Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1905-03-29
Great Northern liner Dakota Ar.
riyes Here Today
BLOCKsREADY IN NEW DAYDDCK
Special Preparations Made at shipyard
For Receiving the Big vesseI-oHi
Gals Expected to ccme-Movement
Along the Waterfront.

u was announced at the shipyar.i
Yesterday That the Great Northern Lin
er Dakota which has just been com
picted AT the plant OF the Northern
Shipbnidins Company at New London.
Conn. will arrive here today AMI pro
Gee! to the sliipyard where her hull
viii be cleaned and painted TO: the
first time since she was launched.
nearly a year ago.
All day yesterday the dockmaster
ana his force Of men were busy az the
shipyarl building np the blocks il dry
lock No .. and getting the deck ready
70 receive the mammoth steamship.
The utmost care was taken in the work
rs tie slightest flaw in material Or
mistake in the setting Of the blocks
might mean the loss Of a number Of
lives as we'll as millions Of dollars.
Every preparatic,iSfor the reception
ard docking the big ship will be com
plcted this morning when the .rea ba-
VII! BE filed With water and the huge
gate drawn aside 10 permit the Dakota
70 pass within tile entrance al a dry
!nt X for the first time in her history.
! is expected Tia, the BIZ" liner viii
arrive here early this morning am!
unless there is some unforeseen DELAY
'he vessel will be locked immediately
upon her arrival
After her hull has Eecn clcanca and
painted the Dakota vii! 10 lla,ed on:
al I'll" bis basin and ii is understood
that she viii go to Baltimore where.
she Will lead steel rails for an Francis
60. Shipping men hero cnfcrt:,ir
some doubt IS TO The truth Of Tile re-
i'ol that the liner intends going 10 Tie
Monumental City for the reason That
when she is loaded. 4 great deal If
difficulty Will be experienced in s;ttliu.
lei, safely out Of the Ralti.:cra barber.
which is rather narrow ana shallow Il
accommodate SO large a ship.
The Dakota is commanded ~ Cap
tain IImi! FRANKIE until recently FIRST
officer on the American liner ST. l.uuis
ard she is manned by Il large ANA thor
'uShlv trained crew. Se,cra! Ut ne
officials Of tho New I.onGun Shiphuill-
ing plant With president, J d. E'arr@l.
Of he Grcal Iorthern Steamship Com
pany, w. W. King passenger agent OF
he Great Northern Railway aud
Charles c. Lacey. James j. Hills por-
Snnal representative are expected /,
arrive here on board OF the ressn! lr-
day.
Ec Dakota is G22 feet long Il zee.
:, inches hcam and has lep.l 1l ~
ie"t inches. She is a sister ShI; to
the Minnesota, which was locked here
last summer. and is one OF he laryes,
freight carrying steamships III tho
world. She having a freight capacity ct
over 10000 tons.
although not built for speed, she
mas Two triple expansion engines Of
10000 horse power each which drive
twin screw nronellcrs and give the
huge hull a speed Of Is knots an hour.
SCAN is furnished the engines al $50
pounds pressure from water tube boil
crs. The vessel is fitted with com
Dietc fresh water and refrigerating
plant.
She has accommodations for 2lS
first class and IS second class pas
senger. Aft on the main deck are
bcrths for $500 Cinnamon. with Opium
dcns and other Oriental Injuries For
ward on the same deck are herths for
7,3G0 soldiers.
a feature Of the great ship is her
complete life saving equipment. Every
possible precaulion against accident
has been taken in the construction Of
Tho vessel. but as much attention mas
been paid the means Of saving the pas
scngers and crew Of the ship in case Of
accident