The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-04-03

VI NItltNtl thty may bt dpBiSo W
advantage. One of the most interesting
of these is an automatic trip attached
To the bottom of the boat to prevent
all danger of sinking beyond a prede-
termined depth and to insure the safe
return of the boat TO the surface in case
of accident. With this trip in practical
working order IL is impossible to sink
the craft below the safety point either
by accident or intention. The device
consists of a heavy weight attached to
the keel. with electrical connection run
ming to the gauge I'm the pilot house by
which the depth at all times is regis
tered in feet. At a point on the aus
at present set at $50 feet. is an electrical
contact which establishes the electrical
circuit. This, i'm turn, unlatches the
trip. n the boat, relieved of the extra
weight, returns rapidly to the surface.
Within 25 feet of the danger point Is a
sliding contact which sounds ar alarm
before the trip is set off and warns the
operator of the pending danger. If the
boat is then under perfect control, the
descent is easily arrested.
lngress n egress are obtained
through a door in the top of the pilot
house, the circumscribed quarters
within admitting our persons besides
the engineer at the stern. All the
movements of the craft are controlled
from the turret. 1t contains 10 bulls
eye apertures through which the oper-
ator is able to see in any horizontal
direction and also upward down.
ward. At this point are the indicators,
gauges. valves, levers, signals, and p
planes used in the operation of the
boat and the regulation of the air sup
ply. They cover the walls Of the tur-
ret in one confused mass. all within
easy reach and in constant view of the
operator. Here also are the tiller which
controls the rudder at the stern and
an array of electrical connections run
ming to every part of the boat. Inte-
rior Illumination is supplied by mean
descent lights and a ~searchlight has
also been employed with some success
for lighting the boats course, although
IL is not included in the crafts equip
ment at the present time. Finally, in
addition to the appliances which per-
tain only to submarine navigation. are
the compasses, thermometers and bar
ometers commonly used at sea.
The cost of operating the Raddatz
boat has also been closely determined
by experiments made last utumn The
surface machinery is run at an expense
of from two to three cents per mile,
submarine navigation costing from
three to six cents per mile. The air
supply is furnished at a cost of 20 cents
for each person per hour. u can be
stored for a range of 500 miles. Finally.
the boat can be put in condition for
submarine work in Is seconds and can
be returned to the surface condition In
IL seconds. Under normal conditions II
sinks to its determined depth beneath
the waves at a rate of about 10 feet a
second.
The early trials of the present Rad
datz boat were accompanied with fire.
quent repetition of all the perils and
discouraging accidents which charac-
terized the experiments made with the
first craft. Its initial season afioat was
one long succession of mishaps. When
all its complicated machinery seemed
theoretically and mechanically correct
the inventor sealed himself inside the
armored turret and made ready for his
first descent. The air appliances were
started and the propelllng mechanism
began TO move. But scarcely had the
propeller blades begun to revolve when
the heavy steel hull dived erratically,
end foremost into the muddy bottom of
Fox river, burying its prov deeply 10
feet below the surface. its stern pro-
truding into the air like a strange steel
spire. 1t was with difficulty that the
inventor was rescued. Then began the
tedious, disheartening work of read
justment. Sometimes the boat rolled
almost completely owe in the water. AT
other times IL refused with peculiar
and vexatious obstinacy to respond to
it's operators touch. Each mishap re-
vealed a new defect which furnished a
new problem to be overcome. One by
one they were mastered. gradually the
boat became more stable and manage
able. and at last IL reached a point or
perfection which induced others to
venture a trip in the muddy waters or
the river and the lake. Last season
Inventor Raddatz never lacked COM
pany when he sailed forth in the steel
case, and at the end of the season more
than so persons had observed the work
ings of the craft from the cramped
quarters within the pilot house.
A first trip beneath the surface OF
the water Is an experience not soon 10
be forgotten. The passenger enters
through the top Of the pilot house
is seated near the operator. The en-
gineer is slowed away in his rampe
quarters beside the engine and dyna-
mo i'm the stern. The door Is then
tightly secured and almost every sound
from the outside world is cut on. Inn
mediately he hears a kissing ana pup-
bling noise. which tells him that the air
machinery is I'm operation. The come
thoughts OF impending danger, and a