Smyrna times., 1897-08-18
For the Smyrna Times.
THE ATOMIC FORCE OF NATURE.

/ oiA 1Ho DeSb Inventions nth.
erto developed, have their initial mer
Its due to the reciprocating of theil
several parts, automatic or otherwise
Simplicity of construction is but an
addition of friction to the minutia,
with which nature stores those tremen.
dous powers that seem but a mockerv
until the effect is seen in drastic con-
trast with the stupendous, in forms
that etfectually conceal the source from
whence they sprung.
A few illustrations will make this
palmer.
The American Line Steamship, St
Louis, as she rested on the wavs inst
previous to being launched, weighed
5000 tons. This weight was not an
approximation, but the ascertained
data by weighing each piece of
material entering into the construc-
ton. The lifting force of wedge
equals the moments of the incline.
multiplied by the square of the large
or but end, and a wedge of water
mas no more or less the same lift.
ing capacity, but here the analogy
for the time being ends.
The st. Louis is 554 feet long. the
double being 110S feet. This number
OF wedges would be required to lift the
5000 tons, say an inch, or not to be ex-
travagant, even one half an inch. to
get out the keel blocks, on which the
weight of 5000 rested. A force of 800
men, with battering rams, drove home
the wedges on the launch ways. on
either side, while picked body of 200
men were sent under the bottom to take
out the keel blocks when sufficiently
loose. The writer happened to be one
OF the latter and distinctly remembers
the sensations felt as the enormous
weight above was undergoing a change
in position.
First the long narrow ally-wav,
built up of nearly solid blocking. had
some of its tunnel-like appearance, lit
up with electric lights, placed at inter
walls along the keel. Instant obedience
to orders, meant positive silence, erst-
while. At such times strange calm
ness takes the place of excitement, but
only mOmentarily.
Presently the tide watchers give the
signal of neap tide, the order is given
to man the battering rams, and the
launch becomes fairly started.
After twenty minutes lull of ten
minutes occurs, when the second order
IS given and the ramming takes all
'he lifting force of the wedges, and
human means has reached limit.
Under the bottom four men are as
lgned to block and take them out as
apidly as possible from aft to for
ward.
The quiet of few minutes before.
ives way to intense excitement as the
hip settles. Iimbers snap and crack
N every side. The low murmur of the
xpectant throngs outside, mingles
nth the unrest OF the ship as she finds
new resting place. The uncertainty
t which direction the immense
'eight will incline to start, adds to the
ervOus strain, and with feeling of
elief, everybody hurries out of the
'ay when the last blocks are removed
nd the saws cut their way into the {
hiding shoes, allowing the ship to go
own the way into the water. In a
Nv weeks after this, as completion
ears the end, the weight of the ship |
increased to 10000 tons, two-thirds l
lore weight than when launched, and q
ct wonderful as it may appear, col 4
mn of water, two or three inches in c
ldth, between the ship and the solidly /
1llt pier, serves to keep the ship in an r
prlght position, completely reversing
le law of momentum, that weight in =
owing seeks the line of least resis-
nee, and proving clearly the atomic
rec of nature is far superior to the
est OF modern devices yet designed .
r overcoming inertia.
JAMES B. SCOTT.
Wilmington, Del, July, 1897.
Z