Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1895-11-21
GETTING REApYFoRA LAuNcH

Tie First RfspaRatioos Arc Mads Whsn
the Kssl- Blocks Are Laid
e has often been sid that man be-
gfns TO die the moment that he begins
to live. Il might also b said that 9
ship begins to be launched the mo-
ment she begins to be built The first
thing in the actual construction 10 to
arrange the kssl-blocks on which the
ship is to rest while she is building.
They must DO placed It certain dis
tances apart. and each must be little
higher than It's neighbor nearer the
water. These blocks arc usually of
the stoutest oak, and are placed from
two to three feet apart They must
have regular inclination, or the ship
can not be launched. In vessels like
the St. Louis the incline is about one
half IN inch in height to foot in
length. In smaller vessels II IS often
more than one inch to the foot. Larger
vessels have 30 much weight that .
sharp incline il not as necessary a.
with smaller ones The keel Of the
ship 10 laid on these blocks, and as fast
Is 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.
s At length the hull Of the ship 10 com.
pleted. Then It il that the launching
apparatus e prepared. This consists
Of two parts, one that remains fixed
Da the ground and one that glideY into
The water with the ship The part that
Eoes in tho water Is the cradle. It IL
that part in which the hull Of the yes
col rests snuRly, and probably that 10
why it il called . cradle. When the
time comes for the launch 8 long row
Of blocks is built under each side Of
the ship at IN equal distance from the.
keel blocks, and Of the same inclina-
ton. On these blocks rest first the sta
tionary ways" These consist Of
broad planks of oak from three to four
feet wide, capable Of sustaining .
weight Of fromstwo to two and one.
half tons to the square foot. On
top of these ways are the aiding
ways" Of nearly the same breadth,
and between tho two the tallow 10
placed. A narrow cleat runs along the
sdge of the stationary ways 30 that the
aiding ways shall not slip of Is 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 curviug
sides Of the vessel to hold it firm to tho
gliding ways beneath. Tho curves in
the hull vary 20 much that it would
be impossible to 1T the sliding ways to
them, and SO, by means of packing,
tho ship is fitted to tho ways instead.
The packing and the sliding ways con.
stitute the cradle, and 1t is fastened to
tho ship by stout ropes. Along it's
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 that
none may be lost when they float into
the water.
We arc now ready for the launch.
Tallow to the thickness Of shout an
inch has been spread between the ways
Is they were put in position, nearly
sixty barrels being necessary for q
ship like the st. Louis The cradle
sets snugly against the ships bottom.
Tho vessel. however, is still resting on
tho keel blocks The task now is ITO
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, al that is
necessary is to saw away the sole
piece" ut the bow, where the station-
sry and sliding ways arc fastened to-
vethsr, and the ship by her own weight
will probably slide into tho water. Il
she needs start, several lacks using,
hydraulic power are ready beneath the
keel to lift her tribe and give her q
push.