New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-06-16
THE NEW TTRRTKTA

People who have any curiosity about steam
ships which are propelled by turbine engines
Will soon have chance To inspect one on Lake
Ontario. A vessel Of that description which Is
10 ply regularly between Toronto and Hamilton.
has just been brought across the Atlantic from
England This boat. the Turbinia IS not the
first turbine steamer seen by Americans 4
privileged few have examined the yacht Taran-
tua, purchased last year by ". X Vanderbilt
jr. \ limited number OF other persons know
what the Revolution equipped with the Curtis
engine can do. Moreover, tourists from the
United States and Canada have actually sailed
on the Clyde or crossed the English Channel in
boats for which Mr. Parsons supplied the mo
tive machinery. Such steamer, built for pas
senger service in American waters however,
VIII be n novelty, and on that account she
should for a time secure "A larger patronage
than any other boat running on the same route.
of course the distinction will be temporary.
Sooner or later more vessels of the same kind
will be seen on the lakes. Besides the Allan
Line hopes 10 have one or two turbine steam
ers running between Montreal and Liverpool
before the end Of the present season. Still while
it lasts the newness OF the venture Will give 20
it a unique charm
Before the qualities Of the Turbinia were
tested it expected that she would deveIop
speed of twenty-one knots an hour. a number
OF ocean liners can surpaSs that but there is
probably 10 steamer on the lakes which can
even match it, When the Turblnia has entered
upon the career for which she was designed
however, she may possibly prove Il pleasant
surprise 20 her owners. A dispatch from Nova
Scotia announcing her arrival from Newcastle
England declares that during part of the voy-
age that lying along the eastern coast of Scot
land she attained a speed OF over twenty-three
knots. Should the statement be correct she
ought TO display at least equal fectness on Lake
Ontario, under favorable conditions. Whatever
be the truth concerning this trait of the new
steamer, there can be no doubt about her sea
worthiness Though differing little in size from
the Iron steamboats, which run between New
York and Coney Island she was able to cross
the Atlantic without mishap. Lake Ontario is
not, to be sure. always smooth as Il mllpond
| but 1t is not likely TO try the stanchness of
| craft more severely than the ocean.
Excusable national preferences NAV possibly
explain the exclusive use OF the Parsons engine
in all war vessels, passenger boats and yachts
hitherto constructed i'll British yards Thus far
the Curtis turbine, which is extensively en-
| plOyed 10 drive dynamos in power houses in the
| United States, has been introduced into only II
single boat. and that one was built as an ex-
| pertinent At present few steamers are be-
| ing built I'm American yards, and there is
comparatively limited demand here for marine
| engines Of any type. In view of the excellent
| performance of Mr. Curtis's Revolution, though
| it would not be strange II his turbine should
| eventually prove formidable rival of the Par
| sons engine, at well on land II is
not our present intention to suggest that either
| of them is distinctly superior TO the other for
| the propulsion of ships. STILL IL the Ameri-
| can motor be equally we'll adapted to such SER
vice, good many people in this country would
feel pride in seeing its merits more fully recog-
| niZed.