The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-06-18

ter at remarkable rate Of speed, for
her narrow huli offers minimum re-
sistance to the water. 1t IS perfectly
semicirUular for about &c feet amidships.
Then she tapers gracefully to Il knife
blade bow and to a finely modelled run.
The shape of tho hull and its smooth
ness give the vessel the appearance of q
hugo racing she'll.
vessel is novel. 1t is put together. es
MIR. Fryer expresses it, like nh eggbox
In tho ordinary vessel" said MFR Fry
er, "the hall is constructed first; then
the dividing walls are put in. Wehaye
built the dividing walls of iron, and
they are part Of the hull. Primarily
tho whole vessel is constructed Of iron
Thore arc Is transverse frames in the
hull, turned out at the rolling mill Just
as they We're put together Mt tho yard
These frames are saddled on the keel
Sc. 4 inches apart, and each of these sec
tions conforms to the shape of tho hull
transversoly at the point where it fits
in. The walls Of the staterooms arc of
iron. They will DO finished off hand
somely. and they will have the orna-
mentatiop OF wooden partitions, but
there will not DO enough wood about
the whole vessel to mako respectable
bonfire. 1t will bo impossible, there
fore, to burn the new ship, and compo-
tent engineers who have examined her
say that you could roll her down hill
without hurting hcr very much"
An export has described the construc-
ton Of cellular extension upward OF
the heavy keel These iron cells mako
rigid frame, and they furnish water
tight compartments, which should be
insurance against sinking.
This 20. 600 pound keel has other uses
than to lower the center Of gravity of
the vessel. The main shaft which drives
the screw ct weighs 39.o pounds)
rests in bearings which are also bedded
soGdly on the keel This gives them IL
foundation like masonry. The engine
also rests directly on tho keal 1t ia a
rock shaft engine of peculiar type, and
| recently it was running at speed Of 20
| revolutions under five pounds Of steam
And though tho engine WINS just below
| the cabin deck there was no peroeptiblc
| oscillation
Thoie is a series Of alright compart-
ments just within the skin, and some
Of the apaces con he used to hold water
ballast as the coal is used up and tho
hold OF the vessel lightencd
| or course the entire hold Of the YES
sci lie given up to mnohinery, etc. There
is no space there for freight. And the
idea of the Arrow steamship is n vessel
TO carry only passengers and express
matter. Mr.. Fryer believes that such u
vessel can be made to pay from tho start
in tho Central American trade. She can
carry fruit i'll one Of the sections, and
the freight on this alone ought to pay
nearly all the expenses OF trip.
Some ono who was interested in the
fruit trade i'll New Orleans said when
the new limo of vessels of the Arrow
| type was proposed: "1alero is mint of
money for any one who will got into
this country simply tho fruit turned
back at the wharf by the inspectors. In
a ship which can make tho trip from
Honduras to tho United States iii about
IS hours there is 20 reason why fruit
should not be brought through in prime
condition"
Ii the Cassard is q success, Mr. Fryer
wants TO Lay the keels OF two vessels q
little larger, 257 feet over all and of &C
feet beam. This will be tho size Of the
vessels which will so into the Central
American trade. It will require five of
these ships to establish daily line be
tween New Orleans apd Honduras or
four Of them TO establish y daily line
between Punta Gorda, in Florida, and
Honduras No vnsca1 nna/l IAe ,,,nro eL,,,
10 hours at her dock at the end of the
voyage.
There will be no freight t6 uaIoaA
md the passengers and express matter
can be slowed away worry quickly. 1t
will he something like pleasant travel
ing to step aboard q floating sleeping
oar at Pupta Gorda and after two nights
and day find Yourself in Honduras.
Mr.. fryoS believes that he can bring
tho trip from Gastemals to washing ton
water and rail. from ten days down to
four.
When the Howard Cassard goes down
the river On her triar trip. there viii be
some anxfous eyes Watching her. The
stockholders who have Pit $500, 600 in
TO tho company which built her will be
represented, and sos no Doubt, will be
the navy department The demonatrs
ton OF the psaptioability Of the new
form Of construction will moan Also.
lntaly revolution In the carrying trade
SO fur "a passenger and express traffic Is