Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1904-10-06
AGED BAITLESHIPS.
THEIR FATE WHEN TOO FAR
GONE TO BE OF SERVICE.
Small Sums Realized Upon Great
Vessels That Have Cost
Fortunes to Build
Thsir Lifetime.

What Is done with those Warships
which, becoming obsolete, have to be
disposed OF at charming sacrifices" is
Cae OF those questions few ordinary per-
sons could answer, says London Tit-Eits.
OI course, the most profitable way would
be to sell them to foreign countries, such
2s the South American republics. and
Turkey, STGi1 and China might even
be occasional customers.
But for Obvious political reasons such
thing is never cone; indeed, 60 stern
g the governments determination not
10 run TIE risk Of our navy's ineffective"
ships falling into foreign hands that In
every case II is stipulated that they
Sheil be broken up in British waters.
Thus It occurs that obsolete war vessels,
which, perhaps, cost the nation e 50O,-
500. or even 4750,000. have, from time
20 time, to be sold for G15,O0O or EGO, 900.
when as war vessels they would probably
realize twice or thrice as much II sold
to foreign country which did not mind
having navy somewhat out OF date
But sold-as In nearly every case they
are-for breaking up. they simply fetch
the price Of old metal, from which is
to be deducted the cost OF shipwreckers
labor, this being an important factor,
since 1t stands TO reason a man OF war
cannot be disintegrated with a can
opener
Taken out of commission, the con-
demned warship lies moored until the
admiralty sells her either by auction or
private treaty. She Is stripped OF guns
and stores, and generally of certain por-
tions OF her fittings. which are often up
TO date and serviceable Then she passes
into the hands Of her purchasers, gen.
orally a British firm who have a special
plant for dealing with ironclads. She is
Eowed to the most convenient place and
E'r destruction begins. She Ii ripped
70, .eces, from quarterback to keel.
Her angnee. decks steering gear, wood
work-everything Is taken from her
until tie mere steel shell remains, and
the fms! blows are generally dealt with
dynamic 70 break up her plates. AS Oft
en- as t.. or II months are occupied in
brea..ing up a battleship.
Then what becomes Of her? You may
be sitting IL chair the wood Of which
Tas once part Of battleship; before
crate made out Of cruisers plate, for
Ser plates are sold for reemelting, and
they turn up unsupported In thousand
homes, are made into stoves, railway
lines, park railings, fire irons, traction
sngines, etc. II only steel could speak,
heres many humble-looking fire CRATE
which could tell Of stirring deeds
There is not much wood about the
warships which fall into the ship break
ers' hands nowadays, but what there is
commands a ready market for variety
IF purposes. as il is Understood TO be the
best, toughest and most seasoned of its
Kind ordinarily obtaiDable At the same
Tine large portions of a ships timber
are good only as fuel and az such it is
sold; but il is aways reckoned TO be the
finest fuel wood money can buy. The
better stuff IS bought for barge build
ing, flooring etc. to be worked up by
carpenters and cabinet makers. Ships
timber is considered particularly good
for employment in damp places.