“Upon the side of the cone was a complete life raft, provisioned and ready for instant use, and so fastened that it could be launched at a moment’s notice.

“The station was anchored by a three-inch cable, pivoted at both ends to prevent twisting. In the center of the cable were electric wires terminating at the bottom of the ocean in a large coil. This coil was laid upon one of the old Atlantic cables which had been abandoned after the invention of the sympathetic telegraph.

“In the office were a set of instruments, and communication was by induction to the cable below, and thence to each end and to each station.

“The normal submergence of the vessel was to within three feet of the cone. The exceptional, or rough weather, submergence was to within two feet of the top of the tower.

“The weights were as follows:

Pounds.
Shell of vessel1,200,000
Cone106,000
First tower163,000
Second tower12,000
Seven floors176,000
Bulkheads100,000
Bracing and iron-work100,000
Engines and machinery200,000
Stores for 100 persons (six months)75,000
Stores for vessels50,000
Cable260,000
————
Total weights2,442,000

“The normal displacement of the vessel was 57,225 cubic feet, or 3,664,000 pounds. This displacement, less the weights, gave an excess of 1,200,000 pounds, which was compensated for by the sand in the sand-chamber—the capacity of that chamber being 1,300,000 pounds.

“During stormy and rough weather, to decrease the pressure of the winds and waves upon the towers, and to increase the stability of the vessel, water could be admitted into the water-chambers, and the vessel would sink until the water line was within two feet of the top of the first tower, for the displacements to be overcome were:

Pounds.
Three feet of the shell135,000
Cone180,000
First tower149,000
———
Total464,000