davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1907-04-07

BY Lewis Nixon in The New York World.
How can the gas engine benefit American
shfpbuflding and ship owning?
We do SO much in this country and pro-
gress so rapidly that changes of great sig
nificance are often made without attract
ing attention till q weak. foreign imitation
OF the achievement attracting attention
abroad attracts attention here by cable men,
ton Il
Several years ago pointed out very
plainly the coming development of gas en-
gines and what could be accomplished by
their use. I fairly convinced of the
soundness of the position then taken, and
began to prepare for the change which al
ways comes
It came when steam torpedo-boat build
ers could not produce a boat to meet GER
tain requirements Of the Russian admiralty
said they could be met.
But that was one side only, although I
was prepared to guarantee my product. In
the midst Of war It took great courage
and engineering foresight to contract for a
fleet Of untried gas engine torpedo boats. /
the Russian Admiralty. and showed them by
the logic of mechanical development that I
could build the vessels. Admiral vicremus,
Chief of Staff. and the Technical Commit
tee took long step In advance of engineer
ing progress when they approved of the
plans, It required conviction and courag &c
of the highest order under the circum-
stances.
However. the boats were built and ac-
cepted.
The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1907-04-07
can be pu. out by water with which 1T

can be put out by water with which 1t
mixes.
ran trial trip with alcohol in the
Black Sea and the results were excellent.
the vaporiEer working up with gasoline \
very slight change would have enabled US
to have used alcohol from the beginning
Much valuable data was obtained from ex-
periments. The very best results at
tanned with n mixture OF one part gasoline
and three parts alcohol, more gasoline pre-.
eipitating the water Of the alcohol.
Alcohol should he sold here for 11h cents
a gallon. and will be II Congress does not
permit its production and sale TO be ham
pered by needless restrictions and handi-
caps.
For the present we need absolute reciproc-
ity with Cuba, and should have alcohol
at the above price, and with this the In
terest opposing its production by the Amer
team farmer would cease their opposition. o
great new field OF profit would be opened
and the farmers OF the country would FUR
nish much OF the fuel to heat ana light our
houses. cook our meals and run our facto-
ries and motors
Then II In addition the American eoasting
laws were extended to Cuba there would
be such a demand for ships of all kinds
that our ship yards could not fill the or
ders. Such a policy would do more for the
The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1907-04-07

gines. Many a poor fisherman to whom
age had brought stiffened Joints and wan
ing strength finds in the motor a renewal OF
his youthful capacity and an opportunity to
prolong his usefulness
In the cities emergency pumping plants
with the gas engine ready in second TO
pump 70 fun capacity and which only con-
sumo fuel when actually working must sup
plant the steam plants where in order to
be- ready steam must be kept up at all
times and coal constantly burned.
Crude oils converted into gas do away
with all danger. Gasoline, which is the prop
err fuel for torpedoboats and scouts is ex-
pIosive under some conditions but not
near so dangerous high pressure steam
After gasoline we have kerosene. but this
Is not a good fuel for ordinary work. as
most Of the kerosene engines work by means
Of a button or mass of projections that
get red hot. the kerosene being forced In
to the cylinder or combustion chamber in
the form of fog or vapor Of kerosene The
usual method is to use gasoline as a primer
to get the engine heated up or to heat the
button by blow pipe or electricity. II Is
not the ever ready type of the gasoline en-
gina.
The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1907-04-07
merchant marine than all the subsidies that
have been proposed.


Crude oil can be used directly in the en-.
CINE in such forms the Diesel type but
the pressures are very great and on thia
account the weight OF the engine IS very
great.
Coal gas gives excellent results in gas en.
g!nes and OF late years much research and
experiment have been made in building gas
producers in which gas for the engines "A
made in a large hopper-iike contrivanee re-
sembllng ordinary furnace. Here ths
GOAL Is burned 10 coke and a certain
amount Of hydrogen from water is mixed
with IT, Tho gas is Thoroughly washed,
and then a centrifugal device takes out ths
tarry products and moisture.
Great progress. too. has been made with
producers or retorts for making gas from
petroleum, and this will be the next import.
ant and far reaching development OF thu
art.
Suction gas is ideal for use on board shin
"a the producer is under no pressure and
there is no escape Of gas.
The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1907-04-07
.AUTO-LNER" TO CROSS ATLANTIC
OCEAN EASILY In FOUR DAYS


