Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1888-07-05
OIL ON THE WATERS
Expsrimonts and Observutlon. MAJ. 4
Bonjnmin Rraaklin.

OIL ON THE WATERS
Expsrimsnts and Obssrv.slo.s ,a.as ~
| Bonjamin Rraaklin.
An editorial paragraph in regard to
the use of oil in the sitting Of waves.
now being quite extensively followed
in navigation in rough water. and the
intimation therein that the phcnome-
non had not been explained, although
the results are so beneficial remind
one of a delightful letter of Ben jamin
Franklin on the subject. 1t is letter
written to Dr. Brounrigg. at London.
November :. 1913. and may be found
among his philosophical writings in
any good collection of Franklin's writ.
ings. He begins by stating how. when
q youth, he had read and smiled at
Pliny's account Of practice among
the seamen of his time. to still the
waves in storm by pouring oil into
| the sea. as well as the mention made
by Pliny of the use of oil by divers to
smooth the waves. He then proceeds
to give an account of all he had heard.
learned and done in this way.
In 1857. being at sea in a feet of
ninety-six sail bound against Louis
burg. he observed the wakes of
two of the ships to be remarkably
smooth, while all the others were ruff
fed by the wind, which blew fresh.
Calling the captains attention to it,
that wise individual dismissed the mat
ter with the contemptuous remark that
he supposed 1.-The cooks had just been
emptying their greasy water through
the scuppers. which had CREASED the
sides of those ships little" But this
explanation did not satisfy Franklin.
Afterward at sea he observed the
wonderful quietness of oil on ag;tated
water in swinging glass lamp. At
:. same time IN old sea captain told
aim of the practice of the Bermu lians
Of smoothing the water with oil when
they would strike fish which they could
BOT see if the surface of the water was
ruffled by the wind, and also of the
practice of the fishermen of Lisbon on
finding 700 great surf upon the bar in
the river to which they were returning.
or emp.ying q bottle or two OF oil into
the sea, which would suppress the
breakers and allow them to pass safely.
Franklin also relates that he had
heard that whaling vessels in the har-
bor of Newport were always surround
ed by smooth water. which was caused.
no doubt. by the oil and water pumped
from their holds. He also quotes
letter from Mr.. Tengnagel to Count
Bentinck. giving an East India Com
pany ship owed its preservation from
breakers near the islands OF Paul ard
Amsterdam to the pouring of oil into
the sea. Franklin by these incidents
was convinced of the practicability of
the use of oil for the purpose of sub
DUNG the waves and of its great utility
in the saving OF lives and property.
His own experiments consisted first.
of trial on large pond ut Clapham
ON day when the wind was very
rough. where. first applying the oil to
the leeward side of the pond. he found
it driven back on shore; and then. to !
the windward. he succeeded with Il
teaspoonful of oil in making all
that quarter of the rough pond as
smooth as a looking-glass. Next.
in company with Captain Bentinck
and other gentlemen. he went to Ports
mouth on IA windy day. They went
in long boats and barges to the wind
ward of heavy surf on the Centaur
shore. and although the experiment
was not as successful in some respects
as they had hoped. yet the white caps
in the line of the oil were subdued. and
a wherry that came round that point |
under sail, on her way to Portsmouth.
found the smooth track made by the !
oil, turned into it of choice and used it
"as piece of turnpike road.
Franklin explains at considerable !
length his theory of this effect Of the /
oil upon the sea waves, and after ac-
counting for the spreading Of the oil
over the surface of the water by mutual
repulsion. he arrived at the conclusion
that the oil lessened the friction be-
tween the particles of the water. just
as friction is prevented between those
parts of machine to which oil is APP
piled, which would otherwise rub hard
together. The wind. which creates
the waves, lean not he says. ''thus
easily catch on it. SO as to raise the
first wrinkles. but slides over it. and
leaves it smooth as it finds ii. "
1t would delight the old philosopher
to see how extensively and successfully
his experiments have been followed
and make practical part Of the art of
navigation. and his delight would be
none the less By reason Of the very
general belief that it was discovery
made since his day. Washington Star.
LANGUAGE OF ANIMALS.