Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-07-29
She May Well Be Called a Nautical
Automobile.
CAN SINK TO OCEANS DEPTHS
Able to Travel Along the Bottom
With Ease and Safety.
HER COMMERCIAL USES

Most of us are getting pretty familiar
with the autotruck and automobile car
rage as we understand them on land. but
only precious few of US have ever seen
an automobile of the deep-an amphibious
creation which can either travel gaily along
on the waters surface like any steam yacht
or. at will, go to the bottom and there roll
along on three wheels, absolutely indffer
ent to the storms which may rage above.
Such are the powers of Simon Lakes New
Argonaut, as he has named his improved
Argonaut. the craft about which we
heard so many interesting things a year
and more ago.
For the past 800 years. since Dutchman
of the name of Drebbell began the work,
some of the brightest mechanical minds
nave been bent upon the evolution of a
strictly practicable submarine boat, and it
can safely be said that the first Argonaut
was the first fultillment of three centuries
OF nope, while the newer craft is the natu-
raj Improvement born of successful ex-
pertinent. She is far ahead of anything
else of the sort hitherto fashioned by
Others, either here or abroad, and it is safe
to say she will more than pay for herself
in her first commercial undertaking.
The history Of the first Argonaut is
suggestive. Five years ago the Navy De-
partment solicited bids and plans from in
Ventors of submarine torpedo boats, for the
construction of one of which Congress had
made provision the year before After the
examination Of the several designs submit
ted-among which was the Lake boat--the
department decided upon an invention
promising, IN the designers prospectus,
pretty nearly all that could be ACCOMPLISH
ed by an educated whale, while possessing
the ADDED destructive powers of the most
formidable of torpedo boats That craft
after four years of tprogressive building is
only eighty-odd per cent done with the
prospect of material alteration before trial
While the Argonaut has oruised good deal
over loo miles and has made quite a hum
dred successful Notwithstanding, al one
time. under water for nearly half a day
without the slightest Inconvenience or mis-
hap, and accomplishing all her designer
claimed. The New Argonaut, which has
just been put overheard in New York will
be able to do all her prototype accomplish
ed, but with some very substantial addi-
lions.
What She IL Like
The New Argonaut is a cylindrical. cigar
shaped structure of steel, surmounted by 4
lighter fabrication having the graceful lines
of yacht, easily blending into the form IF
the main body below. The boat Is some
thing like sixty-six feet long, and has q
beam at its greatest circular section of ten
feet When travelling along the surface
the shlp-Shaped part of the craft will an
pear much ike any ordinary yacht, save
iof the absence Of maStS, Smoke-Sta ckS. and
the usual top hamper of such vessels This
shlp-shaped superstructure is designed to re-
dhce resistance when running on the sur
lace, to give deck room in pleasant weather
and also to house the air and the gasoline
tanks which would otherwise crowd tbs. in
ner body of the strictly working part of the
craft The only boat-li<e finish will be a
snort bowsprt-a coiiapsabie affair-which
IS to act as a hydraulic bumper In case Of
collision. The center of the deck is taken
up by steel pilot house, within which the
beat will be guided in stormy weather
IL
winch will pass all of the air pipes and OK
hausts when the boat is engaged in sub
aqueous work. The compass or pinnacle
is located on top of this pilot house and
the readings of the dial are reflected below
1t has been found that the compass so
located beyond the moving masses of metal
within the boat is very reliable, and courses
once plotted on the surface can be safely
followed by its guidance This il one great
dlf1culty in submarine navigation removed
and simplified, for the many ingenious sub
Stitutes have all of them been found dan
gerously unreliable.
Her Various Compartments.
The main hull or body of the boat Is of
steel three-eighths of inch thick. sun
ported by circular ribs of great strength
and spaced only about two feet apart. The
form and the method of construction make
the boat able to withstand water pressure
far In excess of that under which a diver
might live. This main body IS divided into
seven different compartments, of which
three are water-tlght. Compartment "a"
is the operating room when the boat is on
the bottom, and 1t Is from this place that
the captain controls all mechanical per-
1cfnanceS Compartment "B' is he iii a;Je
room, whence the diver passes through the
doorway L to the bottom. Compartment
'C' is an air-lock between the divers room
and the living space D. by which it is
possible to pass to and FROM the divers
room without reducing the ar pressure
therein In compartment %" are the eight
hunks and the storage lockers for the can
tain and crew. The beds and the lockers
are comfortable and commodious affairs
and space is also left for the storage of
provisions and working tools in the recessas
at the sides. White paint makes everything
ilght, while here and there a bit of decora-
tion adds very pleasing finish
Heavily upholstered transoms provide
sttlng accommodations and comfortable
iounS1ng places when the time comes for a
smoke and a rest between labors Com.
partment e. is the large operating room
within which are controlled the pumps and
the diving apparatus ana there on the side |
walls are hung the various gauges which
are to record water pressures air pres
sures, the depth of. the craft, the amount
of water in the tanks and the heel or list
OF the craft, and her speed either through
the water or along on the bottom of the |
sea. Compartment "F" is the cook ROOM |
where the meals will be prepared by the
ala OF cunningly devised gasoline range, |
of the edible stores and a goods re- |
frigerator. Compartments CO. Is the main |
engine room, within which are comprised |
all of the motive machinery of the ship, |
which will consist principally of two gaso- |
line engines of sixty horse power, also a |
smaller auxiliary pumping engine of four |
horse power, and q dynamo of output |
enough to supply the needful for the |
search lights at the bow, the entire inter- |
Tor lighting of the vessel and for the hand |
lamps carried by the Divers when working
at some distance from the craft.
How She is Controlled.
Under the floor of the several compart- |
ments will be carried the water ballast by |
which the vessels buoyancy will be con- |
trolled; and the third or after wheel, which |
is journaled into the rudder shaft, will |
serve to guide the boat whether af1oat or |
on the bottom The two forward wheels. |
which will have big teeth in their rims, will |
be driven by the same engines that work |
the propeller, and when the bottom is hard |
and the current too strong to make good |
Roadway by the propeller alone, these |
great wheels-each of which weighs ton |
will be put in motion and made to grip |
the bottom earth.
When fbaco 60 40 o,,rrer,f 10