. Gas engines will cut the fuel bills I
q OF the world in two.
= A 100000 horse power auto liner will I
. cross the Atlantic in four days. This I
. machinery can be put in the aame I
y space and with the same weight now
. required for 5000 horsepower. 1t will I
. reduce the engine room crew of ves-
q sci like the Kaiser Wilhelm from about I
y 220 to fifty men, eliminate smoke.
. ashes. stocking furnaces and all the
q hell under decks" smokes<acks.
q forced draught blowers and pipe lines I
q under pressure and there will be no I
q fuel expense from getting up steam" I
. or keeping 1t Up while standing by" I
q Such an auto liner will burn about I
q $50 tons OF petroleum a day, or half I
q what II would require to make the
q same power II burned under boilers
q and converted into steam. II the en- ,
q gines burned coal gas made ON the
q ship would reduce the coal consump- !
= ton 30 per cent.
q The great cost of fresh water for
q boilers will be eliminated. and the
q fuel. II petroleum is burned. will be I
q carried In. compartments now laden
q with water The coal bunker space
q can be utilized for freight or passen-t
. gers.
q No more battle ships should be built 4
q with steam. Gas engine war craft I
q should have been building for the last I
q two years.
q The United Statse leads the world I
q In adaptation of the internal oombus- 4
q ton engine to commercial use, but I
q England will exert all her energies I
= to surpass US
Z Displacement of steam locomotives 1
q and trolleys by gas motors is q devel- 4
. opment we may expect in the not dis I
q tant future. Lewis Nixon.
The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1907-04-07
The World Takes Notice.

But now the sequel
Months after the fleet had been built and
was in actual commission a small, expert
mental gasoline launch was built and tried
by an English builder. Instantly the press
of Europe and America was full of the
great development Of the gas engine. and
the world awoke and took notice. Now, Il
is said, a gas-engine battle-ship has been
designed by a leading English I'm / am
satisfied that battle-ships should have been
building two years ago with gas engines,
but I hope and believe the first gas-engne
battleship will be an American ship. While
our men OF war, as lately designed on less
displacement, are as good fighters as the
Dreadnought, no more steam battleships
should be constructed after the present ones
are given out, and were I dictator no more
steam men of war should be given cut for
construction.
Naval Authority's Opinion.
Commander A. B. Willis. u. 8. NJ, one
The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1907-04-07

why. too. this question OF smokestacks
when the problem is already solved? In th'
Russian torpedo boats the exhaust was lei
out under ordinary conditions below the wa
tar line. but for special spurts could be re-
leased Just above. In some vessels recently
The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1907-04-07
Day Of steamers without Steam
Near, Says Commander Willis.

q The steam installation afloat has
q about reached the upper limit of its
q efficiency. Nor can we pre-
q dict. even with the turbine and with
q superheated steam. any very great In
. crease in economy.
= The rapid development of the gas
q engine has made serious
q its consideration as the coming sub
q stitute for the steam engine as
q prime mover
q One need not be an ultra optimist
D In the study of this class of heat en-
q gines to arrive at the opinion that
q there is more than q possibility Of
D such a substitution. and that while the
y passing" of the steam engine will
q be no sudden death, We will within n
q decade see at least some sea-going
q crafts of large power using the explos-
. i've mixture motor--vanguards Of the
q future fleets of steamers without
. steam Commander A. B. Willis.
. U. s. Navy.
The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1907-04-07
Gas Engine, Burning Petroleum. Or Alcohol
Tho Coming Power on See snd Land.
He says-Predicts New struggle with
England for ship-Building Supreme


afloat has reached about the upper limit
of efficiency"
! know that the Bureau Of Engineering
Of the United States Navy Is keeping in tho
closest touch with the gas-engine ques-
ton and that nothing here or abroad es-
capss Its notice.
have not completed designs for q pas
senger steamer as yet, but have schemed out
one with about 1000 horse power and with
a speed of 80 knots The best index to
what can be accomplished. however. is
that for q gasoline engine torpedo-boat
destroyer the $4,000 horsepower engines
weigh with all suxiliaries 21o tons: revolu-
lions only 800.
While the gain in 1ightness space and
simplicity of machinery is Tremendous in
the weight Of fuel just important a gain
Is scored I confidently expect to develop
a horsepower on less than two-thirds Of
pound of crude oil. just as Is now done
with our gasoline engines.
The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1907-04-07
A Knock On Turbines.

