The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-06-04

To Europe in Four Days.
Mr.. J. II. BrLEs. the designer OF the
steamers Paris and New York, expresses In
the North American Rerieo the belief that
within ten years vessel can leave New
York at noon and arrive at Southampton at
noon on the fourth day out" To do this.
however. will require the enormous speed
OF thirty knots an hour.
For the attainment OF this speed. Mr..
BrLgs relies on no factors wholly un-
tried. but on the adoption for ocean voy-
ages CT some that arc now familiar but
costly. The first is the further Increase Of
mechanism in proportion to the total ton
mage, by carrying smaller weight OF
cargo and a larger weight OF machinery.
Could our fastest ships replace their
cargo by motive power. they could add.
says this accredited but highly sanguine
critic, from one and half to two knots
m hour to their speed. Or IL. instead OF
carrying 900 to 800 tons OF cargo. as now.
their capability' was made less by 500 tons.
replacing this by additional motive power.
they would add knot an hour to their
speed But 1t has not hitherto been deemed
commercially wise so to sacrifice cargo to
messengers and speed We shall not stop
to consider the reduction Ct the voyage by
running to Halifax instead OF to New York.
A second and great source Of gain. then.
is in the tightening OF the engines and other
paraphsrnslia OF power through the use OF
a lighter metal, such. for example, as nickel
steel. This now costs much more than mild
steel. but Is 40 to 50 per cont. stronger: 1t
also costs no more now than that steel did
in 1875 II this metal can replace steel in
our best vessels IL will add. according to
Mr.. BILEs. knot an hour.
. The process Of getting moro work out
OF the same weight CT machinery also
goes on gradually. while as TO boilers there
is hope OF a far more important advance.
Even now some types do three times as
much work per ton as others. but could n
light boiler be found that would dc as good
work. this problem OF gain would be solved.
II the locomotive type OF boiler. which is
one Of the lightest OF tubular boilers or
those having the fire inside the tubes and
the water outside. give on long voyages
two-thirds OF their relative superiority on
trial or as used in torpedo beats. another
gain of over knot an hour will result. There
are also the tubulous boilers with the water
IuSlub Luc IuotS uub tuS litc ouboldO, Nhooc
performance. says Mr.. BILEs. lin relation
TO weight is much better than any of the
tubular type" and their development.
which Is especially looked for in America.
will certainly bring higher speed.
Then there Is fuel Improved combustion
by forced draught and other devices may be
counted upon. but should oil DO substituted
for coal. tho weight carried will he
reduced one half. and this saving
alone will give "a knot and half more
speed" The oil costs more, and this cost
would increase when the supply diminished
with the enormous quantities used by
steamships: and it would also be necessary
to accustom passengers to the idea that
the oil Is safe as q fuel.
Bigger ships will also be faster. Length is
most important for this purpose. and some
forms OF vessels can actually be made to go
faster with the same engine power by add
ing TO their length. though this is not true
of our best Atlantic liners. Yet even with
the latter IN addition Of fifty feet would
require only four per cent. more engine
power to attain the same speed. and would
yield ten per cent. more incorporating
capabiiity. As TO draught. an increase
from the usual twenty-six feet to thirty
feet. would add ono and quarter knots
more. with gain OF eight hours on the run
across. But. OF course. in this matter, har-
Dor and dock facilities must be considered.
In fine. should nickel steel be cheap
enough for use in engines and should
light boiler be secured for long voyages. the
speed may be increased by two knots, while
oil as fuel would carry the gain to three
and n half which would raluce the TINA
record between Sandy Hook and Queens
town from five days fifteen hours to four
days sixteen hours. Increase the length OF
the vessel to 1000 feet. its width to 100. and
It's draught 20 80. and it will make 80 knots
an hour. and be capable of crossing the
Atlantic In little over four days"