Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-08-04
BALsA WOOD.
A Product of South America that Is
Noted for Buoyancy-Mr. Evans Plan
for Life Saving at Sea.

A Product of South America that IL
Noted for Buoyancy-Mr. Evans Plan
for Life Saving at Sea.
Mr.. Walton W. Evans, civil engineer.
who has lived for years in South America.
said to a New York Herald reporter:
Considerable attention has been paid of
late years in England and the United
States to improved methods of saving life
at sea; and, since the loss Of the State of
Florida, ship owners and builders have
been aroused to the necessity of providing
steamships with life-saving apparatus
free from the defects of those now in use.
1t has been repeatedly proven that, in the
hurry and excitement Of abandoning a
sinking ship, the present means have
proven inadequate. The RATS, with their
heavy cylinders of galvanized iron, can
not be gotten over the side, or, in the at
tempt, hole is frequently made into the
pipes, rendering them useless; while the
lifeboats are usually swamped by bad
handling or oVercrowding. II is therefore
at once apparent that every perfect life
saving apparatus should combine three
essential features-great buoyancv, in
destructi5ility, and facility for handling.
''NOW, the very thing" continued Mr.
Evans, shat would fulfill all these condi-
lions is balsa wood, which, celebrated in
South America for its extreme lightness,
and grows beside the Gulf of GuaEaquil,
in Ecuador. On the west coast of South
America there are few good harbors, and
in some cases all landing is done through
the surt by RATS made of balsa wood.
These balsas, as they are called, come
sailing up to a steamer in open ocean to
receive cargo and passengers, with their
baggage, and land them in safety. The
risk is considered small, and loss and ac-
cidents not frequent, as the RATS never
upset or break. Sometimes the lashings
give way, but they are easily repaired.
These RATS are also employed to sailtar out
into the ocean for fish and to carry fruit to
ships going to California. They are very
roughly constructed of six or eight round
logs laid side by side, we'll strapped by
ropes and cross-timbers, and are rugged
with tall mast and square sail.
"Balsa wood, when dry, weighs about
thirteen pounds to the cubic foot, and
would have in salt water a supporting
power of ffty-One pounds per cubic foot.
Therefore raft of, say, ten logs twenty
feet long by sixteen inches square would
support over $4,000 pounds or carry 100
people; and ten would support the crew
crew and passengers of a large steamer.
On the promenade decks of all steamers
there are seats or settees to hold, say, four
lengthen these and make them of balsa
wood, the backs to be easily removed in
case of shipwreck. The logs could be
quickly brought together and formed into
large raft. 1t would be buoyant, indie
structible, and easily launched.
"Agaln, RATS of this timber might be
made to form all the after part of the hur-
ricane deck, and arranged so as to be
easily cast loose. Crews should be drilled
to make these RATS, and Observant passen-
gers would, in case of emergency, be able
not only to lend assistance but to con-
struct them unaided. These RATS should
be ready to be launched in three minutes;
in fact, launching would mean pitching
them overheard, as they could not break
or fill. AS the absorption of water by a
log is mainly carried on through the ends,
would advise that each log be coated at
the ends with solution Of gum shellac.
Should it be proven in experimenting that
the shellac is carried too far into the wood
by capillary attraction, the ends should
be painted three or four times and the
sides twice with a thick solution of the
same gum.
every passenger steamer" said Mr..
Evans, Gin fact, every vessel, should be
provided with a cylinder of galvanized
iron, Theoretically sealed, filled with pro-
visions, also water barrels for instant use
in case of shipWreck. While was building
the africa & Tacna Railway in Peru l en-
plOyed a large body of Quichua and
Amara Indians, and l had to supply
them with coco leaf. 1 should, in view Of
this wonderful substitute tor food and
water, recommend it to be placed IN some
convenient receptacle securely fastened to
the RATS and lifeboats."