A Knock On Turbines
Only one mistake has been made in thu
building of these boats--they should have
had gas engines.
There is so much In the development Of
the ship and the duty OF both governments
and builder are looked upon so diversely de-
pending upon the point Of view or the
country that I could talk a week upon this
phase. having given lifetime to its study
But I have said enough. think to Justify
my statement that the English Will push
the gas engine with all the energy thev
possess.
Far the present the United States is far
in the lead in this adaptation Of the gas
engine to commercial use, but the engineer
ing and technical world Is aroused TO the
problem and 1t will be hard running for us
to maintain our lead The gas engine has
made the submarine and the motor-boat
possible, Resides the.-countless launches
Installations running into the hundreds OF
horsepower have been made in racing craft
but IN the latter they resemble more nearly
the automobile engine and that Is not the
right tendency in marine engineering con-
structon.
In slow moving engines approxirnating the
steam engine sped we easily lead the world
The 7ooo-miie trip of the Gregory across
the winter gaie-tosed Atlantic: the run of
the Dixie to Texas by the Erie Canal. the
Great Lakes Chicago Canal Mississippi
River ana CUR or mexico IN $50 nouTs OF
running time: the life-saving boats
with gas engines adding tremendously TO
the efficiency of the service; the discard
ing Of steam for gas by the yachting fleets
are simply stepping stones in the revolution
no walking place. In no respect has the
world advanced rapidly in the last three
yes$s as in the application of the COS en-
CINE to navigation,
The largest ship afloat with gas engine
mir &c ha achO0ner NOfthland,
of Maine, with b0o-horse power. The New
York fishing excursion boat Arion has sim
liar equipment and has speed OF eighteen
miles an hour. new installation of $50
horse power with coal gas producers IL
about to be ordered. The Russian torpedo
boats built in 1so4-o5 had $50 horse pows-
and carried g. 900 tons dead weight
The endurance and reliability of the Eas
engine are remarkable. On land they run
for months without stopping for cleaning or
repairs. The trip Of the Gregory shows
their reliability at sea- few weeks ago
7 sent four little Runboats from New York
10 San Domingo and though very heavy
gales were met they arrived without mis-
hap It was very hard TO get fresh wa
ter IN San Domingo. 80 that special form
NJ distiIIer was devised and the waste heat
OF the engine produces all the fresh water
needed and absolutely pure.
The Pineland an EXCURSION steamer for
use in Texas. ran the 1900 miles from New
York there without touching the engine.
The power lifeboat Is an interesting I'm
stance of the adaptability of the gas en-
zine A 25-horse power engine Is tucked
away at the after-end OF the boat out OF
sight The boat he turned with
ou+ interfering with the engine. Imagine
pulling heavy oars 10 windward against
strong seas and YOU will realize how little
strength is left when the wreck is reached.
uft bar Cip
The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1907-04-07

Some New York surgeons tried to
make man talk the other day BY
boring a hole through his head. What
did they take him fora blockheadf
The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1907-04-07
supplanting Steam Power.

