The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-26

Importance increases as the appliances become
more complex. In enginc.rooms the fact has
been recognized and tho want met There is
no reason why II should not be similarly dealt
with In the boiler-room Liquid fuel IL already
substituted for coal in many steamships. When
sufficient quantities can be obtained II has many
Obvious advantages over coal reducing greatly
manual labor In embarking supplies, conveying
II TO the boilers, and using IL az fuel Possibly
Its advocates have claimed for il greater econom-
ical advantages over coal than can be supported
by the results Of extended experiment Even
II the saving in weight for equal evaporation is
put as low as 80 per cent OF the corresponding
weight Of coal it would amount to 1000 tons on
a first class Atlantic liner This saving might
he utilized In greater power and higher speed.
or in increased load There would be sub.
stantinl saving on the stokehod staff
AT present II does not appear that adequate
supplies Of liquid fuel are available. Competent
authorities here and abroad are giving attention
to this question. and to the development OF sup.
plies II the want can I've met at prices justifying
the Of liquid fuel there will undoubtedly be u
move ment in that direction. Stronger materials
for the construction Of hulls already available
They are however. as yet but little used except
for special classes OF vessels Mild steel has taken
the place Of iron. and effected considerable say
ings of weight Alloys Of steel with nickel and
other metals are now made which give strength
and rigidity much superior TO mild steel. in
citation with ample ductity. For destroyers and
torpedo boats this stronger material Is now largely
used. II has also been adopted for certain impor-
tan parts Of the structures of recent ships in the
Royal Navy. OF course. the stronger material is
more costly but its Use enables sensible economies
Of weight to be made. II has been estimated for
example. that in an Atlantic liner OF twenty knots
average speed about 900 tons could be saved by
using nickel steel instead of mild steel This
saving would suffice TO raise the average speed
more than knot, without varying the dimensions
Of the shin Alloys OF aluminium have also been
used for tie hus portions OF the huls Of yachts
torpedo boats and small vessels. Considerable
savings in weight have thus been effected.
On the other hand these alloys have been seriously
corroded when exposed TO the action Of seawater.
and on that account are not likely TO DO extern
sively used. Other alloys will probably be found
which will be free from this defect and yet unite
lightness with strength to a remarkable degree
Other examples might be given OF the fact
that the metallurgist has by means exhausted
his resources, and that the shpbuder may look
TO him for continued help In the struggle TO re-
duce tho weights OF Floating structures
In view Of what has happened and is still hap
penng, 1t s practically certain that the dimen-
sons Of steamships have not yet attained a max
imum. Thanks to mechanical appliances the
largest chips built or to be built can be readily
steered and worked. In this particular, diff
cultics have diminished In recent years. notwth-
standing the great growth in Dimensions In
crease in length and weight favor the better main
tenance Of speed at sea The tendency. there
fore, will be TO greater regularity Of service
than at present Quicker passages will to some
extent diminish risks and the chance Of break
down will be lessened II multiple propcllors are
used. Even now. with twin screws, the risk
Of total breakdown is extremely small. What
may be the size and power Of steamships
there must come times at sea when they must
slow down and wait for better weather. Blu,
the larger and longer the vessel the fewer will
be the occasions when this precaution need be
exercised"