The Osceola times., 1885-10-24
ELECTRIC VESSELS.
Various Reasons why Electricity should
Ee Preferred to steam as a Propeliing
Power.

Various Reasons Why Electricity should
He Preferred to Steam ss Propeliing
Power.
An electric launch possesses many inn
portant advantages over steam launch,
and even in its present stage of develop
ment might replace the latter with adj
vantage in many cases. In an electric
launch the accumulator cells aud motor
are placed under the seats and floor. are
quite invisible and occupy no space
which might otherwise have been avail
able for passengers or goods. In a
steam launch, on the other hand, con.
siderable portion of the centre and most
convenient space is taken up by the
boiler and engine. Ii is at once evident
that an electric launch will carry more
passengers than steam launch of the
same dimensions. In point of expense
the two systems would be about equal;
but when numerous charging stations
are established of suitable size and con-
venient position. the electric system
would appear 90 have the advantage.
The batteries would be charged in po-
sition while the boat is moored, cables
being carried on board for the purpose.
When the cells are once charged, they
will remain so for long time, subject
to small loss through leakage. Hence
a boat with charged cells on board is
available for use at moments notice,
while in the case of steam launch n
considerable time is lost in getting up
steam. This is highly important ad-
vantage in many eases. One at
tendant only is required in an
electric launch. as all the operations of
stopping. starting and reversing are
effected by means of two small levers.
In addition. an electric lqunrh j. en-
tirely free from dirt. smoke, heat and
smell, which are frequently so unpleasa
ant on board a steam launch. There is
almost an entire absence of noise and
vibration. and thus an electric launch is
the very beau ideal of pleasure boat
For business, pleasure, and war pur-
poses electric launches will doubtless be
largely used in the future. They are
more suitable for light and rapid traffic
than for the transport of heavy goods;
their chief advantages being that they
are safe, are easily managed, and are al
ways ready for use. They are specially
suitable for harbor, river and lsKe SER
vice; for war purposes, whether as tor
pedo boats or as tenders to larger yes.
sells, they must prove invaluable.
Whether electricity is destined to super
cede steam in large vessels and on long
voyages is s. highly interesting and i'm.
portant question. but one which cannot
at present be answered with any degree
Of certainty Considering the present
rapid advance of scientific knowledge
it would be highly rash to predict lin.
tied use only for electricity in the pro-
pulson of vessels. No less an authority
than DR.. Laldner pronounced IL impos-
sible for steamships ever to trade across
the Atlantic; and another eminent pub.
lie man offered to swallow the boilers OF
the first steamboat that should accom-.
plish the journey, yet very shortly after
ward several steam vessels made the
trip. Up to certain point the constan,
weight of the batteries would act as the
necessary ballast in vessels, but the
question arises whether this weight
would not be too great in the case OF
large ocean.going vessels which require
enormous power for their propulsion.
Chambers JOuIJili.