St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-08-24
A ST. PAUL INVENTION
Which the Chamber of Commerce
Pronounces q Wonderful Thing.

which the ChamDcr Oh COInueFCo
Pronounces a Wonderful Thing.
Capt. Alonzo Cook, of this city, is sat-
isfed that he not only has fortune IN
his new patent bilge water pump, but
that he has made valuable addition to
nautical economy. The committee OF
the chamber Of commerce which inves-
tigated this new pump made fiatter-
ing report of it. j. FL. Davidson, G. G.
Andrews, David Day, George Ii. Haz-
card and w. p. Murray sign this report,
which is of general interest, 1t says:
On Saturday last the committee on
Mississippi river and other gentlemen
were invited by Alonzo Cook, of St.
Paul, to witness the practical workings
of his bilge water pump, invented and
patented by him, on the Mississippi
river. A number of the citizens and
some of the committee were present and
ACCOMPANIED the small steamer Ruby,
which started from the foot of Sibley
street, towing partially sunken small
barge which was equipped with one or
Mr.. Cooks pumps, and the operation OF
which we witnessed.
The device itself is very simple. and,
laying aside all technicallties. it is
simply a circular hole in the bottom OF
the vessel, which may be OF almost any
size, from four to ten or more inches in
diameter, through which the water IS
sucked out of the hull Of the vessel
into the river, lake or sea by the prln-
ciple of the siphOn reversed. The
pumps are mechanical device or con-
triyance with automatic valves and ma
chinery to close or open the hole in the
IF n xyQScQl whom thpTl IG head
way enough so that the eddy or swirl
produced in the wake of the projecting
point of the pump, which is hollow
pipe or tube with beveled opening, Oh
the opposite side from that in which the
vessel is moving; the downward or cir
cuIar swirl or movement of the water
DuIls the water out of the vessel with
great rapidity, the speed OF the out
pouring stream depending on the speed
with which the vessel is moved through
the water
The displacement of water by the
projecting end of the pump is replaced
by water drawn out of the hull of the
vessel. 1t operates automatically with
out steam or man power, and is as I'M
erring and absolute in its operation as
is the law that water seeks Its level. 1t
can not fail to act whenever there is
sufficient movement of the vessel
through the water to produce the neces-
sary suction. This Invention must DE
of value in the chain of great lakes in
moving the grain tonnage OF the North
west. A single pump in each c0mpart-
ment of a grain carrier would enable
the carrier to deliver its cargo in Buffalo
or at any destination dry, thus reducing
the cost of marine insurance consider
able percentage.
On the ocean, where life and property
! is so much jeopardized by unexpected
accidents, and by leaks occurring from
the various casualties of the seas, an
equipment of those pumps tor ships
would undoubtedly prove invaluable.
AS long as the steam power would move
a vessel through the water or enough
canvas could be spread to give her a
speed of even five knots per hour,
| she would pump herself automatically
against all ordinary leaks. The guam
! titv of water that could be drawn out OF
vessel would only be limited by the
number of pumps she was equipped
with and the speed she could maintain.
| The device for closing the opening
when the pump is not in use seems to
be complete, and the fact that the pro-
| iecting end or point OF the pump can be
/
| tom of the vessel when not in service
| removes a grave objection heretofore
made. and leaves the keel or the whole
bottom of the vessel free from anything
| that projects into the water except
when the pump is performing duty, and
| the projection then need not be more
| than from sixteen Q6l inches on the
smallest to twenty-five (22) inches on
the largest-SiZed pumps as an outside
limit.
In the opening through the bottom OF
the null are wing or balanced valves
which open automatically when the
suck is pulling water out, but close the
moment the speed decreases so there is
not suction enough to pump or pull
water out"
In tue latter case the action of these
valves is automatically reversed and by
the power of the water they are pushed
up into ploce and close the opening
sealing it tight so no water can pass
into the vessel.
But to guard against any accident o.
mischance that might obstruct the auto
matte action of these valves the appara
tus is equipped with safety valve
perfectly water-tight, independent O
the pump, which screws down over thu
entire opening and thus closes the bot
tom of the vessel as completely as if nj
hole had ever been made in the bot
tom of the vessel This safety valve i
worked by rod or brake entirely indie
pendent of the pump-rod or brake, ant
when the safety valve is closedi it make
the vessel water-Jight, so far as tn
pump opening is concerned. In
bumps, safety valve, brakes, and in
deed every appliance connected there
with, eau be manufactured at almos
any port, and put in vessels whereve
they are built or locked.
The committee recommend that tn
manufacturers of our city who hav
plants where work of this character ca
be done, be requested to examine thi
invention carefully, and consider whetf
er or not they can be produced here
IL. i ,,roGtnhlo iradIIcfryy I