The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1897-10-02
GREAT SPEED AT SEA.
Marine Architecture Promises to ne
RevolutioniZed.

RevolutiOniZed.
AS was predicted in recent descr!p-
ton which we gave of the trial OF the
little vessel called the Turbinla, her eN-
traordinary performances on that oc-
casiOn have attracted great attention
from experts. not only on account OF
h,ar amazing registered speed of "thlr-
weight miles an hour over rough
course. but also from the novelty OF the
method of propulsion, the lightness OF
the machinery, the absence OF VlDfa-
ton and other notable features. AT
recent meeting of the shipbuilding sec
ton of the Institute of Civil Engineers
in London, Mr.. Thornycroft. whose
name is we'll known in connection Win
the development of the modern type Oh
water tube boilers. congratulated
Charles Algernon Parsons, the designer
of the Turbnia, upon her wonderful
record. and at the same time he point
ed out reasons why the very eNtraordl-
| nary speed attained. as compared with
the torpedo-boat Iestroyers-hereto
the SpeCtieSt boats conStructed-Was
more remarkable even than appeared
at first sight Prof. Ewing, of Cam
| bridge who spent a week upon the
vessel and made many tests and eX-
perimentS in regard to speed, water and
| fuel consumption, etc, gave some very
interesting information. The absence
of complicated machinery there being
| no reciprocating parts as III ordinary
| engines made the duty of the engineer
very easy; lin fact" he says there
was nothing but q steam stop waive
| and reversing valve that had to be
handled" N twenty seconds after
| starting from 4 state Of rest the steam
| turbine engines We're working n rate
| equivalent to Il speed Of twenty eight
| knots; Of course, this did not mean that
! the ship responded instantly. and got
! under such Roadway III that brief time.
When asked about vibration the Pro
| fcssor replied that it did not exist
| ''he did not mean comparative quiet
| udc: but the phrase should be under
| stood in its literal sense. Even at the
| highest speed there was 10 vibration
| nothing more than hum from the fan,
which was driven directly from the
| central propeller shaft" The ProfcS-
sor said that he had gone into this in
| vestigati0n with Il certain degree OF
| skeptciSm; but that the trials had been
| entirely successful throughout, and he
| could now point to nothing that would
| form a set-off against the obvious adj
| vantages which were possessed by the
| turbine as Il marine motor.
| These are very strong expressions,
| especially when we reflect that they are
| not sensational interviews, given
| through the intermediary of a reporter
| having, perhaps, penrhant for in
| iecting adiectives into his notes but
are deliberate statements of experts
| made in the presence OF critics fully
competent to detect any flaw and to
demoIish any untenable claim. They
| indicate that most important expert
mental departure has been made i'll the
| method of propulsion of steam vessels,
which will probably exert a far-reach-
| ing influence in the future development
| of steam nayi gat!on.
| In conclusion, it may lie explained
that the Turbinia is not propelled by
eiecting streams of water from her
| stern. as someone described not long
ago; but steam is projected with great
| force against the blades Of Il steam tur-
| bine wheel somewhat resembling an
| ordinary electric fan Enclosed in tight
| case. This wheel rOtateS with great
| speed. and is attached directly to the
| shaft which drives the propeller. There
| or, ..t,,oIIy rhrap turbiuaS coIlplp.i to
three shafts. The absence of yibra-
ton is presumably due, in part at least,
| 10 the fact that there are no reripro-
| eating movements as i'll an ordinary
| engine, but a continuous rotation in
one direction only. except when going
| nStnrn -EniIaIclnhia Record.