The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-05-23

by Capt. G. J. F. Fluidt. Mr.. Lowe
claims that the boat will make forty
miles an hour, although this is doubted
by. experts. The truth of the matter
will be known, however, the middle Of
next month, for then the test of speed
will be made. AS the accompanying
illustration indicates, the little craft is
DOLLY shaped. The dwellers about the
Great Lakes who are familiar with the
whaleback type Of boat will at once
notice the resemblance. She is very
like, so far as her hull is concerned. the
Christopher Columbus, the giant whale
back steamer which, during the Column
bian exposition, carried thousands Of
persons to and fro between Jackson
park and the foot of Van Buren, street
in Chicago.
Her propeller looks not unlike clam
shell, the two halves Of which are
pivoted together at one end, semi
circular slice being taken out Of one
shell, close to the pivot. The two
halves of the she'll are placed almost
end for end. These apparent clam shells
are really two steel plates and expert
ment has shown that they cut the
water with the least resistance offered
by any propeller ever made. The care
which has been taken in the selection
of the very best idea is shown by the
rejection of forty-nine propellers before
Mr. Lowe accepted this one. The
width of the propeller is three feet. 1t
strikes the water at the base and then
at the top, it's locomotion being much
after the fashion of the swimming OF
dolphin. In fact, the whole boat is the
reverse of the ordinary methods, as it
goes through rather than over the seas.
Sixty-seven ftet from stem. to stern
does not give much room, certainly not
enough to swing the traditional cat.
Yet the saloon of this little craft is
thirteen feet long and four and half
wide There are three state rooms,
quite roomy affairs too. as state rooms
go, very comfortably fitted UP, accord
ing to the plans There are hunks be-
side these, in which the members Of
the crew of five will sleep if they wish.
At pinch, the boat can accommodate
thirty persons. Her kitchen is a tiny
affair, very like the old-fashioned
cooks galley that is perched on the
main deck of a vessel. The engine
room Is Also on the liliputian order for
the motor does not require a deal Of
room.
The motive power Of the vessel is de-
rived from gasoline. This is another
instance where the ordinary methods
are IeFOISeu MOSI peUple SuppOSe tHdt
gasoline is an exceedingly dangerous
explosive, and that to explode it is one
Of the easiest things in the world. The
experts who have been working with
Mr.. Lowe, find that a boat propelled by
power enlanating from gasoline is not
as likely to be the victim of accident as
if electricity was utilized. It is held
that the danger resulting from pos
sible explosion in gasoline is confined
to a certain portion of the vessel. right
near the engine whereas If electricity
was the source Of power, the whole yes
sci might be disabled in a manner the
cause of which it would be difficult to
ascertain.
Mr.. Lowe has been studying this
problem Of speed for good many
years. In fact. he made nineteen
models Of the invention before he found
one which he considered acceptable.
He holds there Is no mystery about the
craft VIVA tever, but that it simply rep
reseuts the practical application of a
scientific principle. The wha1eback
represents one type. The submarine
craft another, the most modern steam
ships another Mr.. Lewe has had the
benefit Of all the ideas grouped IN these