The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1894-10-05
LAUNCHING A sATTLEsHIP.
n b o Complex Problem, and Sigh,
Miatake Would Cost Millions.

Mistake Would Cost Millions.
Albert Franklin Mathews tells an
interesting story Of The Evolution Of
4 Battleship' In the Century. This is
a history OF the construction OF the In
6sana. so far the only vessel Of this
class we have in our navy. After de-
scr1blng the wonderful power OF this
monster. the most formidable engine
of war In the world. and the manner
of its construction, Mr.. Mathews says:
SO 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 II has been resting are Knocked
AWAY. In the launch of the Indiana
Mr.. Nixon ran row OF electric lights
beneath the bottom of the vessel, add
ing another innovation to the details
of American shipbuilding. Each
launching way consists OF upper and
tower planking. between which is
spread thousands of pounds OF the
best tallow. At the bow Of the boat
these upper and lower planks are
ciamped together, and when al 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
% finish. that one scarcely realizes It's
difficulties. Three things are abso-
Iutely necessary; it must be on time
when the tidal wave is highest; II
urnsst be Of smart speed, so as not 10
stick on its downward journey TO the
water, and 1t must be accomplished
without straining. SO complex Il thing
Is launch that the careful engineer
tn-charge is able 10 estimate the STRAIN
ON every part Of the vessel Tor every
position il occupieS, at Intervals OF
one foot. on iJs way down the incline'
There is one supreme moment. IL rs
when the vessel is nearly two-thlras
In the water. The buoyancy of the
water raises the vessel, and throws lis
weight on its shoulders. Here is
where the greatest danger of strain
Ing comes. and 81 0Hiid the ways break
down the vesse, would be ruined. a
matter of nearly 100000 In d snip
Hike the Indiana. when a vas launch
ed.
Tho launch over. the machinery is
Bfted in and fitted, and then come The
board of government experts, who looE
the vessel over inch by Inch. the 1res
are started and trial trip follows. For
four hours amid suppressed excitement
that answers nervOusly to every quiVer
Of the vessel the engines are run NJ
full speed. 4 premium OF penalty
Is at stake now. The breakdge 0t a
bolt or the diSarrangement of valve
may mean thousands of dollars OF loss
10 the contractors. Trimmed wOrbmen
are locked in the fire-rOoms, not 20 be
released until the test Is over. Cooled
drinking water With oatmeal sprnkled
upon II is run down 70 them in q rub
Der tube from a barrel on the deck.
A hose is played on the costly ma
chinery in places where there is dan
ger from overheatinG, as though 1t
were on fire. Almost every pound Of
coal used on the trip IS CAREFUL select
Cd.
When the four hours are passed and
the strain is over, a sigh of relief from
everyone on board. and even from the
vessel herself, goes up, and the ship
passes from the contractor to the gov
Unment and day after day while she
b in commission the flag Will be
Jealuted, and the score or more OF other
ceremonies and forma1ties observed
on a man-of-war VIII follow.