Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1905-12-08
SOME VESSEL NOTES.

Steamer Calvert, bound from the
kappahannock 70 Baltimore Monday
got ashore in Urbanna creek and staid
there until Wednesday morning. The
northwesterly blow caused lower tides
than known for years. .I.a.e ...
owing to fog on the bay Saturday
night steamer Potomac did not reach
Baltimore until 10 a. m. Sunday. Capt.
Dick Shenton, worthy steamboat
man, kept the craft going slowly at
times, though-and did not take a wink
OF sleep after leaving Tappahannock
Monday morning until he made fast at
Pier 2, Baltimore. '..w H'
J. D. Wood, tug master of Norfolk.
has signed contract with the navy
department to go out 20 Manila on the
I'd. ID. Dewey" on one of the most
remarkable cruises OF modern times.
The Dewey is the big steel floating dry
dock now at Solomon's Island destined
to dock the largest ship of the American
naval force in the far east. il this great
structure can ever be successfully nj
loted through four seas, the Chesapeake
pay and Manila bay. Mr.. Wood is to
live aboard the dock during the VOYAGE.
He anticipates one of the most pleasant
experiences of his life. He will receive
800 compensation a month, his vessel
viii be so stable in the heavier weather
that 1t might be possible to play billiards
aboard, according to some officers. and
he VIII have plenty of good companv
and solid comfort. There is perma-
nent crew of eight machinists, engineers
sailors and electricians and firen,en and
these people are to remain attached To
the dock at Manila. On the VOYAGE
across they will be reinforced by twenty
two sailors, who will be DISCHARGED
when they reach Manila. There will he
small boats and wireless telegram in
STA ilation, The comparatively large
crew is needed for the purpose of hand
ling the towing lines and operating the
pump and electrical contrivances that
keep the dock dry. They cannot steer
The great hulk, for no constructor has
been able to devise a rudder big enough
to shape a course for the dock. that
could be safely attached and operated.
SO the dock is TO be held on its course
solely by the towing power of the three
great Golfers, Glacier, Cesar and Brutus,
under the command of Captain Fullam.
U. ). N. Each of the golfers will have
It's own wireless splant so that they NAV
freely communicate with the dock and
with each other. The towing line will
De one-mile long, length regarded as
necessary to guard against sharp strains
m heavy sea, and even with this. great
towing bits with pneumatic cushions
nave been placed on the GOLFERS to re-
luee the chance of breaking the cables.
The largest steel ropes in the world out.
'lde of some of the great suspension
bridges. Some of the most conpetent
laval officers say that the dewey" can
De lowed at the rate of about 100 miles |
Gay and allow about three of four
months for the trip, by the Suez canal
'' HOW TO Make MOTOR BOATS. 2I
Herbert C. Sadler, professor of naval
'rchitecture on Lake Michigan. saws.
During the early months of the present
ear was actively engaged in design
ng and afterwards experimenting with
N auto boat on Lake Michigan. The
uil was made by local builder. The
motor was an Oldsmobile. Ihad a LIGHT
ull of timber constructed with a fair
mount OF beam on the water line, but
luch cut away below, except at the
uarters. Although it drew compara-
I'VE little water and might be said when
1nnlng to DE borne on the water, there
ere always a few inches submerged at
le boy, and this gave the craft stability
hull equipped it with sixty horse
over motor. Despite the compare
Vely low horse power, MANAGED to
st aspeed of more than thirty miles
2 hour.ooI found that cutting down
le size of the propeller obtained more
ICED for a given horse power. The
g screw did not have the results ex-
'cted. also found it extremely diff
Ut to design a screw which, revolving
more than thousand revolutions. [
ould not give any back wash. A pro-
'iier revolving too fast is useless. 1t !
because many builders of auto boats I
not take this point into consideration {
at better results are not obtained by .
otors; Revolving too fast, the pro- q
Hers simply churn the water. A good a
al of experimenting is yet to be done | i
fore it can be ascertained at what Q
eed certain sized screw shall be f
'de to revolve in order to give the n
lximum power" O