Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1915-03-11
A New Ferry To Cuba.


The final link that will enable freight
car loaded in any part OF the United
States to be unpacked in Havana is al last
completed. II has been possible for sew
eral years to send cars through 10 Key
West over the wonderful system OF via
ducts planned and built by Henry NJ.
Flagler for the Florida East Coast Railroad.
Cars at this point are now TO be run on
board a newly completed ferry steamer,
said 10 be the largest in the world. and
after hundredmile ocean trip will be
landed at Havana on to the Cuban railroad
system. This powerful craft bears Flag
ler'S name and has been specially de-
signed for ifs task.
Ii is in the movement no:thward from
Cuba of grapefruit, oranges, bananas,
pineapples and other products ofthe Pearl
of the Antilles, which are liable TO the
greatest danger OF ruin or injury when
transfers are made, that the new vessel
must prove her worth at the outset. On
her southwark runs from Key West she
will move trains largely laden with dress
ed beef and footstuffs originating in the
West and the North OF this country.
Equipped with four sets OF tracks OF
standard gauge on the car deck, which IS
800 feet long and provides accommoda-
ton for 30 OF the largest size refrigerator
cars, the ferry steamer is, in addition,
fitted with three cargo-holds. These can
be loaded either direct from the cars
themselves or through cargo-ports at the
side of the vessel.
The dry cargo capacity OF the boat is
approximately 1900 tons, with an addi-
tional provision in one OF the forward
ballast tanks for the shipment OF bulk
quantity OF molasses. Each cargo-hold
is served by an independent double-drum
electric cargo-hoiSt OF two tons capacity,
and the neceS> ary filling and discharging
apparatus has been fitted TO the tank in
tended for molasSeS.
Ten water-tight compartments, into
which the vessel is subdivided, are used
for ballast purposes. These deep tanks
have capacity OF 1000 tons, and the
steamer thereby can be brought down 10
her proper draft when no cargo is carried.
A system OF pipes connects the tanks,
and for emptying them two l2-inch CEN
trifugal pumps have been fitted, which
have a capacity capable OF clearing all the
tanks within an hour and quarter.
The voyage OF 100 miles from dock TO
dock is 10 be made in eight hours-at
an average speed OF u ID miles per hour.
A notable feature of the boat is the fine
accommodations provided for the officers
and crew. Four individual baths are pro-
vided for the oi;.ccr5. while the crews
quarters are equipped with four shower
oalhs. Running hot and cold water is
furnished for each room, and cold salt
water for the showers and bathtubs.
The steamer, the keel of which was
laid April 20 last, was built at Cramps
Shipbuldlng Yards, Philadelphia, and
launched September p. M. c. Furste-
nau, consulting naval architect for the
Florida East Coast Railway, designed the
plans and specifications.
II was no small undertaking TO extend
the railway line down the sandy, marshy
shore Of Florida 10 Miami, where a long
pause was made. Then came that daring
engineering feat OF carrying railroad
over the swampy tip Of Florida, and
thence by a remarkable series Of embank-
ments and concrete viaducts, using the
long curving series Of keys as stepping
stones, TO Key West, the outemost ac-
cessibIe point that can be reached in this
manner.
In building this wonderful yiaduct,
which is l2S miles long from Homestead,
at the ii OF Florida. TO Key West, earth
and rock embankments were used wher-
ever the depth OF The water permitted,
and over 80 miles OF this kind OF roadbed
was constructed; but in many Of the in
tervals between the keys, OF which about
80 were linked together by the undertake
ing, the water was too deep to permit OF
filling in, and, moreover, many OF these
openings were naVigabe passages that
could not be closed or were in such ex-
posed positions thai embankments would |
not stand. Here series OF massive re-
inforced concrete viaducts were placed,
being built with arches Of 80 or 90 feet |
spans. Altogether, these viaducts have
a total length of somewhat over five and |
three-founh miles, there being four sep T,
arate viaducts, from 1850 to 1880 feet J
long.
AT the time the road reached Key West
it built a substantial dry dock, together |
with ample wharves, so that il was all
ready when the time came to establish
the l0O-miIes Terry TO Havana, as has now
been done.