Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1897-08-29
CONTINUOUS souNDINes.
New Device That Registers Depth of
 Water on a Dial.
fCop right, 1897. ]

Water on Dial.
 fCop. right, 1S97.l
 An ingenious invention designed to lessen the perils of ocean travel has just been patented by an experienced skip per, Capt. Ferdinand Foster, of the steamer Al. Foster. It seems likely to make back number of one of the old est of the sailors mplements-the cord and weight used from time immemorial to test the depth of water in which ship is sailing by means of the process known as "heaving the lead." The use lessness of this process in an emer- gency was shown by the fate that be- fell the ocean greyhound St. Paul. 1t will be remembered that on foggy day the big steamer found herself off her course, steering through the dark ness no one knew exactly where. In accordance with custom man was sent to the chains with the lead for the purpose of keeping the pilot posted regarding the depth of the water. The lead was heaved once and showed a satisfactory depth of water. The usual interval elapsed before the lead was heaved again. When the cry of the man in the chains was next heard there was eonsternation in the big ship. The second cast had shown that the steamer was in shallow water, and before any steps could be taken to get her out of danger her keel glided softly on the sands and she was beached E11 14 IIaI l,a rJrv hoo aoh been a rocky shore a terrible disaster would have occurred and the made quacy of the old method of testing the depth of water under vessels bow would have been still further empha- sized.
 It is with the intention of remedying this serious defect in the apparatus of navigation that Capt. Foster has, after much study, invented the device referred to. It consists of an oblong piece of metal, fitted with fins at the top and bottom and sides. The fins are similar in design to those on the Hol- land submarine boat, and are designed to enable the contrivance to sink to the deepest depth of water. The great superiority of the idea over the old method consists in the fact that instead of having to be thrown overheard at intervals the new device can be sus- pended at the exact depth of water that a vessel must draw to be perfectly safe, and left in that position while the ship is moving through the water
 The floating metal is connected with the ship by means of an electric wire, which not only registers the depth of the water on the dial in the pilot house, but if the implement strikes any obstruction or touches bottom in- stantly announces the fact, so that the pilot is enabled to shape his course ac- eordingly.
 In addition to this it is possible by means of the new device to tell exactly the kind of material of which the bed of the ocean beneath the ship is com posed The method is extremely sim pie. An ordinary telephone receiver is connected with the wire that runs to the depth tester, and when the latter touches bottom the pilot is enabled to tell the nature of the oceans bottom by the sound that he hears on the receiver If the metal touches a clay bottom or a sandy soil the sound will be smooth, without jar or friction; but if the ship is travelling over rocky bed the sound that comes to the receiver will be harsh and grating as the metal device bumps over it. With such apparatus as this it would have been impossible for the St. Paul to meet with the accident she did
 With the ordinary lead it is only pos sible to sound to certain depth when the vessel is under headway, as the ac- tion of the water carries the lead al- most straight out. The new device will sink to almost any depth, it's action in the water being like that of kite in the air. The greater the speed of the boat the swifter and deeper the metal will sink, the angle at which the fins are arranged carrying it down as the water strikes them during the progress of the vessel. The "sinker" weighs ten pounds and is 45 inches in length
 The device has been submitted to government officials who are interested in improvements to navigation and Capt. Foster has been notified that an expert will be appointed to examine and report upon the value of the inyen- tion.
 Soldiers Needed