The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-07-13
SHIP OF THE FUTURE.
Science Fav0rs the Water Cycle, A
Powerful Invention.
Bazin, n French savant, Now Con-
structing n Wonderful Craft.

Is the water cycle the ship OF the futuref
AT least one scientist thinks SO and 10
spending money TO prove It,
There is an inventive Frenchman named
Bazin wSo believes that after years OF
study and experiment he has solved COR
rectly the problem of marine locomotion.
The device which Is the outcome OF all
his calculations is now being constructed
at the dockyards of 81. Densf, in the port
of the Seine, and within Month or two
will be- ready for her trials.
Marine architects and people In the ship
ping trade generally have kept close track
of NJ. Bazin's experiment and are waiting
with much curiosity TO see how his big
roller boat will go when he comes TO try
her on real water.
The inventor is personally overseeing the
construction and is confident that his YES
sci will furnish an entirely new theory as
basis for bodybuilding.
1t will not be pretty craft but all tho
resistance which Is tho impeding factor in
boats as at present built, will be done
away with, and the new vessel will, unless
Bazin's theory and mathematics are badly
at fault, be able 10 travel over the water nc
a startling rate
In one way the new boat resembles tho
modern fcrryboat--it has the came broad
platform, at n considerable height above
the water, which affords enormous deck
room But instead of lower hull, set
tling down into the water and so encoun-
tering enormous resistance, the new inven-
tion is supported upon great hollow floats,
or wheels, which hold It 20 feet or more
above water
These wheels, too, arc the instruments
by which motion Is obtained. They are
equipped with flnnges on the same princi-
pie as those Of n mill wheel or old fashion
ed paddle wheel.
A rotary motion is obtained In these
wheels by means OF steel shafts, which run
across the boat from side TO side, under
meath the platform. They are like Ito
axles OF wagon wheel and rest upon bear
ings Of prodigious strength.
One or two screws will be used to pro-
vide an impclling force, which will by the
heavy shafts be impaired to all the wheels.
M. Bazin contends that, once started, the
boat can, with moderate supply Of steam
power, develop an amazing rate of speed,
inasmuch as all friction with the water Is
eliminated
The whole fabric simply rolls along over
the surface Of the water like powerfully
propelled bicycle over level road, but
with infinitely less retardation.
On the broad platform are situated tho
engine and furnace rooms, asIvell as pas
senger cabins, dining rooms, cooking gal
ieys and everything else that a first class
passenger boat must have.
One of the most novel features Of this re-
markable vessel Is the rudder, which Is q
hydraulic apparatus of great strength and
utility. Instead of being broad heavy
implement Of wood or iron, IL consists
solely of hollow vertical column, situat-
cd at the stern of the boat 1t is managed
by the pilot
From out this hollow rudder n mighty
stream of water Is constantly projected
into the sea. 1t Is thrown out with such
strength that 1t really becomes rs solid as
the ordinary fiat surface rnd operates ex-
actly like the ordinary rudder But the
usual friction Of the rudder when thrown
over Is obviated In this new tiller by the
pushing force Of that heavy stream Of wa
ter, which, being constantly thrown out
astern serves to drive the vessel forward
In case the roller or propeller engines
should become stopped the continued ejec-
tion of this stream Of water would, the in
ventor says, serve to propel the boat to
port, as a speed Of half knot can be OBJ
tanned from 1t. New York Journal.