The wageworker. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1904-????, 1908-05-23

Sihle for their crews to handle anchors
or cables that would enable them to
he in positions further OF shore. Be
sides this ligheship not infre0uently
sues Adrift in the butfesinss Of win
tiers gales, and 50 long as the ship is
missing or until a relief VeSSsl can
take its place the dangerous SPOT must
remain unguar6ed-
The modern nghtship built by the
government costs about $11s,oo0.
while they are expensive vessels TO
maintain Ii is the contention of the
Inventor OF this new type of floating
structure that all OF the points of
weakness in the present type of light
ship would be done away with through
the Introduction of his model A cir
cular structure with q fianse around
its base could be anchored anywhere
along the coast and not directly over
the reef or Shoal TO be guarded. but
out beyond il, since once anchored
there would be no fear of its going
adrift in q storm Heavier anchors
and chains than an olG-type hshtShip
could carry or handle would make this
certain, for one thing. and the prin-
ciple on which IL is constructed would
do the rest Then these floating lights
could be built with So-foot lanterns. in
stead of the present standard. and
crews would be unnecessary. since
some of the water ballast compart-
ments, which are used to help in
sinking the structures, could be filled
with Illuminating oil and the lamp fed
automatically, Filled in the summer
time these tanks and lights would
need no attention until the next year
came around. With such a structure
in use the problem of guarding with a
warning light a spot like the Diamond
shoals. of Hacteras, would be speedily
solved. There would be none of the
difficulty commonly experienced in
building lighthouse on an almost i'm
accessible point, as the lightships
could be built in harbor and then
towed to the point where needed. 1t
is computed that one of these steady
floating lightShipS could be built com
plete for about $4,000.
Its Advantage Commercially.
While it is declared the Murray idea
4
commercially, it is its protective fea
lures, as applied to coast defense. that
nave aroused most interest in other
quarters War and navy department
officials have been interested especial
| " in the steady floating fortrsSSsS and
torpedo stations designed by Mr. Muir
ray On the great steel caiSSon sub
merged in the quiet depths of the
ocean is built special annular revolv
ing deck. fully equipped with guns
Now the turret of a battleShip Is
necessarily limited by the size of the
ships deck and its arc of fire is re
stricted. but ON the Murray fortres:
there need be no restriction as TO sizs
or the number of guns Again battle
ship summers are more or les ham
pered by the rolling and tossing of tbs
vessel. which makes good aim an un
certain proposition. but ON a stead,
floating structure guns could be point
ed with mathematical accuracy NJ
enemyS attacking feet would hay,
chance against an array of these i'm
mobile fortreSseS- While their sun
nerS were waiting for their vessels I,
4 AO-A ~ ~ ~ V2l4S guns ~ OS<44
they would be withered by a FIRE o
deadly aim from = deck as solid as
mounted upon rock A fleet running
up against these floating fortreSSe
placed several miles outside a cit,
would be destroyed before it got evel
within striking distance of the city il
self.
In addition. fleet of battleship
before a line of these steady floating
fortreSSes would be like 50 many egg
pitted against solid cannon ball IN
armor plating ON the fortresses can b
made of indefinite thickness. and it
domed surface would defect q strii
ing shell on into the harmless air.
Il impresnahie Defense.
: Then. too. upon the solid steel foai
ing foundations torpedo stations coul
be placed. submerged and totally il