Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1907-03-27
new COAST Defense,
Steady Floating Forts Invented
by a Los Angeles Man.

SASS&AJ - - - ~
by a Los Angeles Man.
PRESIDENT CONSIDERS PLAN.
Utilization of Dead Weight Of Water
Below Nave Movement May Revolu-
tionize Methods of Building Break.
waters, Lighthouses and Fortresses.
Methods OF coast defense promise to
be revolutionized by the inventions of q
Los Angeles engineer. William Edward
Murray, which have just been pre-
scented to the consideration Of Presi-
dent Roosevelt, Secretary Taft of the
war department and Secretary Metcalf
Of the navy. Mr.. Murray has spent
eight years in scientific calculations
and experiments toward the practical
utilization of the static resistance of
ocean water below. the comparatf lively
shallow wave movement. He has per
fected system Of steady floating
steel structures which. according to en-
gineers OF worldwide repute. absolute
" conquer and overcome the power Of
old Neptune and make it possible to
establish and maintain floating forts,
absolutely steady and anchored in po-
sition several miles out to sea, not to
speak of lighthouses, breakwaters,
floating bridges. summer hotels and all
manner Of steady floating structures
along the coasts.
The average layman, If he thinks OF
the matter at all, imagines that the
wave action stirs the ocean to great
depths. AS a matter Of fact, the big
gest pillows do not move the water to
depth beyond fifteen feet. Below
that the ocean, even In violent storm,
Is a mass of inert water The posi-
bility Of utilizing the stupendous hold
Ing pressure of the water at depths be-
low the wave movement is what Mr..
Murray has demonstrated and what he
proposes to put to practical advantage.
The American Shipbuilder In a re-
cent issue thus describes the principle
of the Invention: by going deep
enough down with bouyant steel Gals.
sons into the tranquil lower waters of
the ocean that lie below the compare.
lively shallow surface stratum of wave
disturbance and by constructing these
steel caissons 80 that they have at
their base a wide projecting and heav-
lily weighted fange on which the SUI.
perimposed waters rest with ponderous
weight, exerting at thirty-two feet be-,
low the surface pressure of 2,18O
pounds per square foot. or ut sixty
feet doWnsa pressure that exceeds two
tons per square foot, Mr. Murray Ii ef-
feet secures a steady floating founda-
ton on which any superstructure, prop
erly designed to minimize the waves
blows, may be placed, be 1t lighthouse
,breakWater fortress, Such a5founda-
ton opposes the dead inertia OF Its own
weight and the weight Of the water
resting upon 1t to such q degree that
the wave blows above are powerless
to disturb the equilibrium Of the foat-
ing body as a. whole. Thus we attain
steady fotation and can secure for: q
hundred and one uses decks or plat
forms rising from the surface of the
sea that defy oscillatio above because
OF the static resistance deeper down
offered by their motionless and rigidly
connected foundation Il.
Fortresses built on this principle can
be placed well of shore, rendering I'm
possible the approach of hostile fleet
intent on bombarding coast city. ar
senal, dock or commercial harbor.
They can defy torpedo or submarine
attack, because, being stationary, they
can be surrounded by any number Of
I circles Of wire netting. Immersed to
any depth desired. They can mount
more guns than the turret Of bat
tleshfp, these guns can be aimed with
greater rapidly because OF the steady
platform, and for the same reason they
will have the deadly certainty Of hit
IN rough weather that the battleship
never possesses. NJ. 3. n
With the fortresses supplemented by
20 screen Of submerged torpedo sta
lions built on the same steady floating
plan and Invisible to an approaching
enemy perfect coast defense seems &c
be assured. ALI this can be done at, 4
1.-THE Of the cost Of battIeships, it is
claimed. for no sailors, no stokers, NO
engineers are required on the station,
airy forts only the trained men behind
the guns. , sa5s
With the strategic positions on our
shores thus safeguarded, our fleets OF
battleships and cruisers can be re.
leased for offensive operations In the
enemy's home waters. The indefinite
expansion Of the navy will be checked,
and thus q great economical and socio.
logical problem. will be solved.
Eor every class OF stationary marine
structure the same principle Of steady
fotation can be applied for breakwa.
tiers requiring no useless rock founda.
lions, for lighthouses which can be
put In the vicinity of dangerous shoals
Tor lightships in d new form sitting
steadily on the seas like iampposts on
shore, for bridges cushioned In the
waters; even for hospitals. quarantine
stations and hotels IN partially pro.
tected bays. The vista OF possibilities
0YlpY1ad I'M Ia ffas. nx&nyrx5 4, !, I, -