Evening journal., 1897-12-31
A POWERFUL CRANE.
Now at Work at the Pusey
and Jones Co.'S Shipyard.
FERRY BOAT LAUNCH NEXT WEEK


DREDGING MACHINES ARE BEING
REPAIRED FOR NEXT SEASONS
WORK SHOPS BUSY MAKING
PAPER MACHINERY-WORKING
AWAY AT THE NEW HAVEN
TUGS.
The shipyard and shops of the Pussy
and Jones Company are very busy just
now the former in turning out ferry
boats, tugs and spuds, and the latter in
the manufacture of paper-making and
other kinds of machinery.
1t is expected that the ferryboat. for
use between New York and Governors 8
Island, will be ready to launch into the
Christiana about next Monday. She is
packed up on the ways, and all that
is required is some work on the guards.
This boat, which the company is build
ing for the United States government.
Is Of the propeller type, with wheel at
each end. They are both in position,
and little more is to be done on the
hull.
On the ways in front of her the for
ward half of one of the large tugs for
the New Haven railroad is being built.
J and, as soon as the ferryboat slides
of, the after-section will be set up in
her place. This craft is more than
half completed forward. There are two
of these tugs to be built, and they are
to have an extra finish OF eighteen
inch railways, which will give addi-
tional strength for towing, as il will
make practically solid mass of tim
| Der from the top of the rail down to the
deck. Just when the frame OF the sec.
ond tug win be set up cannot be
learned.
Several of the dredging machines be.
longing to Morris & Cummings are be.
ing repaired and put in readiness foi
the next season. In addition to this Z
large number of walking spuds" ars
being made for the dredges. Thes,
spuds make an eight-foOt step anC
measure the horizontal plane of tn,
surface to be dredged, while, at tn,
same time, holding the dredges in DO
sltion while at work. The wharves o
the company are covered with the hes
OF white oak timber to be converte,
into spuds. Four twelve-inch whit,
oak logs fifty feet long. are square,
and fastened together, and at one en-,
is placed an iron or steel shoe welghin,
about 1000 pounds. With all thei
strength they are very often broker
by the surge of the sea, which drive
the dredges up upon them with ire
sistible force Then a new spud is i'm
mediately teiegraphed for and uuickl
sent to the dredge. Sometimes III
spuds will last for months. and a
other times they are shattered in tn
course Of one days work in heav
weather. II is now believed that il wa
the shoe of one of these broken spud
which played such havoc wit
: bottom OF the warship Brooklyn, tn
: repair expense being something lib
100000.
: The marine railway is being T,
: paired and a new cradle put thereon
which will give it a capacity for hau
. ing larger ships out of the water. an
, | FOR handling all classes of vessels wit
a greater degree of certainty an
safety. "A new chain is also being pl
= on the railway. 1t is heavier than II
Old one, and the links are from ten
r twelve inches in length.
I The company has put up in the shil
- yard one of the best revolving or r.
. dlus cranes in the country. 1t consis
OF a tall steel mast with a gaff of Nm
metal The height of the mast is six
feet, while the gaff is but two fe
:. shorter. 1t is kept in position by $
masthead guys of the best strand,
steel wire. The crane is operated
steam working through a double-cvli
der engine with a drum attached
will carry from five to six tons of m
terlal around the fifty-eight foot radit
and deposit it wherever it is desire
me carriage on the gaff travels on
track thirty feet from the ground IN
crane will do much to expedite I
work in the yards, for heavy obief
can always be handled with great
ease, precision and safety when rails
above the ground than when IN
have to be 'canted" up. BY means
this powerful machine il is possible
lit six tons Of material and carry
ll6 feet, If necessary, that distance I
ing twice the length of the gaff. whi,
In its movement describes a circle q
- of the best evidences Of its general Il,
ID tulness is the fact that it was used
et lower into the hold of the govsrunf
=, ierryboat all of the shaftings and
d tings, thus making it unnecessary
sy rig shear-poles.