The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-11-11
Trial of the HydromOtO
CHANGES 1T MAY EFFECT IN METHODS
PROPULSION For SHIPS.

4 l
PROPULSION FOR SHIPS.
berlin Letter TO the London Times.l
A most interesting trial OF an invention
which, in the opinion OF the naval and
| technical authorities who witnessed II,
promises to effect an important change III
| the propulsion OF vessels of all classes, was
conducted on October 18th on the Elbe.
near Dresden. The inventor, DR.. Emil
I F!escber. has applied the principle OF
hydraulic rejection TO the propulsion
OF ships in Il manner which, accord
| ing to the testimony OF officers OF
the German Imperial navy, like AdmiraIs
Won Ienck and Werner. is as simple as il
| is effective. 1t does completely away with
all risks from accidents TO rudder or ma
| chinery, for there need be no rudder, and
| there is scarcely any machinery; solves
| the problem of avoiding loss of power
| through transmission, for there is hardly
any transmission, and, finally, reduces the
! peris OF the sea to minimum so far a.
| injuries to the machinery are concerned.
For, as Admiral Werner explained, the
same immense force that prOpels the vessel
can, at a moments notice, be used to pump
| her so effectively that she would remain
alloat with "a considerable leak i'm her bot
| tom, while in case Of fire there would be
no difficulty in quenching it. Besides the
| two admirals above mentioned, there were
present ut the trial VI. Dauzats, OF Paris,
AS representative of NJ. de Lesseps;
Messrs. Howald, OF kiel, who are among
the largest steamship and engine-builders
in Germany, and who have built sea-
going vessel OH the same principle for DR..
| Fleischer, in which, accompanied by Adj
miral Werner, he made a successful trip in
very rough weather to Copenhagen and
back TO kiel; Mr.. SulZbach, the eminent
banker Of Frankfort-on-the-M Main. and seve-
raj other gentlemen interested i'm the inven.
ton.
The vessel. named the HydromotOr, is 90
metres long by metres broad, draws 0.60
metres, and i throughout constructed Of
iron. The navigation Of the Elbe near
Dresden presents many obstacles in the
shadows and rapids, which occur at fire.
quent intervals. NOiselessly and without
any oscillation did the large vessel-large
as compared with the steam-craft PLYING
on that part OF the rlyer-after the simple
turning OF a lever by the captain on the
bridge, commence its trial trip, stemming
the current and keeping an even course
under the picturesque right bank Of the
river. The only noise audible was that OF
the rushing OF the water from the tubes,
fiXei little above the level of the river,
and nearly amidships. on both sides of the
vessel. Another turn Of the lever and the
action was reversed. The vessel comes to
dead stop in less than her own length.
By the alternate Use OF the levers she may
be turned round on an almost stationary
pivot. The captain handles the levers
almost Independent OF all communication
with the engine-rOom. The gentlemen
present watched the trial with the utmost
interest. Arrangements are now being
made 10 apply the invention on very
large scale. The opinion OF Admiral Won
Ienck regarding the hydromotOr is as fol-
lows:
"The principle being correct, the inven-
ton has almost certainly future before it,
il il be subjected TO certain alterations.
Beyond doubt the hydrOm0t0r is eminently
useful for river ships, especially in shallow
rivers, because II draws very little water
and in canals because il raises no waves,
and consequently does not iniure the banks,
IL is also OF decided importance as an aux
ilarr steam engine in sailing ships, when
there is no wind-as often happens,
for instance, in the Mediterranean aud
i'm the tropics. Another advantage it
has for sailing ships is that it does not re-
quire extra hands. II will undenisbly be
Of value in war.ships also, for, as alIxil-
larry to the screw, it will considerably in
crease their power CT turning, aud, there
fore, their power Of attack and defence.
How far the hydromotor will be able to
modify OF even supersede the present ship
engines it is as yet impossible TO say. Ger
tainly it will do so to considerable ex-
tent"