Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-05-01
OIL ON THE WATERS.
Experiments and observations Made
by BENJAMIN Franklin.
the Editor of TIE EvEN1SG STAR:

To the Editor of THE EVENING STAR:
An editorial paragraph in The STAR in regard to
the use % oil in the shilling OF waves now being
quite extensively followed in navigation in rough
water, and the intimatiOn therein that the phe-
nOmena has nOt been explained although the
results are 50 beneficial remind one OF a delightful
letter OF Ben. Franklin on the subject: IL is
letter written % Dr. Brounrigg, at London NOyem-
Der :, 1773 and may be found among his philoso-
phical writings in any good collection OF Frank
Inns writings. He begins by stating how when a
youth, he had read and smiled at Pliny's account
OF practice among the seamen OF his time to still
the waves in a storm by pouring Oil into the sea,
as well as the mention made by Pliny OF the use OF
oil by divers 10 smooth the waves. lie Their pro-
eeeds 70 give an account OF all he
had heard, learnt and done I'm this way
in 1759, being at sea in a fleet OF SO sail bound
against LOulsourg he observed the wakes OF TWO
OF the ships 10 be remarkably smooth, while all
the others were RULED by the wind which blew
fresh calling the captains attention TO IT, that
wise individual dismissed the matter with the
eOntemptuOus remark that he supposed .'the
cooks had Just been empJying their greasy water
through the scuppeTs. which had creased the
sides of those ships little- But this exclamation
did not satisfy Franklin.
Afterward at sea he observed the wonderful quiet
ness Of oil on agitated water in a swinging glass
lamp Al the same time an old sea captain told
hin Ct the practice or the Bermudians OF SMOOTH
ing tie water with oil when they would strike
rsh which they could not II the surface OF the
water was ruiiied by the wind; and also OF the
practice OF the fishermen OF LISBON on finding too
great a surf upon the bar In the river TO which
they were returning. OF empttng bottle or two OF
oil INTO the sea, which would suppress The break
ers and allow them 10 pass safely.
Franklin also relates that he had heard that
whaling vessels In the haTbOr OF Newport were al
ways surrounded by smooth water which was
caused, no DOUBT, by the oil and water pumped
from taeiT holds He also quotes a letter from a
Mr.. Tengnagel 10 Count Bentinck, giving an ac-
count a. 10 Low an East India Co. ship owed its
preservation from breakers near the Islands OF Paul
and Amsterdam TO the pouring Of Oil into the
sea Franklin by these Incidents was convinced
Ofthe practcabiity OF the use OF Oil for the pur-
pose OF SuDduinS the waves and OF its great utility
IA the saving OF lives and property. His own ex-
periments consisted first. OF trial ON large pond
at Chapman ON day when the wind was very
rough, where, nTst applying the Oil 10 the leward
side OF the pond he found IL driven back on shore.
and then. 10 the wtndward, he succeeded with a
tss7SpCOnful OF oil in making all that quarter OF
The rough pond as smooth as lOOSing-glass
Next IN company with Capt Bentinck and other
gentlemen, he went 10 Portsmouth on a WINDY
day. They went In long boats and barges 10 the
wlndwsrd OF a heavy surf on the Centaur shore
and although the experiment was not as success.
fai In some respects they had hoped VET the
white caps In the line OK the OIL We're suh1ued
and wherry that came round that point under
sail, on her way 70 Portsmouth, found the smooth
track made by she OIL turned into II OF choice ana
used IL '.as a piece or turnpike road"
Franklin explains at considerable length his
theory OF this effect OF the OIL upon the sea
waves, and after accounting for the spreading oY
the oil over the surface OF the water by mutual re-
pu-sion ne arr..es at the conclusion that the oil
lessons the friction between the particles OF water
Just as friction Is prevented between those parts
Of = machine 10 which Oil Is applied which would
Otherwise rub haTd together. The wind, which
creates the waves, cannot" he says, "thus easily
catch on 10. SC TO raise the first wrinkles hut
slides over IT, and leaves IL smooth as it fnds IT,"
IL would delight the Old PHILOSOPHER TO see how
extensively and successfully his esEyer,nenfs have
been followed and made practical part OF the
ART OF navigation, and his delight would be none
the less by reason OF the very general BELIEF that
II all was a discovery made since his day
W. II. DOOIITTLE