The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1909-07-02
CHAPTER XliI.-Continued.

CHAPTER xliI.-Contnued
The others looked eagerly at them
as the president held them, wondering
what connection the two little strips
Of metal could possibly have with the
defense Of nation against multi
tude of battle ships. Nothing but Rob
ers' known ability prevented them
from looking upon him as a crank.
They inspected the objects before
them in turn, passing them from hand
to hand with blank looks. Only the
secretary OF war, who in his earlier
years had been metallurgist, showed
any signs Of surprise or amaZement.
He turned excitedly away and crossed
the room to side light, against which
glare he held the little plate, staring
at it fixedly. The inventor smiled, and
the others renewed their interest. The
secretary hurried back.
What on earth is it, Dr.. Roberts"
he asked, and then without waiting
for an explanation continued: Il never
saw metal that looked or felt like
1t. What is it,"
Gentlemen said the inventor, re-
covering the slab and balancing it in
his hands, that is new plate that
can be made cheaply and quickly. If
1t does what the laboratory tests show,
1t will, when applied to cruisers which
can now steam 20 knots an hour, make
30 knots an easy gait for them"
There was a gasp of establishment
amounting almost to incredulity
among those who crowded round, and
the scientist. enjoying the effect of his
words, smiled and smoked. A mo-
ment's pause ensued while the pos
sibilities Of the discovery dawned on
them. Those who knew him least were
again questioning his sanity, and then,
as II all at once they could wait no
longer for him to explain, they burst
into chorus of questions, which he
did not answer, He waited until no
voice was heard, and then began.
That plate practically overcomes
friction. My assistant, my daughter
Norma, and have made several tests
before | came here with it. These
were cast and tested last night. | am
not going into scientific details; but
this much III make plain: A ship
coated along certain lines with that
metal, electrified only to a point where
she would not sink for lack of support,
can reduce her skin friction caused
by the water to a point where her
speed would be something hitherto I'M
known. 1t would, of course, mean
lighter ornaments, because the light.
er the dead tonnage the greater the
buoyancy. But cruiser with a few
long range, high explosive guns, that
can travel at the rate of 40 or 30
miles an hour, or a submarine that
can make that speed for "a hours at
stretch, would play havoc with any
navy in the world"
The room was alive with excited
men now as the full force of his state
ment came in all its cIearness. If
that unknown metal had that proper
ty, and sufficient fighting ships could
be armofed with it in time to meet the
demands made upon them. the seas
would be whipped into subsection and
leglons of troops transported before
they could be interfered with. The
president himself had lost his calm.
ness and was gripping the arms of his
chair, The secretary of the navy
having the practical point of view
came out of his trance, and snanned
out question:
How long would it take to eoujp a
cruiser with those plates?"
Roberts turned toward him "no.
Ponds on the plant, The plates can be
cast and electrified just as rapidly &C
you could cast sheets of plain iron
and turn current into them. but
wish to experiment a little further
irst and try them out on some old gun.
boat that wouldn't amount "a much if
0st."
The room was again filled with
label OF sound, as the officials began
In argument; but on one point thew
we're agreed, The man before them
vas so well known that the govern.
nent was taking no great hazard in
ffording him every means within its
ower to carry out his work. and If
q nnlll d. In Ia