Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-11
BUILT FOR SPEED.



An Experimental Vessel to be Launched az
Brooklyn Ts-Day-HYdranlic Force is
to Furnish the Motive Power.
NEW YORK, December 1O.-To-morrow morn
ing most remarkable craft viii be launched
from the shlpyard of James Lennox, South
Brooklyn. The boat has been named the Evo-
luton, and was built by Mr.. Lennox for DR.. w.
NJ. Jackson, the designer Of the craft and pat
entee Of the novel machinery with which she is
to be equipped.
The Evolution is built on new plan, there
being no knees or frames used in her construc-
tion, and with the exception Of two or three
deck beams her hull is free from all obstruc-
ton. She is los feet over all q feet beam, and
61< feet deep, from underside of deck to the
bottom planking. Owing to the tremendous
spread the hull takes from the keel, she will
draw, 1t is claimed less than four feet of water.
layers of cedar planking. The first layer is
run diagonally from stern to STEM and the sec
ond in the same way from stem to stern. The
outside skin is OF narrow strips of mahogany,
running from stem to stern. She is . beauti-
full model
Only an Experiment.
The keel Of the boat was laid March II, 1888,
blizzard day." and the work Of construction
has been going on ever since She is only in
tended as an experimental craft, but it is said
that when her machinery has been placed in
position and everything in readiness for the
trial trip she Will have cost her owners not less
than 100000 The boat is to be run by hydrau-
lie power by forcing out vast quantity of
water through small pipe under great pres
sure. To carry out this plan a pumping engine
of 15O0 horse power has been constructed.
The water is pumped into the vessel through
S-inch pipes on either side of the keel about
midship. and is then forced out through sl-inch
pipes at the stem or stern, according to the de-
sired motion of the vessel forward and back
ward. The ends Of the latter pipes are covered
with movable collars, which can be turned in
any direction desired. and by this means the
vessel IS steered. Instead of wheel. the pilot
steers with two levers, one for forward action
and the other for stern movement of the yes
sci. The levers are connected with the revolv-
ing collars and the direction of the craft is OBJ
tanned according to the angle of the volume Of
water elected from the A-inch pipes in stem or
stern. 1t is claimed that the boat can be given
broadside motion by turning both escaping
jets of water (stem and stern) either to port or
starboard, as desired. 1t will thus be seen that
a rudder would be a superfuous attachment
rudder made Of solid brass. which is so ar
ranged that when not in use it can be hauled
upon deck through groove. 1t will only be
used when the vessel is under sail.
The Motive Power.
The boiler of the vessel is about IA feet wide,
IA feet from end to end, and 8 feet high, has
two fire doors at either end. and containsnearl
~ miles Of steel pipe. every inch Of which is
exposed to the fire contained within the boiler.
With this great heating surface, it is not
strange that the great pressure thus Obtained
forces the water through and out of the three
quarter inch pipes at the rate of about 900 feet
per second, or over sc, 600 feet-about six knots
per minute,
A little launch that was fitted out with like
machinery, though, of course on a very much
smaller scale, 1t is claimed, made over ten
knots an hour. The engine used on this boat
was only of about Is horsepower and the
volume Of water forced out of her measured
less than one-quarter of an inch in diameter
and was elected at the rate OF 200 feet per sec
Ond. 1t was on the strength OF the perform
ance of this boat that the Evolution was built.
Her outside surface is Of polished mahogany
and will offer very little resistance TO the
water. From the speed made BY the small
launch, it is confidently expected that the
larger craft will be able to aI least 25 miles
an hour and possibly at a much greater speed.