Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1895-11-24
GETTING READY FOR RALAuNcH
The First Preparations Are Made When
 the Keel Blocks Are Laid.

The First Preparations Are Made When
 the KeeI- Blocks Are Laid.
 It has often been said that man be- gins to die the moment that he begins to live. 1t might also be said that a ship begins to be launched the mo- ment she begins to be built. The first thing in the actual construction is to arrange the keel-blocks on which the ship is to rest while she is building. They must be placed at certain dis tances apart, and each must be little higher than it's neighbor nearer the water. These blocks are usually of the stoutest oak, and are placed from two to three feet apart. They must have a regular inclination, or the ship can not be launched. In vessels like the St. Louis the incline is about one half an inch in height to a foot in length In smaller vessels it is often more than one inch to the foot. Larger vessels have so much weight that a sharp incline Is not as necessary as with smaller ones The keel of the ship is laid on these blocks, and as fast as the sides of the vessel are built up great props are placed against them to make sure that by no accident will the vessel topple over
 At length the hull of the ship is com pleted. Then it is that the launching apparatus is prepared. This consists of two parts, one that remains fixed ca the ground and one that glides into the water with the ship. The part that goes in the water is the cradle It is that part in which the hull of the yes sel rests snugly, and probably that Is why it is called a cradle. When the time comes for the launch long row of blocks is built under each side of the ship at an equal distance from the keel blocks and of the same inclina- tion. On these blocks rest first the sta tionary ways" These consist of broad blanks of oak from three to four weight of from two to two and one half tons to the square foot On top of these ways are the sliding ways" of nearly the same breadth, and between the two the tallow Is placed. A narrow cleat runs along the edge of the stationary ways so that the sliding ways shall not slip off as they carry the ship along. Above the slid ing ways is what is called the 'pack- ing" This consists of pieces of tim Der packed close against the curving sides of the vessel to hold it firm to the sliding ways beneath. The curves il the hull vary so much that it would be impossible to fit the sliding ways to them, and so, by means of packing the ship is fitted to the ways instead. The packing and the sliding ways con. stitute the cradle, and it is fastened tG the ship by stout ropes. Along iti length, at intervals of about eighteen inches, are big wedges, the points of which are inserted between the slid. ing ways and the packing. A rope about the thickness of clothes. line runs from wedge to wedge, so thai none may be lost when they float into the water.
 We are now ready for the launch. Tallow to the thickness of about an inch has been spread between the ways as they were put in position, nearly sixty barrels being necessary for ship like the St. Louis. The cradle sets snugly against the ships bottom. The vessel, however is still resting on the keel blocks. The task now is to transfer the ship from these keel blocks to the launching supports, and to take away the keel blocks Then, when the weight of the ship rests on the launching ways alone, all that is necessary is to saw away the sole piece" at the bow, where the station ary and sliding ways are fastened to- gether, and the ship by her own weight will probably slide into the water. If she needs start, several jacks using hydraulic power are ready beneath the keel to lift her trifie and give her a push. Franklin Matthews, in St Nicholas.
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