The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-11-27
Fast Steamship Travel,


"A London that the Viper, a
British torpedo boat de-
stroyer of 800 tons displacement and
equipped with what are known as the
Parsons turbine engines, had, on its
trial trip, gone forward at the rate of
81 knots or about 43 miles an hour
This turns out to have been newspa-
per exaggeration. The Viper made
only 80 knots forward, with three
quarters of her power. A popularity
of the turbine engine is that 1t can
propel boat backwards at only about
one-half of the forward speed. The
Viper, in reverse motion, made only Is
knots an hour. Certain changes in
machinery will, it is expected, increase
the maximum speed to S5 knots an
hour, or about the average running
speed of a well-equipped express
train.
In an address delivered on Nov.
in London before the Institution of
Junior Engineers, OF which he is presi-
dent, Mr.. Parsons, the inventor Of the
Turbina, the first vessel to use turbine
of his expectations as a revolutlonist
of sea-going machinery. For example:
"In regard to the general application
of turbine machinery to large ships,
the conditions appear to be more fav-
orable in the case of the faster class
of vessels such as cross-channel boats.
faster passenger vessels, cruisers and
liners; in such vessels the reduction In
weight of machinery as well as econ
omy in the consumption of coal per
horse power are important factors in
the case, and in some vessels the alb
sence of vibration, both as regards the
comfort of passengers, and in the case
of ships of war permitting greater ac-
curacy in sighting of the guns, Is a
question of first Importance. AS re-
CARDS cross-channel boats, the turbine
system presents advantages in speed,
absence of vibration, and, owing to the
smaller diameter of the propellers. re-
duced draught. AS an instance, boat
Of 27O feet length, 33 feet beam, 1000
tons displacement, and feet inches
draft of water could be constructed
with spacious accommodation for 600
| passengers, and, with machinery de-
veloping $4,000 horse power, she will
have a sea speed of about 80 knots, as
compared with the speed of 10 to 22
knots of the present vessels of similar
size and accommodation"
The inventor of the turbine engine
| does not hold out the extraordinary in
| ducements respecting transatlantic
| travel which have appeared in some
| American papers on the strength of
| his achievements, but he says: I'm
the case of an Atlantic liner or a
cruiser of large size, turbine engines
would appear to present some consid-
erable advantages. In the first place
| they would effect reduction in weight
of machinery, and some Increase In
economy of fuel per horse power devel-
oped, both thus tending either to a
saving in coal on the one hand, Or II
preferred, some increase In speed. The
| advantages are, however, less pro-
nounced in this class of vessels on ac-
count of the smaller relative power OF
the machinery, and the large quantity
of coal necessary for long voyages
but the complete absence of vibration
at all speeds, not to mention many
minor considerations of saving in cost
and reduced engine room staff, are
questions of considerable Importance
1t is evident from the tenor of Mr.
Parsons address that he considers tht
turbine engine limited in its chief use
fulness to light ships which do no
have to travel long distances without
recoaling, but in which great speed
for short runs is very desirable. Sucf
ship is the Viper 1t is 2l5 feet Ions
but only 2l feet beam and 12 in deptt
yet carries 10000 horsepower, anC
operates eight screws revolving 1,OU
times a minute. The usefulness o.
ships of this kind for harbor defense
or night attack is so obvious that 1t Il
satisfactory TO learn that our navy de
partment is already making inquiries
into the subject.