New-York tribune., 1905-02-02

resources for Improvement Of mechanism and
alteration OF the conditions of sea transit
Nothing less than revolution in shipbuildinp
VIII be brought about when it is once proved
that the largest vessels. with all the appotnt-
ments for luxurious travel and with the dscon-
fort from pitching and rolling minimized can be
Fent across the Atlantic at maximum speed
with economy OF coal and working staff and
without the unpleasant effects OF vibration of
machinery. TIE German lines which now have
the fastest ships ahoat will promptly commits
sion their experts to build steamships with tur-
bine engines and TO improve upon the new
Cunarders. If economy in construction and
operation be decisiyely shown turbines will be
required for all classes of steam craft. Tur-
hines viii speedily be taken up by the Admiralty
for battleships and armored cruisers If the big
liners are operated effectively by them at re-
duced cost. and there will be a general revolu-
tion IN the mechanics of sea power in every
navy. The results Of the trials and early voy-
ages Of these vessels will deeply interest
the maritime world, and if the Dig turbines de-
veop all the driving power which is expected.
and 1t is fully utilized by the four propellers a
fresh chapter in the history Of marine en5-
neering will be begun 1t will then be COM
monplace that the British government by deal
ing generously with energetic steamship line.
has made cheap investment in subsidies and
loans and promoted great national interests.
Certainly it will be of the strongest possible
arguments for government aid to the merchant
marine If maritime mechanism and construction
radically changed by this hazardous expert
ment.
Ten years ago, when designers were seeking to
forecast the thirty-knot liners OF the future.
they talked dreamily Of tightening them above
the waterline by the substitution of aluminium
or nickel steel for ordinary steel and of using
oil fuel. which could be forced out of tanks by
pumps and conducted directly to the furnace
fires With the reduction of weights in hull
and machinery and the increase Of power from
internal combustion engines, they looked for so
great a gain in speed that steamships might
cross the Atlantic in four days from Queens
town to New-York. Electric power
sdered mpracticable for big ships so long as It
was necessary to develop II by burning coal and
using third more fuel than would be required
for steam power; and marine engineer of
great reputation had faith in the new tangled
turbine for leviathans, suitable as it might be
for torpedo boats small launches. That was
before the Midland and Chanrel turbine steam
were built and the Amethyst had been
haustively tested. The adoption of the turbine
as the most effective driving power for the
challengers is a proof that the supremacy in the
great ocean race is to be triumph of steam
engineering rather than Of naval architecture or
Of oil tanks. Popular prejudice is not to be ex-
cited by the use Of oil fuel, by which the risks
OF fire would be greatly increased. Public com
fort is to be promoted by the introduction Of
mechanism which will reduce rather than in
crease annoyance from vibration and by the
construction Of vessels Of unprecedented dimen-
sions. I N f.