The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-03-27

been In this country very little work In
this line Of a scientific character: that is
dtsassociated with the solution ef 4 com
meTeial problem. For instance In the de-
sign of a proposed ship. there Is nnderiy-
Ing IL all. fundamental field of problems
in which the conditions relate not 10 one
problem. but 10 the whole field My work
has hot been devoted TO the design OF any
one propeller or to any commercial prob
lem. but 10 ascertain certain facts and
then furnish than 10 the profession at
large and leave Ii TO che praetlcsng en-
gineer 10 exercise his own iudgmt al from
experience in the use of such dasa as to
putting II into application. He II the one
Who must Judge how far this matter is
applicable To his particular use. But in
order to treat any of these problems in
diligently, he must have certain num-
Der of facts. We have supplied in small
way some facts in propeller designs 10
which have been devotiug the last year
The propeller OF the present time Is de-
signed in very large measure upon math-
smaticai and ACCIDENTAL methods. and the
result i in large measure that it Is Rot
as IN ought 10 be. Bat We don't know how
10 lle sure 10 attain the highest efficiency
This whole lire Of work ia for tue pur-
pose of cutting down the margin OF un-
certainty. There are also large numbers
of other problems which are rising regard
ing the conditions In the phenomena OF
engineering parts-in torpedo boats fast
yachts. etc. New conditions were found 10
exist when The screw propeller was coupled
up with the turbine in England Other
problems are 10 be taken up OF which we
have very little scientific data.
work for the Scientific Engineer.
In order TO receive just treatment at
tbs hands Ct the engineer they must first
receive considerable amount of study at
the hands OF the scientific engineer. whose
business il il to make A particular study
Of the conditions which are favorable for
Their contemplation. and 20 furnish mat
ter which VIII enable the practicing en-
gDeer 10 know what will be the resll, Of
any use be may make OF the facts induced
from them. Il is not 50 much 30 design n
propeller. for instance. but 10 furnish The
data which viii enable the engineer 10 s,.a
with some degree OF assurance that If he
adopts certain proportions, The result will
be so and 50. II il left 70 his Judgment
The government tanks. and nearly ali prj-
v.tIe tanks, are for the most part oecl,-
Piled with commercial problems. They
study problems having something to d,
with certain immediate solutions for A
particular snip particular propeller
csc. The Information gained at All these.
tanks IS locked up and the pubic never
secs II. II IS fer Tire benefit of govern
mgut design. aHd not for tho advancement
Of general engineering science II costs
large amounts Of money for the solutions
OF these problems, and even the private
institutions cot.d not afford TO immediate
Is give forth the data FOR the benefit OF
their rivals. Therefore the private ,n
Ejueer Is often At l0Ss when confro,ttrs
with any great problem. and heretofore
he has had no one TO turn to for assist
snce out Of mis- difficulty. 1t il this assist
ance denied to him by governments that
w hope rs supply"
Doubtless nany Of the problems alluded
20 by Prof. burand have been solved nv
TIE several governments possessing expe~
r.meHtal tanks. This is quite within, The
limit ~ possibility. hat whatever fact.