Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-08-05

head traverSer at varying speeds
Delicate instruments register the ex-
act pull" the displacement. the stabil-
ity and a host of other information
The shape of the model is altered
again and again, pieces being shaved
OF here and others there. The final re-
suits are carefully tabulated, and from
this ship In embryo the builders coi1-
plete their plans.
Inside the central shed. go yards
long and 80 feet in height. the ships
berth has meantime been prepared
Thousands of wooden piles. about thIr-
II feet in length. have been driven by
pile drivers deep into the ground ON
these are laid huge beams and the
floor completed with stout planks.
Then in the center the keel blocks, sur
mounted by oak caps in groups of five,
are assembled on a falling gradient tG
the river of about half an inch foot.
All is now ready for the reception Of
the ponderous keel. Thistle back
bone of the ship-is of huge strength.
measuring four feet across. and is three
and a quarter inches thick. Parallel
Will the Keel. Oul dbOfS II anu
ed by angle bars, is the central Strder.
five feet high, the space between form
ing the double bottom. On each side,
at regular distances running length
wise. are seven other Orders. the out
er one called the margin plate"
The water tight chambers are formed
by vertical partitions of plates extend
T., MI hnnna fh tho floors m
the margin plate on each side.
After the great cast steel stern frame
and the stem bar for the bows have
been attached the plating begins. The
steel strips of varying sizes, but av-
eraging thirty-four feet in length and
about three tons in weight each, which
form the skin of the ship, are laid on
in strakes like the bricks in a walt.
Fitting these strakes to the shape of
ship is a critical business. a thin
wooden pattern or template is first
! prepared for each plate and clampcd
in position on the ships side. With
minute care every detail is marked on
1.-THE size and shape, the overlap and
the rivet holes.
type. the steel plate, which is cut.
punched and bent by wonderful ma
chinery that slices steel strips, punches
rivet holes and bends steel plate as
easily and clearly as though the ma
terial were paper. Nimble travelling
cranes on gantries under the roof pick
up the huge plates when ready and
convey them to their appointed place.
where the hydraulic riveter-a me-
chanical marvel-with irresistible force
and rapidity drives each rivet home.
In the building of a modern liner over
! 100000 rivets are used. Each joint
is rendered water tight by caIking.
/ The outer shell finished and the in
( side work far advanced. the builders
! turn their attention to the problem Of
/ the launch. the weight of the vessel at
this point on the keel blocks being
something like $1,000 tons. The
/ launching ways. slOping gently to the
water. are prepared. and cradles, fore
and aft. TO guide the ship. are erected
with huge wooden beams, the whole
being finally fabricated by tallow and
train oil
Amid reclamation the ship receives
its baptism and, whether for veal or
woe. takes TO its element. Still help
less, though. its motive power lacking,
1t is afterward moOred to the works
wharf under Il $50 ton titan crane,
whereby its boilers-twenty-fv OF
them-are lowered into the abyss Of
the hold and a multitude of fittings
connected with the engines.
Dwarting all else for size come
next the four tunnels. towering $50
feet above keel level and large enough
for two tramcarS to be drawn through
abreast These are fixed on the gi-
Eantic "uptakes." connecting with the
boilers by a network of fues.
4 hoist of auxiliary machinery for
, lighting. ventilating. pumping and
, steering the ship, as well as the pas
, Eenger lifts. is being installed at the
Talne time as a swarm of men work
, Iay and night on the internal decora-
| tions. Electricians encircle the ship
, with 4 girdie of light and install q
telephone and electric call service with
/ 600 stations
! In the chart room is fitted a sender
/ fui clock, which controls, synchroni-
rally. fifty other clocks in different
= Parts OF the ship. The lofty Marconi
, mast is iinkc9 up with the mysterious
: Instruments III the wireless cabin.
( Then. Mt last after many months of
toll. comes the welcome day when the
great ship, pride Of her builders. sails
forth upon Its rrial trip.-London An
swers.