands. of pounds Of the
best 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
vessel starts, The upper part Of the
ways slides into the water with the
vessel, and the lower part with the
smoking hot tallow remains station
airy,
"a launch in these days is so
smooth, and so soon ended, rarely
occupying more than twelve seconds
from start to finish, that one scarce.
recognizes its difficulty, Three things
are absolutely necessary; II must be no
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 water, and 1t must be accom-
plished without strainlng. So com
pick thing is a launch that the
careful engineer In charge Is able to
estimate the strain on every part Of
the vessel for every position 1t occu'
pies, at intervals of one foot, on It's
way down the incline.
There is one supreme moment, 1t
Is when the vessel Is nearly 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 be
ruined, matter Of nearly so, 900, 900
in ship like the Indiana when 1t
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
nervously to every culver Of the YES
sci, the engines are run at full speed.
A premium or a penalty Is at stake
now. The breakage of q bolt or the
disarrangement Of valve may mean
thousands of dollars Of loss to the
contractors. Trained workmen are
locked in the fire rooms, not to b
released until the test is over. Cooled
drinking water, with oatmea
sprinkled upon it, Is run down tt
them in a rubber tube from a barre
on deck. A hose is played on the
costly machinery in places where
there Ia danger from overheatlng, az
though it were on fire. Almost every
pound of coal used on the trip Is care
fully selected.
"When the four hours are passed
and the strain is over sigh of reliei
from every one on board, and ever
from the vessel herself, goes up, anC
the ship passes from the contractor
to the Government and day aftel
day while she is in commission the
flag will be saluted, and the score Of
more of other ceremonies and for
malitIes observed on a man-ofwal
will follow"