The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1912-12-20


of Michigan is that OF naval archi
lecture and marine engineering Ii
this respect the University shares Will
the Boston Institute of Technology
the unique distinction of being one o.
the two Institutions of the countr,
where these subjects are taught out
side of the government academy a
Annapolis
| At the first sight IL may appear
strange to the uninitiated. that such
inland institution; because one nat
Iurally associates ships and everything
pertaining thereto with the sea. a
little reflection will show, however
that il is no more necessary Tor the
study Of this subject, 10 have The
school situated on the coast than II
is To go To Greece To study Greek.
In many ways Ann Arbor is ideally
situated for the purpose The ship
building on the Great Lakes far eX-
ceeds that on the coast both in mum
Der and tonnage of vessels. Large
i
their machinery are established al
Buffalo Ashtabula CloV Gland Lorrain,
! Toledo Detroit, Chicago and Duluth.
| The University is, therefore, in close
| proximity To two of the shipbuildins
centers, viz. Detroit and Toledo. in
both of which places vessels Of all
| types and sizes, as well as the ma
chinery tor the same, are built. The
student therefore, during his college
course has ample opportunity of visit
| inc these works and seeing the prac-
| teal operations Of shipbuilding and
the applications of principles which
he has studied at the University.
As a matter of fact the region ri
the Great Lakes is destined 10 be ono
Of the principal shipbuildng centers
Of the country. So far as materials
are concerned 1t is more advantage
eously situated than many of the coast
shipyards; and in the matter of equip
ment, speed and quality of work, cost
of production and management, this
industry of the Great Lakes is certain
~ equal, if not superior, 10 that on
the coast.
One has only to take the trip from
Buffalo. TO Duluth to realize what is
being done on the Great Lakes in the
shipbuilding way. both in number,
size and diversity of types Of vessels.
While the proximity to the practical
part of the industry is important this
/ iG hnxlaNar eennndarN 10 ha
matte training in theory and practice
studied in the courses at the Univer-
sity. Ii may therefore, not be out Of
place to consider briefly what the
training of a modern naval architect
and marine engineer implies. AS in
shipbuilding today has long passed the
rule of thumb" stage, and the appli-
cation of scientific methods has re-
placed the old and uncertain guess
work
The design of modern ships neces-
branches of engineering, as well as
that of the peculiar factors which APP
ply to vessels alone. The problem is
briefly as follows: A floating struc-
ture generally OF steeD is TO be built,
which will carry, besides its own
weight, certain weight Of cargo, it
must be fitted with machinery which
will drive il at a certain speed and
also have sufficient fuel supply 10
reach a given port; IL must be strong
enough to stand the various stresses
and strains TO which IL will be sub
must be stable and safe in all condi-
tions Of weather, and in the case Of
a modern passenger vessel 1t must
be reasonably comfortable.
In order to be able To solve such
problem il is necessary that man
should have thorough training in
the fundamental principles involved;
and il is this part of the subject that
the various courses of study at the
University Of Michigan are arranged
to cover. The students, therefore,
must nrst have a good knowledge of
mathematics, physics and, chemistry,
as these are the groundworks upon
which the more purely engineering
subjects are based Following these
come those studies which involve the
application Of the principles of applied
mechanics. strength and resistance OF
materials and general problems relat-
ing to the design of all classes Of ma
chinery such as steam engines and
boilers, gas and oil engines. etc. A
certain amount of time is also devoted
to shop and laboratory, where the
practical working OF the different
principles is studied.
In the subject of naval architecture
and marine engineering, the first
courses cover the study Of the various
methods Of ship construction and all
problems relating to the displacement
and buoyancy of vessels. This Is fol-
lowed by courses In which the prob
lens of stability, sea going qualities
and strength Of ships are discussed,
In the drawing room the student car
ries out designs and calculations
bearing upon these topics as the
course progresses. He also studies
the design and construction od marine
engines and boilers. and makes designs
of the same The part OF the problem
dealing with the speed and power OF
q