Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-08-23

k%.E---Es--
THE FIRST MONITOR.


Third During the years 1915 to 1860 he sue
ceeded in perfecting the caloric stationary
engine. although the calOric ship motor was
not successful.
Fourth. When at the ripe age of sixty he de-
signed and constructed in one hundred days
the first monItOr-the cheese box on raft
which met the Merrimac. the most formidable
war vessel of its class. IN Hampton Roads in
March. 1862. and demonstrated the superiority
of the revolving tUrret over the broadslde IRON
clad to such degree that he was employed by
the government to construct nine other war
vessels of a similar type.
Fifth. When after completing the allotted
three score years and ten he made elaborate
investigation of the temperature of the sun and
moon and the series of experiments which cul-
minated in the completion of the solar engine
which attracted the attention of scientists
thrOughOu the world.
Ericsson's success III each of these branches
of engineering science Is believed by those who
knew him best to have been due TO his facility
III handling the tools of his profession" 1t is
said that he could do much work at the
drawing board IN a given time as two ordinary
men. The knowledge of the principles of
gdnuery. which he obtained during five years
service ensign in the royal Swedish artil-
lery before he was tweuty-three wears old. was
OF the greatest value in his subsequent inyesti-
cations relating to ordnance.
Another element OF EricssOns great strength
lay IN his ability to draw practical deductions
lTOHl tue HlIll>eII FURNISHED
by others. In these matters he led and rarely
followed any one. no matter how eminent the
authority. He seldom used models; his draw
ing board was his guide.
In 1858 he wrote the Navy Department that
the Dictator. with displacement of about ten
millions OF pounds. had a draft of small frac-
ton Of an inch less than he calculated.
THE SCREW PROPELLER.
EricsSon's success with the Archimedes at
tracted the attention of Commodore Robert
F. Stockton of the United States navy, then in
England. and who had large interests in the
Delaware and Earitan canal for whom he or
dered a screw propeller boat constructed in
England. When completed the boat was name q
the stockton III his honor. Speaking of per-
formances of this boat (Which had an iron hUll
under date of February 2. 1889. the London
Tunes made the following statement.
EricssOn's PrOpeller.-On Tuesday last. Jan
uary 29. the r. +. Stockton lowed the American
packet ship Toronto from Blackwell 10 the
lower point of MoolwIch, a distance of thyee
the food tide. then running from two to two
and half miles, thus towing her through the
water at the rate of upward Of six miles an
hour. The Toronto Is $50 tons burden, she
measures 81 feet beam and drew at the time
Of the trial 10 feet inches of water. thus pre-
senting a sectional area of more than 400
square feet Now, the fact of this body hav-
ing been moved at rate of upward of SIX
miles an hour by a propeller or piece of mech
anlsm measuring only 8 feet inches in dame
ter and occupying less than 3 feet in length
is one which. scientifically considered. is IN
terestlng III the extreme, and In practical or
Commercial point of view ID of immense I'M
pOrtance"
As Will be seen in the illustration this pro-