River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1894-08-09
LAUNCHING A eATTLEsHIP.
It Is a Complex Problem and Slight
Mistake Would Cost Millions.

It Is a Complex Problem and a Slight
Mistake Would Cost Millions.
Albert Franklin Matthews tells an
interesting story of The Evolution of
o Battleship," in the Century. This is
a history of the construction Of the In
diana, so far the only vessel of this
class we have in our navy. After de-
scribing the wonderful power of this
monster, the most formidable engine
of war in the world, and the manner
of its construction, Mr.. Matthews 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 il has been resting are knocked
away. In the launch of the InGiana
Mr.. Nixon ran a row of electric lights
beneath the bottom of the vessel, add
ing another innovation to the details
of American ship-building. Each
launching way consists of upper and
lower planking, 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 low
er part with the smoking hot tallow
remains stationary.
A launch in these days is SO smooth,
and so soon ended, rarely occupying
more than twelve seconds from start TO
finish, that one scarcely realizes its
difficulties. Three things are absolute
ly necessary; it must be on time, when
the tidal water is highest; it must
be of smart speed, SO as not to stick on
its downward journey 70 the water;
and il must be accomplished without
straining. So complex thing is
launch that the careful engiueer-in-
charge is able to estimate the strain
on every part of the vessel for every
position it occupies, ut intervals of one
foot, on its 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 it's shoulders. Here is where the
greatest danger of straining comes,
and should the ways break down the
vessel would be ruined, a matter of
nearly two million dollars in q 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 ard the trial trip fol-
lows. For four hours, amid suppressed
ell ~
every culver of the vessel, the engines
are run at full speed. A premium or a
penalty is at stake now. The breakage
of bolt or the disarrangement of a
valve may mean thousands of dollars
of loss to the contractors. Trained
workmen are locked in the freroon.s,
not to be released until the test is over.
Cooled drinking water with oatmeal
sprinkled upon it is run down to them
in rubber tube from 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 pourd of
coal used on the trip is carefully Sc
lected.
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, gees up, and the ship
passes from the contractor to the gov
eminent. and day after day while she
is in commission the flag win be sa-
luted and the score or more of other
ceremonies and formalities observed on
a man-of-war will follow.
The armless wonder is quite handy with
his feet -Pnclr