The Works Of Messrs. Schneider And Co.

 MESSRS. SCHNEIDER AND CO.’S WORKS. Argentine Government, capable of taking a load of 140 tons; the principal dimensions of the latter are the following : in. ft. in. Total length 36.800 120 Sfi? Outside width ... 13.540 44 5 Width remaining free between the two lateral caissons 11.350 37 3 Height from bottom of keel to sili of dock ... 1.450 4 9 Height from bottom of keel to upper deck ... 4.600 15 2 This dock (Figs. 519 to 521, Plate XCV.) consista of a lower pontoon surmounted by two side caissons, tlie cross- section being thus roughly LJ shaped : keelsons and bulk- heads constitute inside watertight compartments, each one titted with the necessary piping for their floocling and draining. The piping has been designed in such a manner that all the cells can be drained and flooded with sea water, either one after the other, or ingroups, or altogether. All the gear for opening and closing the cells can be controlled from a central room on each side, the valves and cocks being worked from the upper deck. The side caissons are United to the lower pontoon on the inside by inclined stays, which, while they increase the stability of tlie dock facilitate the shoring of the boat it is made to carry. Immersion is insured by a systematic flooding of the watertight compartments. The dock is refloated with the help of a small pump that can discharge 220 cubic metres (7769.65 cubic feet) per hour. Torpedo-boats can, there- fore, be lifted out of the water in less than If hours, immersion occupying 50 minutes, and the draining of the compartments, 45 minutes. Portable Pontoons.—The types ot' portable military bridge executed by the Chalon Works have been already described ; of a somewhat similar character should be mentioned, among the light work executed by Messrs. Schneider and Co. in this department, a series of small boats made for the Argentine Republic in 1896. Their principal dimensions are the following : Length ... Breadth Depth ... in. ft. in. 7.850 25 9 1.620 i 5 .810 i 2 8 These boats are remarkable for their forms, which have been designed special ly with a view to insure stability under the varions loads they are apt to carry in service. The total outside measurement up to the gun- wale covering board, is 8.050 cubic metres (283 cubic feet), and the weight of the boats does not exceed 515 kilo- grammes (1,135 Ib.); they can therefore be transported easily in the military vans, and be loaded and unloaded by the men.