The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-27

Of grounjways and sliding ways. The
sroundways, which are virtually two
broad, well creased tracks Of very
heavy planks. reach beyond the shore
line and run some distance out under
the water. The sliding ways. which
are much shorter, are made just long
enough to provide for a proper distri-
button Of the Tennessees weight over
the bearing surfaces of the ground
ways and to accommodate the poppets
and cradle which fit snugly under the
curving body Of the superdre adnougtIt.
The grouncways are coated with n
lubricant composed of beef tallew. soft
soap and oil, and this mixture Is sta
blized by another ingredient which
keeps the stuff firm so that IL win not
ooze out when subjected to pressure or
run away II the weather should take
q decidedly warm turn. Something
like $4,000 pounds OF this greasy COM
pound has been spread on the ground
ways.
The sliding ways have for a founda-
ton series Of heavy planks or tim
bers similar in dimensions TO those OF
the groundwayy. They are carefully
and strongly bound together by lacings
Of chain and rope and yet sufficiently
flexible to accommodate themselves to
the slightly arching surfaces of the
sToundways. The sliding ways are
held from slipping sidewise-from go
Ing OF the track. so to speak, by RIB
bands Of heavy pIanking secured TO the
outside edges Of the groundways. On
~ 10 n
OF the sliding ways is laid another line
OF strong timber. and between these
two courses are placed many hundreds
Of white oak wedges. These are the
comparatively miniature instruments
by which the ponderous craft is actu-
ally raised enough to release the build
ing blocks and to permit their removal
shortly before the vessel glides water
ward.
The Last Ties to Shore.
Above the upper course Of the slid
ing ways are set the cradle and the
poppets which grip the ship when her
weight Is transferred to the launching
ways and steady her during her run to
the river. At the forward ends of the
launching apparatus, e., under the
bow Of the Tennessee, the sliding ways
! are bound to the groundways by two
heavy pieces of white oak which are
| called the sole pieces.
These sole pieces are the last ties
which hold a vessel to the shore, and
| to release the craft these timbers are
| cut through by saving. However, be-
| cause of the tremendous mass involved
| and to guard against the premature
| launching OF the ship, should the sole
| pieces fail to hold her, the naval con-
| structors have devised an ingenious
and very strong triggerlike trippins
mechanism. This is operated hydraul
I ically, as are also two big rams at thu
\ bow which win start the vessel upoI
her way II she shows any reluctance
! TO move OF her own accord after all thu
binding ties have been purposely cas-
| free.
| On the day of launching, the sup
porting shores. which have SO lone
steadied the Tennessee during hel
| building will be knocked away ant
then the keel blocks must be removed
L lneh " II tiiat lhc 'aheh "e"SSs p'e'
their part. With the order TO wedge
up" given, gangs OF men with batter
ing rams will hammer away at theil
respective series OF wedges in a lustj
spirit OF rivalry, Little by little, thu
wedges will be forced inward between
the two courses Of the sliding ways an'
gradually the great supcrdreadnoush
will be raised bodily clear Of the kee
blocks and her load transferred to th'
Launching structure. This work o
Iwedg.ng win be done simultaneousl.