Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-03-09


possible strains to which the structure
may be subjected. The deck is also
four inches thick and Is stiffened a,
frequent intervals with heavy concrete
beams as well as heavily re-enforced
with steel rods thruout-these rods
running lengthwise, crosswise and dia-
gonally. All the rods used in re-en-
forcing the sides of the vessel are
welded at their ends so as to make
them continuous thruout it's length and
lepth.
I, Instead of framework Of structural
steel. heavy beams of concrete are used
at suitable intervals along the inside
of the hull-those on the sides running
vertically and those on the bottom rum
ming both lengthwise and crosswise. In
addition to these beams the hull Is fur
Their stiffened by Ave transverse bulk
heads running from the bottom to the
deck, all being strengthened with a
number OF heavy beams and the whole
mass strongly REINFORCED with steel
rods arranged so as to give the greatest
strength for the weight of metal used.
In the construction of this ship 600
tons Of steel reinforcing and 1900
yards of concrete will be required.
The vessel is built to comply with
Lloyd's rules for the construction of
freight ships as far as these rules can
apply to a concrete vessel-this of
course includes bulkheads and water
tight compartments. She will carry
within - per cent as much freight as
a steel ship Of the same size and more
than a wooden one. Vessels of this
type can be produced in large numbers
on short notice and will cost only half
as much as steel ships Of equal ton
mage
This ship viii be launched before
April I and II she proves satisfactory
to the shipping board, the company
will contract to complete "a more yes
sells of the same kind in eighteen
months except that they will have a
tonnage of 1900 each. The shipping
board is manifesting it's interest in the
new craft by keeping a man here all
the time to watch every step in it's
construction.
The dimensions Of the boat are as
follows: Length from stem to stern.
800 feet: length over all. $50 feet: wild
tn. a feet 6 inches: depth. 81 feet: net
tonnage. 5000. She will be equipped
with engines developing 1,7o0 horse
power and win have speed Of ten
knots.
Owing to the shape OF the vessel a
number Of methods were used in pour
ing the concrete. In places a cement
gun" was used. in others the by
draulic method and In still others the
hand method. While McMacdonaid,
Mr.. Kahn, Mr.. Comyn and their asso-
ciates believe they are going to develop
q type of ship that may prove revolu-
tiona1y in it's effects as we'll as a pro-
htable business venture, they deserve
Great credit for their patriotism as
well as their enterprise in risking their
h a scheme that has in 1t SO
many elements Of uncertainty that
only men bold to the point OF reckless
ness would have given It consideration.
I have stated that II this ship is ap-
proved By tho chipping board the com
pany win agree to build fifty-foxr moro
in eighteen months. They could bufld
several times that number II they had
sufficient water front and what they
can do may be duplicated in hundreds
OF other places should it be necessary.
We have all read that concrete
boats have to be launched upside down.
There is no have 10 be" about it. One
or more OF the small vessels built in
Norway were launched In this man
ner but the big boat we have been con-
will slide into the water jus,
as any self respecting ship ought to
that is, right side up. IT has also been
claimed that cement boats will not foul
and for that reason will never have to
be docked and scraped to remove bar
nac1es and other growths from their
bottoms. Mr.. Macdonald says Chat no
one knows whether this is true or not
II is believed that because a vessel will
have no seams to open or rivets to
work loose that it's hull viii never need
repairs of any kind and that it WIN be
much cheaper to maintain than a steel
ship These and all other problems
connected with the operation OF this
new style Of vessel can only be ascer-
tanned by experience. Every patriotic
American win await the outcome of
this experiment with intense interest
and with the earnest wish that 1t may
do all that its promoters hope in help
ing to solve the vital problem OF ships.