But with something better possible the
world will find it-and has found 1t. Tho
gas engine has been brought to Its present
state of commercial adaptation none too
soon to meet the vital needs of progress.
Already the gas engine Is found speedily
supplanting steam In the yachting fleet. The
same applies to the fishing schooners and
oyster dredges. II has come to the relief of
the sorely pressed coasting schooner with Its
auxiliary power and has saved that type
from threatened extinction. 1t is used on
long distance ferries such ply in New
York harbor. But It will not reach its full
development until 1t drives battleships
and furnishes the power of the ocean lin
ers.
One hundred thousand horse power can
be installed in q thirty-knot auto-iiner at
the Same cost OF weight and space as $4,000
horsepower Of steam and will burn about
$50 tons of fuel per day of twenty-four
hours While am confident better results
can soon be produced, these results can be
attained now
In q destroyer Just designed to use q
liquid primary fuel the machinery and aux
iiiaries for 900 horse-power weigh zfe
tons and the entire machinery space with
ample room Is seventy seven feet long. 4
steam plant would occupy not less than
$50 feet and every foot would be q vital
target as the space is filled with pipes
under pressure and delicate auxiliaries.
Another vessel proposed is required to
have thirty knots speed for 5000 miles
This machinery weighs about 500 tons and
burns only $50 tons of fuel In 100 hours.
The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1907-04-07
Passes by no Opportunity.

when the multiple Expansion of steam was
proposed the ciear-sithted empire builders
again put the English buiids to the front
and. linking tho CON pound engine TO tne
iron chip. Brittania produced a new Nep-
tune chariot of ocean conquest whose proud
progress has made the good Work OF tne
ala "wooden walls" fade nto insiEniff-
canoe.
A few years ago WHEN II looked as though
the water tubular boiler must take the plaos
OF the Scotch type otders for torpedo baats
and destroyers were scatterd Throughout
thu Kingdom. and almost every ship yard
was put into n position to secure experiences
in the construction and operation OF sucn
boilers, every type being trieo out.
The wonderful advance of the German
built merchant marine under the mastery
initiative OF the German Emperor gave q
decided shock to the English, and the ap'
pearance of the turbine has been hailed
with the belief that hhre was the savior Not
only have men-of-wsr of every type. large
and small. been ordered, but. determining
10 be at the forefront, the Government
credit is at once extended in the construc-
ton Of the two most spectacular vessels eve'
built to cross the otean--the new turbine
vessels of the Cunard Line.
The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1907-04-07
Gas and Steam Power Compared.


The essential difference between tn" gas
engine and the Steam engine is that in the
steam engine the fuel is burnt under a
boiler and a large part OF the energy is
wasted In ashes smoke and radiation con-
densation and leakage; while In the gas en-
CINE the combustion takes place in the CYL
Under. so that outside Of the heat of the
exhaust gases the greater part OF the ther-
NAL value Is utilized.
In teh gas engine on down stroke a
charge of air and gas Is drawn into the
cylinder On the up stroke this mixture of
air and gas is compressed and then an cleo
trio spark ignites the gas and the heat due
to Ignition increases the pressure m that
1t forces the piston down with greater force
than is used in the compression. this diff
ference being the gain IN work on the dou-
BILE revolution: just as we might imagine o
spring being compressed and by some means
being made sitter SO that In returning tn
its normal shape II lifts a greater weight
than was required TO compress It.
It is easy to see that in this four cycle
or lotto" engine hero described the greateI
part of the heat is utilized.
In 1900 ] began to realize the tremendous
possibilities of the internal combustion en-
CINE for marine work. Large gas engines
were already developed for land use and
were slowly but surely forging to the front.
I took a large interest in the Standard Mo-
tor construction company WuiCu oWnSu tus
Riotte patents. This company kept build
ing larger and larger engines till today this
designs are ready for six-cylinder engines Of
s, 900 horse power.
When Russia In 1s04-05 wanted 20-knot
torpedo boats that could carry a torpedo. a
~ nm gun anA two machine guns, and
should have an endurance of 1000 miles
and still be small enough to be carried
through railroad tunnels on speciality con
hat had
to the United States to get them built
Doubts being expressed to the possibility
Of combining strength with such rigid re-
quirements a similar vessel the Gregory
was built and started across the Atlantic
In mid winter. meeting gales OF greatest
severity. She went all the way under heI
own power When steam destroyers of more
than ten times the displacement were sent
to Manila the quietest time OF the year
was chosen. they went by the Southern
route and took large collier rs convoy
coalnK en- route
The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1907-04-07
Cut Fuel Bills in Two.

