East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1909-07-22

New York.-The "unsinkable" rath-
er than the unbeatable" steamship
IS the object for which the great ma
rine constructors of the world are
striving today.
Speed is frequently sacrificed for
safety, but never safety for speed.
Every official, engineer, agent or en-
ploye of steamship company is con-
stantly on the lookout for safety de-
vices. The originator of this class
Of inventions is always sure of a
hearing from the steamship compa-
MES Let him but make a plausible
case, and the steamship company will
test his device.
The world wanderers of today are
the Americans. They insist that not
hicle in which they ride shall be
equipped with the latest safeguards.
Wireless u Necessity.
Wireless telegraphy, which has
demonstrated its worth on numerous
occasions. and upon none more for
chilly than the collision between the
Republic and the Florida, is now
classed as one Of the greatest aids to
navigation. Practically all the pas
senger-carrying lines have already
equipped their vessels with it, and
those which have not yet added it
will be compelled to do so by the de-
mands of the public.
Radius of a &C. Q. d."
The sending radius of the average
transatlantic liner varies from 45O to
$50 miles, while its receiving radius
is from 1000 to 1000 miles With
the departure Of from one to five
steamships each day. of varying
speeds, each with well-defined
course marked out, any steamship in
distress flashing out its &C. Q. D."
would soon be surrounded by vessels
offering assistance. The daily de-
partures of steamships make it al
most impossible that they can be
separated from the other by more
than a few hours or even miles. 1t is
not infrequently the case that two
steamships will remain within sight
Of each other all the way across.
Submarine Signaling.
This is a simple appliance based on
the well-known principle Of water as
a conductor Of sound. The apparatus
consists ofa box-like contrivance re-
sembling the receiver of a telephone
affixed to the outside hull of the
steamship. one on the port and one
on the starboard side. Connecting
these with the wheel-house are ordi-
nary telephone wires, terminating i'm
a telephone ear piece. On a polished
dial through which the wires pass are
the words Port and "Starboard,"
and small ebony switch. When the
switch is turned to port only
sounds on that side may be heard and
vice versa. In each Of the boxes af-
fixed to the hull is a bell, which in
foggy weather is automatically
sounded by electricity
Steam steering gear has greatly
eased the maneuvering of the giant
steamships. Formerly six, eight and
even ten men were required at the
wheel during bad weather. Now the
great rudder, Weighing many thou
sands of pounds and 500 to 1000 feet
distant, responds to the lightest touch
of the quartermaster at the polished
wheel
The 10000 or 27,00O-ton steamship
swings from side to side like the nee'
die of the compass as the wheelman
spins the wheel in front of him which
controls the steam steering gear ope-
rating the rudder 1t is estimatd that
against the rudder in turning from
starboard to port on steamship Of
the size of the Kronprinzessin Cecile,
pounds.
WhistIlng by Clockwork.
In sounding fog warnings on the
pipes or whistles it is necessary that
they shall be given with regularity
and without intermission. To provide
for this there is an electrical clock
work arrangement which at stated in
tervals, usually seven seconds, sounds
the great whistle, which travellers say
is the most fearsome sound to be
heard in foggy weather. Just below
the automatic pipe signal is switch
board used for calling the various
crews to station-for fire, collision,
boat or any other occasion.
Higher up in square brass box
in which there are a number of holes
and behind each is a red or green
electric globe. BY watching these the
captain or watch officer can tell in
stantly whether or not his side lights
are burning for when one goes out