The sun., 1894-10-14

an enemv., sharp dashes could he made
here and there aud enemy put TO iiehi.
Knowing also the places where Canadian
could be kept for them. With station in Lake
Huron, GctESian Bay could be watched Tor hos
the channels nom Lake Erie into the Detroit
hlver and the American Government has made
new channel IN the 500" These improve;
simplify ,he military situation and makes avail
able The almI,st instant use OF the two fast
have in commission next year.
The average man-ot-war has the Scotch boil
tnbes. The BOILERS of the Northwest are the
first extensive trials of the system In this coun-
Try OF max ing steam with the water instead Of
the fire In the tubes. The average pressure on
ordinary vessels il lBO pounds To the square
inch. by the Northwest's system the pressure
Is ?dB pounds and possibly one-thi rd more. The
Northwest makes about 100 revolutions of her
propellers minute, but with this power Of
crease Of boiler pressure could be obtained on
war vessels II is probable that their speed
could coa h be increased from one TO three knots
the performance of the Northwest with special
interes, all summer, Now that lake navigation
been withdrawn until next summer. the naval
officials VIII probably give exhaustive treat
summer on the Northwest, and the result ma
meen revolution OF he boiler systems in ma
m pns ,h is known that ahe oeas
change of pitch IN the screws Of their vessel
and The more complete testing OF some OF the
smaller bits OF machinery connected with steam
production and immediate use OF the steam.
they will get fully 20 miles an hour
not not allowed e' to do m her ' best. Shs because M
in the hurry OF putting her in commis-
oq Ssr Of he mot tested
necessary to restrain the full use of her mar
vellous power. The engineers VINO watched her
performances were satisfied that she demon
strated the superiority of this system of boilers
on ships, and that in short time they would
by a knot or two an hour to any craft that might
use them, The boilers are said TO be more easily
SettnS up steam o is extremelv sbnrt nr 'he % fUr
Northwest there are 2S boilers, % furnaces. and
the coal consumption averages only about les
There Is much to be learned from shipping on
the lakes. The system OF triple expansion or
there, The owners are also alive 10 the neces-
sity OF securing every practical Improvement in
on the lakes which does not have an electric
plant in full operation. Few Of the tramp
steamers that come into seaboard harbors are
equipped with electric plants. This is supposed
70 be luxury and used only on liners" Then
the great lake vessels use more economy in
On the great lakes coal pockets" are numer-
ons: They are big, storage places, such
draws up alongside OF a wharf, on which
there are several OF these coal pockets, and the
buckets, instead OF the few hnndredweights AZ
q time that are hoisted into vessels at the sea-
board from canal boats brought alongside the
ships. In Cleveland this last summer a device
was put in successful operation whereby a coal
car was lifted clear from the rails, swung over
a ships hold, and dumped easily as a bucket
in the old way. One advantage that the lake
boats have over the ocean going craft is that
they can get a supply or fresh water at any
time. This saves the necessity OF carrying huge
cOndensers and this, OF course. lightens the
ship and simplihes the machinery.
To show the Importance OF lake navigation
and the need OF protecting IL well the cities
on the lakes these figures have been compiled
by the Government; Number OF American YES
sells OF all kinds in 1893 ON the lakes, 3,7Bl;
gross tonnage, .26l ,067. The tonnage built
during the last five years Is AL ,S02. To show
the Importance OF guarding the 500" Canal
these figures are given: Number of vessels pass
ing through the 500" in 1893, l2,OOs; Suez
canal in 1893. 3.34l total tonnage OF the 800"
in 1893, 9,s49.754; tonnage OF the Suez Canal
In 1893. 1.65006s; days OF naviga tion at the
- SOO," 2l0; at Suez 365.