The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-05-17
A Turbine Steam Engine.

A new steam motor is attracting the
attention of English and American engi-
neers. It was recently tried as the pro-
Polling power in a small steamboat called
the Turbnia, and is said to have sent
the craft through the water at the re-
markable speed of BIZ statute miles an
hour. A vessel running at this rate of
speed would make the passage between
New York and Liverpool in less than
four days. 1t can be seen, therefore that
the success of the new engine would mean
the revolutionizing of trans-A Atlantic pas
senger steamers. The turbine is thus de-
scribed in an article in the New York
Sun: Each complete turbine or series
of turbines as they are in fact, is made
up of alternate revolving and stationary
plates through which slanting perfora-
tons have been made in opposite slants
in each class of plates. These plates are
made of circles of brass, turned so that
their outer edges fit into a circular casing
and their faces fit closely together and are
perforated. The plates which are to be
stationary are cut into two parts for con-
veuience in putting into place. The tur-
bine is made up by taking first a revolving
plate and keyiug this fast to the shaft
Next 10 this is placed a stationary plate
held in place by Tugs fitting into the outer
case; then another revolving plate and
then a stationary plate, and so on until
the whole turbine is made up When this
is completed and the engine is at rest, the
passages for the steam through the open
ings of the plates will be all open, but
each set presenting a zigzag course Now,
If steam be admitted. as it rushes through
these passages it has the same tendency
to straighten out the passages as would
a bar of metal driven through them. This
sets the plates fast to the shaft revolving
in direction opposite to the slant of their
oriices, with a power which has been esti-
mated as equal for each plate to 50 per
cent. Of the expansive power of the steam
| and a power for the whole of 81 per cent
of the steam force"
The movement of the shaft. and conse-
quently of the screws. is steady ard
smooth. without the rise and fan and con-
tinuous vibration of the ordinary piston
engine. Thus there is less wear and tear
on the machinery and less strain 70 he
huh of the craft. The new motor has re-
ceived the attention and Endorsement of
Mr.. Thorneycroft and other well known
English engineers. and is said to give
promise of great things in future. Its
development will be watched with inter-
est by people on this side OF the ocean.
-s-e-s-
At a meeting OF Pullman car porters held
in ST. Louis the other day a committee was
appointed to present a memorial TO the
general superintendent asking for a raise
in wages on the ground that tips have
fallen off and their duties are becoming
more onerous. Heretofore the travelling
public has classed the Pullman car porter
high up In the scale Of capitalists. and the
tip was always considered to be one Of
the necessary expenses OF travelling. A
long suffering public would thank Mr.
Pullman. If he would raise the pofters
wages and stop depending on the public TO
pay the bigger portion Of them.
-s-e-.---
1t Is said the Fort Logan cavalry will
soon be furnished with novel variety Of
military duty by the Secretary OF the In
terror. that Of guarding the herd OF buff
falo. about forty in number, which exists
I'm Lost Park, Col. Tho pot hunters have
been shooting these rare animals at every
opportunity. and il will take some very
careful guarding now TO prevent the buff
faio from becoming an extinct species.
They should by all means be preserved.
a frost IN France the other day did 81
100000 worth OF damage IN a single grape
growing section. It Is hardly thought.
however that this will affect the impor-
tatons OF French wines. The difference
can very easily be made up In this eoun-
try.