, 1876-01-08


Henry Rhodes, Esl, Of Victoria,
has issued a circular addressed TO
engineers and other scientific per-
sons, to see II some means cannot
be devised, and some plan put into
successful operation, whereby YES
sells and more particularly passenger
vessels MIGHT BE MADE PRACTICALLY
UNSUITABLE.
Mr.. Rhodes suggests that in all the
spaces between the timbers of the
vessels frame, and between the deck
beams, there should be air-tight
metal cases fitted in while the YES
sci is building, and while made Sc
cure in Their position, should have
sufficient space around them for the
necessary circulation Of air requisite
for the preservation of the timber.
The principle intended to be illus
trated is that of the common life
boat, where a few light air-tight
metal cases or tubes fastened in the
boat are sufficient to keep it and its
crew afoat even though it may be
filed with water.
Mr.. Rhodes remarks that'hs is not
an engineer or a professional man,
but in view of the late disastrous
wrecks both on the Pacific and At
lantic he deems it his duty to call
the attention of practical, thinking
men, who, knowing the exact weight
that cubic foot of air will sustain,
suspended in water, can accu-
rately estimate the amount required
to prevent vessel of any given size
and weight from actually sinking,
and suggest, or invent, some plan.
This idea of AotatioH of water-logged
or disabled vessels is not new. There
is not a nautical man but knows Of
the common practice of placing air
tight casks in stranded vessels
hold at low water and floating the
vessel off at high tide by these
means. The same principle is ap-
piled to the outside of vessels by
pontoons or camels, but the idea of
permanent metallic cases as a con-
slant means of hotation is thus first
suggested by Mr. Rhodes, and is
worthy the careful consideration of
every man of inventive mind who
would endeavor to devise some
means whereby the fearful and in
creasing loss Of life by shipwreck
may be avoided.
Copies of Mr.. Rhodes circular
have been sent to the various heads
of Departments of the American,
English and French Governments.
The author is so extensively known
to the commercial world, not only as
one of the first merchants of Victo-
ria under the firm name of Henry
Rhodes & Co., but in the commercial
cities of London, Paris, Hamburg,
New York, San Francisco, Portland,
Canton, the Sandwich Islands and
South America, under the old firm
names of Janion, Green & Rhodes,
Starkey, Janion & Rhodes, Janion,
Rhodes & Co., and Henry Rhodes &
Co., having had houses in nearly ev-
cry city named, that any suggestion
coming from him which so directly
affects the commercial world, is sure
to meet with the most profound at
tention.
Mr.. Rhodes also gives his views of
the construction ofa life-raft, simple,
and ready at all times to be launched;
but our space will not allow us at
this time to enter into the particu-
lars. Mr.. Rhodes modestly closes
his circular as follows: 81 repeat
again that l have no mechanical
knowledge, and have merely put my
ideas into this form, hoping that, if
practicable, some person with the
requisite knowledge will be able to
turn them to account"
We shall aliude to this subject
again in a future issue, and will take
pleasure in publishing any commu-
nication on the subject that may
tend to illustrate and carry out this
truly humane idea.
STNcE the calauitv of nonAaora-