130
MESSRS. SCHNEIDER AND GO.’S WORKS.
are now being roofed over by a light-framed slied, so
that the Work may be carried on in all weathers.
Launching.—The small depth of the Saône not allow-
ing the usual way of launching, inclined planes have been
designed for launching the huils sideways. Two sets of
slides have been laid down, with an incline of 12 in 100,
ready for the launching. The speed bf the hüll on reach-
ing the water is from 6 to 8 metres (19 ft. to 26 ft.) per
per second. These inclined ways are clearly shown in
Fig. 358, wliich also illustrâtes a part of the yard, and a
1,000-ton tugboat, built by Messrs. Schneider and Co., at
Chalon.
Fig. 360. The Shipbuilding Yard, Chalon-sur-Saone.
Fig. 361. The Shipbuilding Yard, Clialon-sur-Saone.
and two berths have been dredged out of the bottom of the
river for this purpose. The large hulls, which are fitted
with their Boilers and engines when afloat, are launched
over one of these berths, where the depth of water at the
end of the slip and at low water is only 1.80 to 2 metres
(5 ft. 11 in. to 6 ft. 7 in.). The hulls are allowed to slide
direct on the slip and are Held, while the Blocks are being
knocked out by cables which are cut when everything is
The second slip is used for launching torpedo-boats,
and smaller tugboats previously fitted up with their boilers
and engines. At the end of the slip the depth of water at
low-water mark is 3 metres (9 ft. 10 in.). The boats are
constructed on an iron cradle which rests on the slip
through the interposition of oak Blocks. A four-drum
steam winch forms part of the launching installation ; two
of the steel cables worked by the winch, serve to hold back