New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-06-05
TIJIRTY-kNOT STEAMSHIPS.

+ II. Bcs. the designer of the steamships
Paris and York. is one Of the greatest
English authorities on all questions of marine
engineering and naval architecture. His article
in the current number of 1.-The North Ameri-
can Review on the possibilities OF speed III
Transatlantic travel does not express the
vagalics of dreamer, but the deliberate opin-
ions Of an expert. He forecasts as the final
result of another decade of marine progress a
four days passage between Ncw-lorb and
SOUTHAMPTON. This will involve the slibsti-
tuition of 3O-knot for 20-knot vessels. With
out quoting directly from an article abounding
in technical exposition, we may explain roughl!
how h. anticipates that the increased speed OF
10 knots will be obtained.
He calculates that knots can be gained
by the use of nickel steel in place OF ordinary
steel. and by the substitution of light boilers
Of the locomotive type for the marine boilers
now employed. Then he estimates that there
will be another increase of 3 - knots from
the use of oil in place of coal as fuel, but fails
10 take into account the increased FISK from
fire which ocean passengers Will inevitably CON
>idcr The remaining IL knots he believes
can be secured by changes in dimensions so Is
To increase the length and draught Of steam
ship, and by continuous Improvement i'll ma
chnery and construction. The 30-knot ship
a, he pictures it will be Loo feet long and
100 feet wide, and will have a draught of 80
feet. Ii will be built Of superior motal like
nickel steel. will have light boilers OF new
type, and will burn oil instead Of coal. lie
does not believe that the designing OF such a
ship will involve insuperable difficulties, and
confidently assumes that the time, not 10
Queenstown, but to southampton. will be re-
duced TO four days by the end OF a decade.
The economic difficulties may be more serl-
Gus than those which the naval architect and
designer will be called upon to overcome.
When the several sources OF the estimated in
crease Of 10 knots are considered, il will be
found that with possibly one exception all in
volvc largely increased expenditure. The
lighicncd boilers ought to be cheaper, If any
thing. than those now in use. But nickel
steel or any other superior metal VIII add very
much to the original cost of ship, although
the price may be reduced in time by extern
,vc use in shpbuding. The employment of
petroleum ~ fuel will increase very much the
operating expenses, even if the supply can be
regulated by diycring il by legislation or
otherwise from common uses The enlarge
mcnt of the Dimensions OF the ship a long way
beyond those IF Bruncl's Great Eastern. which
never made 4 profitable voyage involves an
enormous expansion Of the original cost. All
these elements will naturally be considered by
steamship managers, who are not - intent upon
having fast ships ~ they are upon getting n
commercial return for their invc >tmCn'. Mr.
I,sf 4
lightly over these economic difficulties. 30 did
Brunei when he planned his lcviathan and ex-
rcIicnced shipowncrS have not forgotten that
the Great Eastern was ultimately broken up
and sold for old iron.
The fact that the fast liners now ailoat or
under construction are of ~ account n freight;
els but are dependent in a large degree upon
the steady development of the passenger traffic
will tend 10 diminish the experimental ardOr
Of prudent steamship managers. They will not
be in haste to displacc their 2O-knOt ships be-
fore they have got out of them in actua SER
vice the capital which they have invested in
them. The premature construction Of 3O-knot
ships will involve the retirement of fleet
which i useless for freight. and cannot be run
profably in passenger service on any except
the transatlantic routes ordinarily taken by
American travellers. The designers may be
right in their calculations. but the steamship
companies have their cdgers and profit and
loss accounts They will not be drawn into
schemes for nickel steel petroleum leyiathan,
for racing across the Atlantic at 3O-knot speed
until they have counted the cost The prob
lem is one that fascinatcS the Imagination of
designers, but they need to exercise sclf-rc-
straint and to be mindful Of Hosea Bgow's
advice: Don't predict unless You know