The Spanish Fork press. [volume] (Spanish Fork, Utah) 1902-current, 1908-05-28

steel caisson which is sunk down into
the tranquil areas of ocean DEPTHS.
far below the comparatively limited
portion of wave-disturbed water near
the surface. These steel caissons
nave at their base wide fiange. ex-
tending all around and heavily weight
ed Upon these flanges the water
ABOVE rests, pressing down with enor-
nous weight, exerting at 80 feet be.
low the surface pressure of 2,160
pounds per square foot, or at a GO.
loot depth pressure of more than
two tons per square foot. The inert
weight of the structure itself and the
weight OF the water upon it more than
| counterbalances the action of the
waves above. Imagine an ordinary tin
basin turned upside down and sub
merged, and you get an idea of the
Murray foundation. Upon this steady
| fioating foundation, then, any desired
superstructure may be built--light-
house, fortress or living or storage
room of any kind.
The whole structure, then, in its
steadiness and immobility, might be
likened to floating iceberg To any
one who has ever gone to sea in the
winter time one of the wonders of the
deep must ever be sight of great
iceberg floating steadily with the cur
rent, no matter how violently the
great waves beat against its sides.
Every schoolboy knows that this
steadiness of the floating mass of ice
is owing to the fact that two-thirds
of it's bulk is below the level of the
sea. And it is partly this principle and
partly the additional one of adding to
the depth below water the widely pro-
iecting flange of steel that makes Muir
rays invention so valuable and i'm
portant In the eyes of all marine en-
gineers. The downward thrust on this
hange of the immense weight of stable
water is the great secret of the prac-
ticability of this invention.
Only Surface of Sea Agitated.
Countless experiments by marine
engineers all over the world nave
demonstrated the fact that the depth
to which the wave disturbance of the
surface of the sea extends averages Is
feet. A homely proof of this is to be
found in the way in which diver can
work on the bed of the ocean without
feeling the slightest effect from any
motion of the waves over his head
And in many of the longtime sub
mersion tests of submarine craft the
crews have sunk below the level in a
calm and risen to the surface in
storm without feeling any indications
of the above-surface disturbance.
Not only is the Murray principle ap-
plicable to lighthouses and lightships
and floating fortresses, but to every
class of stationary marine structures
such, for instance, as breakwaters
and piers bridges across arms of the
sea or detached areas of water sub
merged torpedo stations whose steadl-
ness will give hidden gunners deadly
aim floating coaling stations. pro-
vision and oil storage depots and even
hospitals and temporary hotels.
Applied commercially, the Murray
invention may revolutionize breakwa-
fer construction. Millions of dollars
have been spent in the building OF
breakwaters in the creating OF a good
harbor or the construction of large
railroad and shipping terminal, and
in a number of cases these breakwa-
ters. after much time, money and Ell
fort had been expended, have been de-
clared insufficient and unsatisfactory
These breakwaters have been built up
from the bottom of harbors by the
dumping in of enormous quantities OF
rock at huge cost. The Murray sys'
tenn II Is declared, will do away with
this expensive construction entirely
The Murray breakwater is built In sec
lions each section resembling an in
verted vessel, the upturned keel doing
the work of breaking the force OF the
inrolling waves and the great project
inc bnlk underneath held steadily by
the pressure of the water
OF Value for Lightships.
Ono of Mr.. Murray's chief claims OF
the value of his invention however,
lies in its application to another' ana
more picturesque, marine structure
The ,ehtship. As lightships now are
oan.trncted. II is impossible for them
IN carry light at a greater heieht
thon 90 feet above their decks In al
a,t,or they must always be anchored
oloae 10 the reef or shoal over when
80, ,,ord suard. since il Is NOT nos