The times., 1897-04-05

valuable, but so long as it is possible TO
withdraw it into the hull when not In use,
propcIlers can be placed at almost any
desired point. Again, tits nota necessity
to operate these propeliers by means Of
steam electricity, or oil or some sort may
be utilized to equal advantage. This is
one reason why the small craft benefit,
for il would oftentiIhes lo away with the
big engine-room force which the modern
steam Yacht requires. and permit the use
in It's stead of the more dainty electrical
engine or that which fiuds oil to be its
agent in making the wheels go round
fact well known 20 all sailormen who
nave served aboard steam craft is that the
slower a propeller moves, the more diff
cult the ship becomes TO control. 1tsome-
times happens that vessel whose en-
gines are not over and above powerful,
gets caughtin the seas inssuch a way that
her propeller becomes useless. She then
loses steerage way and flops about in the
trough Of the sea and perhaps In the
teeth of a gale, practically helpless. Mr.
Fergusons invention renders II possible for
one of these propellors 10 be placed on each
side of beat, as well as at the stern
Equipped in this way, it would be diff
cult for ship to take such position
that some one of the propellors could not
be utilized.
Again, while the true yachtsman, the
one who loves wet sheet and flowlnS
sea, despises steam engines and the CRIME
and commCtion they engender, he has no
objections to the electrical engine. AS
the propeller may be operated by the latter
as well as the former, it gives the owners
of sailing yachts chance to have all the
benefits which result from proceeding
under sail almost altogether and at the
same time having, sheathed IN the nun,
q nronelIer that in case of a calm will
enable the vessel to proceed without the
loss of time which must otherwise follow.
The nronelIers for small craft are only in
tended to promote slow rate or speed
but this woald be a great Improvement
unon the unpleasant and enforced idleneSs
of a calm.
One particular advantage the sheathing
proppllor offers in the way or steering,
beside that already mentioned, is 1ts USE
fulness in directing the course OF big ships
of war which find it necessary 10 naheuFer
at a slow speed and in limited area
When, to avoid collision or turn about
In narrow channel, the movement re-
suits In the utter loss of steerage way, the
rudder performs queer pranks and the
ti,ler chains seem possessed OF q very devil
To remedy these conditions, it is proposed
to fit a sheathing propeller on each side
of the war craft under water and as near
the stern as possible.
Either of these propellors should be so
fitted as to be capable of being worked
by machinery known as the capstan en-
CINE, which is almost invariably placed
under tn e quarterback in large SHIPS OF war.
Mr.. Ferguson argues that with these alus
the vessel could be swung lnstantane-
ousIy; that there is no need OF Ter coli1dlng
with anything, and that she can turn IKE
niyot The metal of which the pro-
nel,or will he constructed will be as rule
gun metal. and particular effort VIII he
made to protect such parts Of the mechan-
ism as are exposed to the action of the
salt water.
Not only is the new propeller useful in
the lines indicated, but it is capable OF
driving a vessel at much greater speed
than the ordinary propeller in use. While
intanded prirnarily as an auxiliary to ships
already possessing propellors, or for small
caft that never had any at all, so great
is the interest it is exciting, that 1T is
likely to be adopted by atfeast TWO OF ehe
companies operating lines of transatlantic
steamships. The advantage OF being aoie
| to sheathe tie propeller of vessel at any
desired moment is indcrsed by steamship
men. They claim it will prevent disaster
| and eventually result in greater speed.