Mexico weekly ledger., 1907-06-27
MOTOR BOAT
on The HOUR

Ine artlcle DelOW il an excerpt
from a special feature OF the Sunday
Post Dispatch magazine and concerns
two young men well known in this
city. Messrs Henning and Woody are
advertising Fairview Place, OF this
city. Mr.. Woody was born in Mexico
and lived here the greater part OF his
life. For several years he has been in
st. Louis where be is rapidly forging
to the front In his work.
"Sixty milesan hour by motor boat
express train speed on water Is this
to become q reality? Or Is it merely
. vision Of an enthusiast? Reality"
say two St Louisans, John @. Henning
and Oren +. Woody, experienced,
practical boatmen. who declare that
they have discovered an altogether
new principle which is to revolutionize
the whole theory and practice Of
water motoring.
The new idea consists in the sub
stitution Of concave lines-or, as the
builders say, "cuneum" or double con-
cave "wedge" lines-for the convex
form heretofore In use. The change
is made for the purpose Of overcoming
water resistance, and to enable the
boats engine power to be used wholly
In driving the craft forward.
Leaving out the technical phrasing
Of the expert and putting the idea in
to its simplest form, the new craft is
designed TO skim the waters surface,
instead OF forcing its way through-to
lift itself by its own driving power; so
that, with increasing speed, there is
an actual decrease OF water resistance.
In fact, 1t Is claimed that with the
perfection Of the new form, the boat
In flight will actually throw itself for
ward with a power greater than that
OF its engines. This is on the prin-
ciple OF the sailing eagle, which ad-
vances without wing-motion.
The former worlds record, made by
Price Mckinley Of Cleveland, o., In a
60-foot launch, 1.-THE Standard" Of
the convex hull type, was made in a
burst OF speed at the rate of 20 miles
per hour. This rate, however, was
sustained for only about is minutes;
az the end Of which time, because OF
the great water resistance, the engines
were tout Of commission" and the
crew In q panic. After their trial ex-
~periences, these st. Louis boatmep
declare that their new craft, by its
ability 10 overcome resistance, will be
able to sustain its greatest speed
without limit OF time-indeed, that
the greatest ease Of flight is attained
when the speed Is highest.
The "Catapult'' will be completed
and in the water at st. Louis by the
first week in July, when II will be put
10 the test. A record run will be
made from the mouth TO the head
waters OF the Missouri River. Later,
during the visit Of the Interstate
Waterways Commission, exhibition
speed runs viii be made from st.
Louis TO Memphis, together with other
trials, which President Roosevelt and
the governors Of several states have
been invited to witness. In addition, !
3 challenge for speed contests will be
issued 10 all craft, without regard 10
horsepower, dimensions or handicap.
The season Of 1907 promises TO have
Exceptional interest for the motor
'oatmen. The development OF types
s well under way, and the experts arc
turning their attention TO tho task OF
making something more than pleasure
raft for atill waters. The seaworthy
motor boat Is en- idea that will be test
d in practice before the seasons end.
A long-distance, mid-oceau aoe
rom New YORK to Bermuda-70