The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-02-07

great steel bars, twelve by four inches
They weigh thirty seven pounds to the
foot and are by far the largest and
the heaviest bars ever used in ship
building. The longest frame" is sixty
feet Of solid steel. Stretched vertically
it would reach from the ground to the
roof of a five-story house
AS the work advanced Mr.. Hanscom
observed that the long, heavy beams,
frames, plates and castings, the heavy
rivetings, the great height at which the
men were compelled to work-all ex-
erted an influence opposed to rapid pro-
gress.
Needed Help on Gigantic Job.
I'VE had men whose ability to do
smaller work was known; but when
those men were engaged upon the Min
nesota and the Dakota they could do
comparatively little without assistance.
This was specially noticeable on
launching day; many Of the wOrkmen,
unaccustomed at other yards to tasks
so gigantic, appeared nervous and even
afraid.
Indeed. the pioneer in all undertake
ings does not make the same Roadway
as those that come after him. We have
been the pioneers in the construction
Of merchant steamers Of more than
10000 tons in this country, and While
placing contracts with outside firms
for castings or ship fittings we have
constantly been met with the protest,
Our house isn't accustomed to such
heavy work; Wen have to consider ii
on entirely new lines
yet / wish to give credit to the many
American manufacturers that have ex-
hibited pride in our undertaking as one
Of national Importance. These manu-
facturers have even modified their
standard designs to harmonic with our
special requirements"
The building Of the Dakota, as Of
the Minnesota, was begun at the mid
die, and then proceeded Simultaneous
ly towards both ends. This was be-
cause the three lower decks, being quite
level, permitted work to progress along
the dead fat part Of the vessel over
distance Of 230 feet before the molders
had provided steel plates for sections
of the hull requiring curves.
The first plate laid-the keel plate
beneath the Minnesota and the Da-
kota compares with the armOr Of
cruiser. This plate is in two thickness
es the inner layer being one and
quarter inches thick, and the outer lay
er two inches. The very rivets are one
and a quarter inch in diameter.
The bottom Of the Dakota is double,
with six feet Of intervening space.
Steel partitions running lengthwise Of
the vessel divide this double bottom
into watertight compartments.
Has Longitudinal BuIkhead.
Chief Of the three partitions is the
longitudinal bulkhead"-alt a
novel feature in a large merchantmen.
1t is a bulkhead extending from end to
end of the ship and dividing her into
we'll defined halves. Further protec-
ton against danger threatening the hull
is provided by a series of crosswise
partitions. Thus the hull comprises
in all thirteen watertight compart-
ments.
In addition to the double bottom COM
partment or tanks the Dakota has four
other tanks tween decks. These tanks
are arranged to receive water as well
as cargo. Their purpose is to tighten
the vessel; to change the trim, that is,
the relative immersion of the bow or
the stern; or TO ''rectify a list" to-wit,
bring the ship to level when from
accident or from any shifting Of the
cargo, the Dakota may float with one
side lower than the other. Evidence OF
the necessity of a large amount OF
water ballast is brought to light every
year, especially for vessels SO trading
that they fail to carry sufficient