Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-01-17
SOLVING THE coALlno PROBLEM.

With the increasing size and speed
of steamships. and corresponding
decrease in the length OF stay In port
the matter Of coaling the bunkers has
become a problem of no inconsidera
Bile magnitude. In the earlier days
OF the steamship. when the space de-
voted TO coal stowage was but a com
paratively small part OF the whole
stOwage space and bunker usually
consisted OF one large compartment
tho coaling was regarded more in
the light Of a necessary evil than a
problem Of any Importance. In these
days. however. when every possible
| square foct of space is given up to
| the convenient slowing and rapid
handling OF cargo. when transatlantic
| liners average over 90 knots find &C
commodation for 1000 souls and
steam in past Sandy Hook at an
, average rate CT three or four day.
| the cOaling OF the ship has become
Of nrst importance
The coaling problem has been par
TALLY solved In the past decade by
| various types of apparatus designed
to lift the coal from the barge OF
ether medium alongside the vessel and
deliver it through the coal port IN
! the vessels side or deck. The capaci-
ties of such machines vary consider
ably. bu. the smallest is still de-
cideJ improvement on the handling
OF coal with bucket and winch. Need
less 10 say. where vessels have large
athwartship bunkers-commchly call
ed by the marine engineer main
bunkers-machines Of this type can
work at high rate of speed for
urge percentage OF the entire time de-
voted to cCaling When the coal
ceases TO run ana 1t becomes ncces.
sary to place men in the bunkers for
trimming purposes. such machines
have TO be slowed down to suit the
distributing capacity OF the workers
shovelin In the bunkers.
In the majority Of large and iast
steamers there are few Of the af. re
said main bunkers, the coal being
usually stoweI on the decks in side
bunkers pockets. alleys and othe!
possible land sometimes impossible'
places surrounding the boilers.
These side bunkers and pockets,
again. are oitimes divided into three
or four separate sections Tor decks)
by stringer plates extending entire
ly, Or nearly SO, across their width.
holes for trimming down purposes be-
ing placed at intervals. II will thus
be seen that the proper trimming OF
bunkers on ships designed on this
principle means the employment of
a considerable number Ct men in the
coal spaces and the close atten' Ion
to their efforts by the engineers III
the vessel 1t will also be seen thu
the coaling machines aforementioned
have little opportunity of working a,
iull., capacity into bunkers desigrcu
,,s'a this principle owing TO the dtmcul.
fty encountered in trimming the coal,
The coaling Of vessels by machin
cry is a matter that has long been
q much interest to the engineer
Apart fpom the impossib!lity OF keep
Ing a close watch On the various
gangs employed within the bunk-rs
and other duties pertaining to the
present-day method OF coaling. there
L. always the possibility of laho,
troubles holding the ship in dock
through lack Of coal The 'lonsshore.
mems and coal-heavers' strike % 1870:
in New York harbor. when the crews
Of the transatlantic liners hdG -
turn to at increased wages and work
night and day on the coaling Of The
vessels, to the neglect Of the wo.K
usually assigned to them. is one in
stance o: what Is liable TO happen
q: any moment on any OF cur larSo'
fronts.
Heretofore the solving of III. coa;-
ing problem has resulted in ,hr pro
duction Of machinery designed to de-
liver the coal through the ccal POI 5
only: or. at least this is the only
coalins machinery which has .ea:t-
81 the point OF practical operation
! In ship use. This would lead one
! TO the superstition that the designers
| Of the ccal delivering apparatus wcr.
not snficiently schOoied in the mate
OF coaling vessels. or did not rea'iz.
that, so far as the coaliny Of tn.
| modern liner is concerned the u Al
problem lies In the trimming OF 'he
bunkers.
Ia this issue OF Marine Review rr
describe In detail an apparatus ,.c-
signed so automatically dis,sih;r.c
through the bunkers the coal r"ccI"' Il
! a. the coal port. That the pTol''"I.
! O. coaling shiYs is nearing the ont
+; Of solution We have no Gouh: We
'! I'VE seen the model Of this app7!.:.',
I in op. ratio ION. ard 10 aNa!: with in
tercs'. a. viii ID. wh IT, shipping -u.i