Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1910-05-26
HOW the FLORIDA
WAS Bull. 7
Genesis Of Great BatfieshIp Just
Launched at Brooklyn.
CAREFUL TO AVOID ERRORS,


Together Plate by Plate.
Most of those who crowded the
stands and available points Of vantage
in the navy yard at Brooklyn anC
along the East river front to witnes
the launching the other day of the bat
tleship Florida. the largest warship in
the United States navy. were content
NO doubt. with the collective impress
sion and with the emotion inspired b!
mass Of buoyant steel moving with
breathless momentum to the water.
But those who were present on
March 0, 1902 to watch the laying o:
the first keel plate, who had seen the
hull grow week by week. had more in
their minds han the mere spectacle
The builder OF n skyscraper or loco
motive may build 1t heavier than
plans contemplated. No one will know
It but the designer. and the earth or
the steel rails will bear the cytra
weight and never tell. But there may
be no such mistake in a vessel. Old
ocean is an inexorable Inspector and
speedily exposes the errors Of human
kind.
To those, therefore, who had seen
the Florida grow the launching haG
added significance. and that others
may follow their thoughts the genesis
Of the Florida and the manner of her
building are here set forth in n general
way. In the first place. then, Naval
Constructor Baxter. with the instruc
tions from the navy department in
hare. sat down to work out a general
scheme involving the features demand
ed. This scheme outlined the type
functions and characteristics Of the
Dreadnought. The cardinal points
which the constructor held in mind
may be enumerated as follows: Struc.
tural and defensive strength. speed.
steaming radius and offensive power.
Plans Of the Architects.
Having worked out his scheme. the
constructor turned it over to his naval
architects. who began the work of
drifting plans. tentative in their ma
ture. showing In the main what the
materials were to be and the way In
which they were to be put together.
This was a task of six or seven
months. When completed the naval
constructors force began upon their
detailed rt,ns a; d sne ifca.ions. The
work cf SEXUAL construction began.
with "lay!ns down the lines" in the
big ochcr holding loft at the navy
yard. This left has blackboard floor
upon which the architects drew the
shape of the entire hull and then pro-
ceoded to draw sections within the
outlined hull. OF course all sectional
calcuatis:.s must be perfect, or other
. wise the completed vessel might show
discrepancies in construction sufficient
~ serious to render her useless.
Sections Of the hull drawing were
sent from the molding loft to the
Gre r.irG room. where craftsmen tram
greatly reduced scc!e, Of course. 4
wooden model Of ore side Of the battle
ship was made from these lines. and
OH the model the different strakes of
plating were marked. The armor belt
plating was also indicated. and sizes
Of each plate We're marked. From this
model the actual dimensions Of each
frame and plate We're determined. and
the results. in the form of orders.
were sent TO the steel workers for
casting. The plates and frames were
cast and forged in the order in which
they were TO GO on the shin.
Keel Plates First.
The first plates to come from the
foundry therefore were the keel plates.
Keels of modern vessels do not con-
sist of long bars Of steel. Keels are
built up Of plates riveted together.
With the keel plates all laid the work
Of riveting the frames. or the ribs. as
they are popularity called. began. Each
frame had been shaped at the foundry
for the exact place II was to occupy in
the hull. The frames were placed in
position by huge travelling cranes. of
which there were two in the work on
the Florida. They lowered as high as
skyscrapers. way above the top Of the
red hull. idle today, their work all
done
With the frames in place. the cranes.
travelling up and down on their steel
rails. bore the great plates 10 places
designated, where the riveterS. with
their powerful hammers. fastened
them in their appointed places. While
the work Of plating was in progress
ironworkers were busy inside the airy
frames riveting the beams in place.
These beams. TO use land term. we're
merely deck rafters. Ironworkers also
were busy building up the steel grid
ers for the various compartments and
working the longitudinal eirders-the
backhones Of the vessel-into the hull
on each side Of the keel.
When all this work was completed
decks were laid. the bulkheads and
casing finished. rudder and propellers
were put in place. lighting and ven
tilating plans carried out. and the Flor
ida was ready for her maiden plunge
IN all work involving about year
and a half. which Is a creditahle rec
ord for Naval Constructor Baxter and
his assistants