The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1895-05-02
The New American Steamer St. Paul.

No more successful launching of large |
vessel was ever effected than was that of
the new American liner st. Paul from the
Cramps shipyard, at Philadelphia recently.
This was especially gratifying because OF the
failure to effect the launch some two weeks
ago. as was first intended, causing great dis
appointment to q great crowd which had
then assembled TO do honor to the occasion.
| The Sirst failure was attributed to poor
tailow, but there was no fault of this kind
the second time, and the tallow was mixed
with lard oil and steamed just before the
launch. It has been asserted that the
vessel was heavier the first time than she
should have been. but this was efectually
answered by the fact that the builders con-
tinued to put in weight instead Of taking It
out.
/ Up near the bow one side Of the cradle
had sunk two inches, two weeks ago, under
the pressure of the jack screws, and the
ways were shaped to allow this settling 1t
was intended the launch should take place
at 2:3O D. M, but freshet in the. Delaware
brought high water earlier, and at l2:l5 p
IN. was heard the ''rally" Of the four hun
dred men who had been told off as wedgers.
as they lifted the vessel from the keel blocks
by pushing up the launching ways against
her In five minutes more the men were
heard cutting away the keel blocks, and
aoon the vessel commenced to glide down
the ways, keeping the same pace nearly all
the way, As she started the usual christen-
ing bottle was broken on her bow by Miss
Francis c. Griscom, a sixteen year old
daughter of President Griscom of the Inter
national Navigation Company. The vessel
was towed back to the yard within twenty
minutes.
/ The St. Paul is sister ship Of the St..
: Louis, launched in November last, and both
4; are, in the words Of Mr.. Charles H. Cramp,
american from truck to keelson. Nc
Q foreign materials enter into their construc'
tion. They are Of American model and de-
1 sign, American material. and built by
r American skill and muscle"
e They are the largest vessels ever con
g structed in America, their principal dimen
e sions being: Length over all, 554 feet
length on load water line, 536 feet; extreme
n breadth, 63 feet; moulded depth, az feet
o tonnage, gross register, 1000 tons Th'
!. hull has double bottom constructed on th'
"a cellular principle, subdivided by athwart
!, ship bulkheads and longitudinal division
il arranged for heeling purposes. the whoi
,s available for water ballast. 1t is SO subdi
' vided by transverse bulkhesds that even il
k the event of collision and injury to a bulk
|. head, whereby two compartments might 6l
with water, the ship would still Aoat il
perfect safety. 1t has straight stem an
- elliptioal stern, topgallant forecastle, wit
:. close bulwarks, fore and aft, and promenade
n saloon, upper main and orlop decks, tn
three 6rst named to be plated from end
i end. The main deck will be plated for tn
length of the machinery spaces. and wi
have stringers and tie plates beyond. Woo
y planking will be laid on all decks. Tt
70 promenade deck will remain unbroken ii
e' whole length Of the vessel. The vessel wi
u carry about 800 first-class and 200 secono
'' class passengers and 900 emigrants.
~ The engines are quadruple expansion, d.
- signed to develop 10000 II. P. each. I'll
- cylinders are SO, so, II and 100 inches r.
-. spectively in diameter. with piston strol
y" Of 60 inches. two sets Of engines turnir
." twin screws, which will be sectional, Wi
'.y three blades. Steam for the working of Il
W main engines will be furnished at about q
"' pounds pressure by six steel double.end'
/" boilers, each 20 feet dong and Is feet
inches diameter. 10 comply with the teri
err of the contract. the builders will have
he show, by an extended sea trial. that VIII
Vo- working under ordinary sea.going conditio
Id; the vessel is capable Of maintaining spe
ose Of 20 knots per hour at sea.
old The st. Paul as we'll as the St. Louis, h
so, been especially arranged to be readily q
q. quickly convertible into an armed cruiser
ing the United States Government, id viii
De- capacity she will carry a number Of skin
can rapid firing guns. Scientific American. 81
tito