Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1852-01-22
Naval Architecture.

John Scott Rnssel, author of the "Wave
Line Theory" in giving an account to the
British Association for the advancement of
Science, of the years progress made in the in
PRODUCTION of his theory, speaks of the excel
lent American work OH Naval Architecture, by
John Griffiths, of this city. He says of it,
1t contains drawings of many Of the most
recent and celebrated vessels constructed in
that country. The author of the treatise does
not hesitate to avow frankly the general adop-
tion of the principles of the wave system, by
the builders of the best and fastest vessels in
America. He gives accurate drawings, which
areevdently made in accordance with it.
He quotes experiments, as high as twenty
five miles an hour, which speed has been at
tained by its use. He unhesitatingly declares
his own implicit belief in the system and en-
tire adoption of it. In our own country, the
most eminent builders of fast steam vessels con-
time 10 adopt the most prominent character
istics of the wave system, viz: hollow water
lines for the bow, much fuller water lines abafi
than forward greatest breadth nearer the
stem than the bow.''
Respecting his own efforts in steamboat con-
struction, MIR. Russell mentions the following
peculiar CASE
During the last year an opportunity has
presented itself of obtaining one Of the most
decided practical experiments on larger scale
regarding the excellence of the new form for
steam vessels. 1t is very rare that in ordinary
practice one can obtain on experiment which
will exactly determine the relative merits of
two different forms Of ships, because there is
generally some diversity in the application of
the power or in the circumstances, as, for ex-
ample, difference between the excellence Of
the engines, which affect materially the result,
and which is quite independent of the qualities
of the ship.
But if one could get an experiment of the
following nature,-if one could take steam
engine of given power, and supply it with as
much steam Of given pressure as the engines
could use ; and given pair Of paddles, SO as
to apply that power in exactly the same way
in both cases, and having first tried these en-
gines in ship on the old system, if one could
then simply take these engines out Of that ves-
eel and place them in one built on the new sys-
tenn, of equal or greater tonnage. then if the
new vessel being tried in similar Circumstance
es, should be found to excel the old one, we
should have result in practical form which
could not fail to be satisfactory. Such is the
experiment which has just been obtained on
sufficiently large scale to be entirely conclu-
sive A pair of marine engines of 220 horse
power had been working on board wooden
steam vessel Of $50 tons, being proportion Of
one horsepower to two tons nearly. The
beam of the vessel was "a feet, and her draft
was 9 feet. This vessel was built on the old
system, according to his own plan, by one of
the most eminent builders Of steam vessels.
"This vessel was placed on the line be-
tween London and Antwerp, and realized
maximum speed of ten miles an hour. These
engines, with the same paddle-wheels, were
then taken out of the vessel, and were placed
in new iron vessel, built upon the wave sys-
tenn, by Messrs. Robinson and myself. This
vessel was of larger beam and greater length
of body than the former, being $40 tons, with
IS feet beam and 8 feet draft. The expert
ment has now been tried with the same old en-
gines, but repaired and furnished with new
boilers capable Of supplying the full amount of
steam to the engines. The vessel has not been
made unusually sharp or fine, but on the con-
trary, is capacious sea-going vessel, with ca
paciiy for $50 tons Of cargo more than the for
mer vessel. The new form of vessel with the
old engine has attained a maximum speed OF
Is miles an hour--beine clear gain Of speed
Of S miles an hour. 1t il important 70 observe
that whore speed j. obtained BY sn improved
shape of vssssl, it j. obtained u the least pos
sihls frat eoss and greatest economy 10 daily
use. ."-Ssisntfe american. ul