Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1895-04-25
FoR eErTER SHE pRoTEoTIoN
shipbuilder's idea of strengthening
the Sides of Passenger Craft.


Shipbullder's idea of strengthening
the Sides of Passenger Craft.
"In the various comments on the loss
OF the steamship Elbe and the lessons
to be learned therefrom," said one Of
the best-known Of the younger ship
builders on the Atlantic coast to n re-
porter last week, 81 have failed to find
a suggestion Of what seems to me to be
of great Importance. 1t is that the dou-
Bile bottom which is now built in all our
first-class vessels should be extended
up the sides Of the vessels to the first
deck above the water line. The space
between the inner and outer skins
should be filed as Is done with our
mcn-of-war, with cellulose or some 9th
or obturatlng material, so that in case
of collision the rush Of water could be
kept out and the chances Of sinking
lessened.
"The builders Of tirst-class passenger
ships have much to learn from the con-
struction of the modern war ships IL
they would produce n craft that Is
nearer approach to the unsuitable yes
sci to which all are looking forward.
They must also have n drill Of their
crews several times ut sea- during n
voyage, where every man will know his
post and be prepared to do his duty on
the instant. The boats should be low
cred and preparations made for aban.
doning the ship such as the crews of
the men-of-war go through constantly.
Then in case of collision the loss Of
life will be reduced to minimum.
"rhe man-of-war and the hrst-class
passenger ship both have twin screws
nowadays. The war ship however has
an inner and outer skin, and this Is not
only filed with cellulose, but is subdi-
vlded by numerous bulkheads Of very
light but strong metal. In case Of Il
wound in the hull of the ship the water
will swell the cellulose and the leak
be arrested partially. If not too serious
the rush Of water will be stopped entire
ly. Moreover, the war ship Is equipped
with leak arresters and collision mats,
and has numerous life RATS The life
saving equipment Of passenger ships
usually consists Of a few boats, so tied
up and slowed away that they are
reached and launched with difficulty.
There are no collision mats, and even
the means of stopping a burst in an air
port is usually lacking. The bulkheads
are few and the doors between them Ill
most invariably open.
"N0w, If Il transatlantic company
should make craft with all the bulk.
heads solid, as some of them already
are, and in addition should extend the
double bottom up the sides above the
water line, with numerous subdivisions,
each filled with water absorbent, the
extra expense would be Il serious mat
ter, but am sure the traffic attracted
thereby would be so large that 1t would
be a paying investment In the long run.
| am sure that had 1t been known that
the Gascogne was equipped in this man
ner there would have been very little
anxiety as to her safety.
"The only danger Of moment to the
large passenger ships of the present day
are from fire and collision, They will
withstand any storm that the ocean can
kick up. There is an enormous amount
Of inhammable material In passenger
boats that does not exist in war ships
The llghtest Of metal bulkheads, or
some material Of woody nature that
will not burn easily when coated with
unlnfammable material, would seem
to be the next step in advance to avert
danger by fire. If possible, however,
there should be no wooden subdivisions
in boat. A craft such as | have indi-
Gated would prove a gold mine In earn
ing capacity to It's owners. Very little
space need be lost to secure these Inn
provements, and the nonslnkable ship
would be much nearer Mt hand"