e elm is seldom used in the
construction of ships except for knees. It is also a favorite wood for
the hubs of wheels. But this elm is the common elm, not the American elm
of the English market, which, as I have said, is hardly ever seen on
this coast.

But although _Valkyrie_'s hull and stern are of wood, her frames are of
nickel steel strapped together with steel ribbons running at an angle.
Thus, before her planking was put on, she must have looked like a huge
steel basket.

The masts of both yachts are of Oregon pine. And with regard to this
Oregon pine another peculiar feature of the Atlantic coast lumber market
becomes apparent. Ten years ago Oregon pine was not known here.
Ship-builders did not use it. But the Britishers did, and all the Oregon
pine that could be purchased used to be shipped to England in
sailing-vessels that went around Cape Horn from Puget Sound. When our
ship-builders finally discovered that this pine was about the best that
could be had for masts and spars, they tried to buy some, but they found
they had to go to English markets to get it. Within the past few years,
however, more and more Oregon pine has been offered for sale on this
coast, and it is probable that _Defender_'s mast was not imported from
England. The first boom of _Defender_ was also of Oregon pine. This boom
cost nearly $2000, and was built like a barrel, or rather like two
barrels--one on the outside of the other. This was to give additional
strength. The inner boom was hooped together with steel bands, and then
the outer layer of pine staves was fitted on and hooped with brass
rings. But when _Valkyrie_ appeared in dry dock here and began to put on
her racing togs, the _Defender_ syndicate saw the Britisher's steel
boom, and forthwith set about to build one like it. _Valkyrie_'s boom is
the first of the kind ever seen in this country, and probably the first
of the kind ever made. Some of the big sailing ships of commerce have
had steel yards, and racing-boats abroad have sometimes been fitted with
spars of drawn steel; but nothing like this boom of _Valkyrie_ had ever
before been attempted. It is hollow, of course, and although of steel,
is about one ton lighter than the pine boom that _Defender_ first
carried. The American yacht's steel boom is now a counterpart of her
rival's. It is made in sections that are riveted together through
flanges that project on the outer side. It is built on the plan of an
elevated railroad