Rocky Ford enterprise., 1916-10-20

Rear Admiral Robert S.
Griffin chief of the bureau of steam engineering,
according to n writer in the New York Sun.
These engines which will be of the electric-drlye
type, are expected to push the 900-foot ships
through rough seas at speed approaching 35
knots; that is, about four knots better than the
latest United States destroyers and at the rate
of a passenger train running n carefully
graded road
When Admiral Griffin tells the story one gains
from his manner the impression that about all
he had to do was to speak to Captain Dyson
about II and the design of these S6OOOOOO en-
gines sprang into existence. but those who know
the admiral have their opinion about that;
and 1t differs somewhat radically from the i'm
preston.
Yes" said the chief. "at first 1t was rather
appalling when we realized the magnitude of those
engines. The largest in any of battleshlps
give 25,O00 horse power; those of the Lusitania
were 10000; and il is said that those which drive
the English Tiger at about 30 knots are from So
600 to 10000. SO one can that we had to
make leap, and at first II seemed like a leap in
the dark, to provide approximately 100000 horse
power. But somehow, when got the conditions
right before us. everything seemed to unfold
itself and fall into the right place and there really
little difficulty.
1--WE at the outset that 1t was impossible
10 control and apply the power without adopting
oil fuel and the electric drive. In the great
mercantile ships like the Aqutania and the
Vaterland had examples of the 9OO-foot
boats with speed of % &c knots. but 1t is
the last few knots which difficult to get
Very roughly speaking, the cruisers steam
ing at 10 knots will consume the equivalent of
$50 tons OF coal day. and to attain somewhere
between "a and 80 knots will burn up the same
quantity in one hour; TO put it another way. the
coal required to drive Of these cruisers at
full speed for day will drive n battleship across
the Atlantic and back. If full speed can be main
tanned steadily for three days and hours
IL will take one from New York to Liverpool: but
ns that would require 1000 tons of coal 1t Is
certain that such run will never be attempted
coal fuel.
mo tell what the ChemiSt-engineer of
the future will do; but until something is found
battle cruisers will have to depend upon oil to
convert water into steam; and without that sub
stitute shey cannot he driven many consecutive
hours at full speed 1t would not be possible to
transmit so much power on one shaft or one
each receiving about $4,000 horse power dou-
BILE the total power in a superdreadnHught and
greater than that of any but the largest OF the
modern merchantmen.
"If only low moderate rate of speed
required the old-style reciprscatng engines
Iccted, but to the high rates turbines Will
be adopted.
The electric drive is not difficult to compre-
bend if one will think of the familiar trolley, sub
way or railway car driven by electricity. The
power Is created by the operation of steam-driven
generators or dynamos. They produce the cleo
7ric current, which is carried by wire TO the many
small motors In the scattered along the sys-
fem. The motorman or engineer turns the
power and the motor Is driven ahead; he moves
his lever and the power is shut of; he shoyes 1t
farther over and reverses his motor. For many
small motors say several large and you have
the plan of the ships electric drive. The turbines
Jperate the generators of the current for the mo-
tors, and the motors turn eHcf Of the four pro-
pelier SHIFTS of the ship.