The Bottineau pioneer., 1894-11-24

III. T. Cause. in a recent paper on the
further development of the Atlantic
greyhound" foreshadows the various
directions in which the ocean racer will
be modified with a view to attain
greater speed and efficiency. The hull
will probably receive the first attention;
aluminium. or one Of Its alloys. Is likely
to ultimately supersede iron and steel,
both in plates and shapes. as it has
barely one-third of the density of steel,
but possesses equally high tensile and
ductile qualities. There are also great
possibilities for nickel-steel in this con-
nection. Th. model of the ship may be
expected to be fined down and shaved
away. as to resemble in its lines a
modern yacht rather than a metamor-
phosed canal boat: and the fOrefoot will
probably be further cut away, so as to
insure greater ease and rapidlty IN
turning and relief from the severe
strains to which the rudder and stear-
ing gear are now subjected. Harbor
channels will have to be deepened, and
then. with increased hull depth, the
probable practical length Of the ocean
steamer OF the future will be from 500
to 900 feet. and the beam will follow
in proportion, having due requirements
of speed and sea qualities.
The intensely severe internal stress
arising from the vibration of the ma
chinery must be neutralized in some
way. and some effective compensation
for this trouble will in all likelihood be
applied specifically and locally to each
engine. on the broad principle of the
resultant of divergent force. This Is
even now being successfully accom-
plished in some of the torpedo boats
in England, and there should be no
great difficulty in carrying 1t out Oh
the larger scale of ocean practice. The
question of stiffening the interior OF
ships hulls will naturally receive more
attention as they increase in size and
their machinery in power.
Mr.. Cause predicts that the future
transatlantic liner will, for business
and competitive reasons, probably lie
more days at sea, and carry only such
classes of freight as can be loaded
and discharged with great dispatch.
The tendency in regard to masts and
rigging is toward the carrying Of but
two light and graceful steel pole masts,
made hollow for ventilation. one be-
ing placed forward and one aft, and
intended merely for steadying the ship
in a heavy sea. These masts can be
fitted with small navy "tops" as sta
tions for lookouts, search-lights. and
electric signals. But the pre-eminent
question will be speed. More screws
will be introduced and cOrrespOndingly
more engines behind them. The steam
ship of the future, will be fitted, not
with three. but with eight or ten
bronze propellers, each making from
1000 to 1900 revolutions per minute
driven by high speed rotary electric
motors running in oil. The fuel will be
crude oil, and the skin will be made
mirror-like so as to reduce the friction
Of the hull in the water to minimum.
Another important change will be
the extension Of automatic action as
applied to all the operations that 60 to
make up the management OF the MOD.
ern steamship. Human agency Will be
superseded by a train of mechanism,
and improved methods will be devised
for steering stopping and revising the
ship. In fact, as Mr.. Cause says, III
| requires no stalwart imagination to
| foresee the entire control of the en-
gines passing into the hands of the
commander in the pilot house, or on the
bridge, by the simple Intervention Of a
wire connecting an index and button
at his side with a small motor in the
engine room that operates a piston at
| tached to the throttle bar"