The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-04-07

We've hM tawthsc PtyR Removed Ape g.

.bulkheade on the center extending from !,
the inner bottom to the main deck. The
side plating of the she'll with this Iongi-
tudinal bulkhead form the three vertical
bers of the entire structure The up
per f1anges~ of the girder are formed by
the upperland main decks, which are laid
with heavy steel plates. This great grid
er is designed to support a full cargo when
suspended by long waves of'1the' sea at
either end. F:a -.
The side Orders are kept in place by
three intermediate decks between the tank
and main deck, making in all five complete
decks, each covered with all eavy steel
plate. The beams supporting all these
decks are of channel steel, and fitted to
every frame by large bracket plates.
New Ideas in Water Ballast.
One of the many notablef eatures in the
construction of the vessel is the distri-
button of the water ballast Various con-
ditions of trim and safety can be obtained.
The double bottom is divided longi-
tudinally into three water-tight divisions
and transversely into about twenlve, max
ing in all thirty separate tanks. In
addition to these there are the fore and
after peak tanks and side tanks between
the main and tween decks, about one
qua rter of the. vessels length from either
end. The latter tanks are really fitted: for
the purpose Of controlling the ships sta
bility and seaworth1neSS.
/ The vessel. is divided .transversely into
| thirteen watertight compartments while
I the longitudinal builxhead- is watertight
I in the ma chinery space, which makes In
| all fifteen watertight compartments The
/ engine rooms are completely independent
of each other; so are the boiler rooms, but
access is had from one to the other by
watertight doors. The coal bunkers are
situated above the boilers and so arranged
~ org vifa direct tn the
/ stoke hole floor. The method of. pillaring
lis somewhat novel and has never, been
! attempted before by another American
shipbuilder. Indeed, as far as known, the
! vessel is the first to receive. Lloyd's or any
| other classification society's approval for
such a device. Strong Orders run under
| the; transverse beams and are supported
/ at wide Intervals by built stanchions. BY
/ this means the least possible trouble is
4 experienced in slowing the cargo.
i Record for Rapid Construction.
Actual construction on the Minnesota,
+ and her sister ship. yet unnamed, was be-
4 gun in March, 1901. The first official an !
i noun ement of the Eastern Shipbui1dine
1 company was made in March, 1900. when
i without a previous hint, New London was
1 startled by the promise of President
Charles r. Hanscom, Of the company. thai
4 a great steel. shipyard was to be installed
\ to build the largest vessels in the world
/ The yard was established and the vessels
4 laid down and completed in about two
| years, a record in rapid construction. Il
1 is said that in one month 1000 tons OF
4 material were. worked into these ships, or
I'M other words. sufficient steel to build
two cargo steamers of about 300 feet in
4 length. The average number of men EN-:
4 ployed on the two ships during the last
/ two years is about 1900. In two years
therefore. a thoroughly equipped shipyard
II has been constructed and the two largest