While the petroleum will give the
greater efficiency. the gas engine using
gas from coal will consume certainly less
than half the coal Of a steam plant. For
years we have been using wasteful form
of prime mover in the steam engine. The
gas engine will cut the worlds coal bill in
two.
While speaking here more particularly of
marine motors I feel that I must say that
the superiority of the gas engine for rail-
way work for both suburban and main lines
is apparent that the trolley and steam
locomotive will soon be supplanted. Why?
Well. even the doubling Thomases admit
the following:
1t is simpler. cleaner and requires fewer
men, is cheaper in cost and maintenance
and more economical In operation.
Ericsson was on the right track when he
built his hot air engine and had he not
used such a low pressure the internal COM
bustion engine would have been today in gen.
eral in stead Of the steam engine and
by now the flying machine would have been
necessity of modern travel Mechanical
art had not progressed far enough to per-
NIT the Of such great pressure in his
engine that the fifteen pounds OF vacuum
gained by the condensation of steam was
negligible in comparison, and consequently
his engine was n failure. and the engineer
ing world, going in the direction OF least
resistance, followed the evolution OF the
steam engine.
The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1907-04-07

built for service In tho tropidregular fun
nsls or ss,okestacks have bee provided and
the induced draft formed by = rush OF ex-
haust gases gives an ensineroom perfect
ventilation.
The engine room with gas ngines Is al
vavs cool ana comfortable. Vhiie there Is
A. appreciation generally tina sswar Is helr'
on deck and IN the open Int or battle,
me hell below in the sweitere engine and
.ho{1er rooms cannot be imagisd as there Is
m inferno Of torture for poular compar-
,soc tha. will 40 Il Justice. Think Of the
adyantase Of having the me In charge of
the machinery under no Iysical strain
whatever. but with every fadty alert and
capable Of the best endeavor matter now
long the battle.
The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1907-04-07
Possibilities of Alcohol.

Then follows alcohol which acts very
much like gasoline, but 1t catches fire 1t
The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1907-04-07


will the English now pus the gas en-
gine7 They will with all III energy they
possess. and will tell you yhy.
The two coming greatest ntions are the
United States and Russia, Brh control tre-
rnendous areas without tariff barriers and
| restrictions to commerce tfoughout such
areas and both have limitlas deposits OF
petroleum.
II the gas engine is the mrine engine OF
the future. how can the inustrial supre-
macy in ship building Of Grat Britain be
defended unless she leeds 81 the building
OF such engines and teh vessels that carry
them?
Vet us bark back to a lite history ana
show how England guards this industrs
with never Taxing vigilance.
when the iron ship WIS shown to be COM
merciaIly a better ship that ne wooden one
and the forests of America fere giving US
a great advantage OF treat Feisht IN snip
building the accident II war gave ENGLAND
a chance to cover the seas WIN metal SHIPS
and firmly establish q threatened supre-
macy Orders were given for iron ships of
war builders were warranted in putting
In the plants for constructing such ships
ana nv a master stroke of tolicy England
not only secured navy OF superior SHIPS
Of war but established the Jpn ship ouiio-
ing industry and enahled h.r builders 70
lead the world In that arr.
The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1907-04-07
Lswis Nixsa. Builder Of First Gas-Driven
Men-of-war for Russian Navy, Tells
Why Internal Combustion Engine VIII
Clip . Day from Schedule and Reduce
ruel bills One-Half.

lewis Nixou, the Ship Builder, Announced
Last week his plans for q ship yard at
TottenviIle. Staten leland, where he
promises to construct uto-liners" that
will cross the Atlantic in four days by
use Of internal combustion instead Of
steam engines. Tho World presents the
first comprehensive statement by the
noted naval authority of his reasons
for predicting that the gas engine will
suppiant steam and electricity as the
motive power Of the near future.
The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1907-04-07

NATIONAL TOILET COMPANY. Paris. Tsna.
The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1907-04-07
Home Treatment

We are able to accomplish speedy cures by
our office treatment by reason of our
long experience in special diseases OF
men, and tn the fact that we use NOT
only Specific Medicines, but vibration
and Electricity, which agents are une-
quaiied in their power to impart energy
correct abnormal nerve functions anu
restore the wasted parts.