The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1919-10-17
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between the bottom of the ship and the mann
deck.
All the baking is done Acknowledgements
motors operate the dough mixers, and dough
~kneaders, while the loaves are baked in electrlcil'-
ly heated ovens. Next we visit the electric laun
dry with its many ingenious machines electrically
driven. Electricity also plays its part in DINER
places, such as the crews library, reading room
and recreation quarters; the barber sliop' we
sick bay, with its up-to-date operating room; Capt
A. l.. Wizards quarters, the officers wardrooilis,
etc.
The New Mexico has - 1i-inch guns ana
many Of smaller caliber. including a battery or
anti-aircraft guns. The larger caliber guns, three
in each of four turrets, are operated by electric
ity. The turrets are revolved and the guns ele-
waited by electric motors. Ammunition holsts run
electrically and there are electric gun leaders,
while even the big guns are fired by electrical
means, but the smaller caliber guns are generally
oprated by hand.
In examining into the control of these great
batteries of destruction, we come TO one of the
most interesting spots on The ship-the coming
tower. Navy regulations designed to withhold
important matters Of military design, forbid us
from obtaining a picture of the coming tower.
But il is permissible TO describe ii briefly. The
coming tower is n well-shaped shaft extending
perpendicularly through the ship from top to bot
tom with ladders running up and down the sides
and convenient methods of transmitting instruc-
tons by means of indicators and telephones. Dur
ing an action the vessels commanding officer
usually stations himself in this tower which is
also known as one Of several fire-control stations
and transmits instructions.
Up on one of the masts we encounter one Of
the big eyes OF the ship-an electrical eye which
can see for miles in inky darkness. The current
for the operation Of the searchlight comes from
one of the bo-generators heretofore described.
Is the electrical propulsion of marine vessels
opening UP an entirely new era of scientific adj
vancement and will the day come when the seven
seas will be dotted with electric ships? So far as
our own navy is concerned, Secretary Daniels
EXPRESSED the essence Of the idea when he said:
~ think this country has cause to be proud Of
this achievement in engineering, not alone because
of the pronounced success in this particular in
stance (referring to the New Mexico), but because
of the assurance it gives us of the superiority OF
our capital ships to those of foreign countries
"The New Mexico is the first and only dreNl-
noupbt Of any nation to have electrically operated
nronellinc machinery" continued Secretary Dan
ieIs son this account she has been an object OF
Surnossing interest to the officers of our own navy
and TO those of foreign navies as well. and to
electrical engineers in general.
"Tbe result was satisfactory from every point
of Wow and confirmed the judgment Of all who
were in any way concerned in its design and adop
ton There was not the slightest mishap with any
part OF II, ever! tIhhS "oihc" ~ go"
the crew was as enthusiastic over the performance
30 tho machinery as is the department proud II
tbe nossession of such an efficient dreadnaught.
.Whep we entered into contract for the ma
cbinerv we stipulated that, in addition to beini
conable of developing the maximum power, sh'
shou,d also give an economy at cruising speed
verv much superior to that obtainable with the tur
hine installations previously used. This stringen
requirement was also met. AS a matter OF fact
tho New Mexico will steam at ten knots on les
fuo, than the best turbine-driven ship that pre-
ceded her"
ANYWAY, electrical engineers are now turninI
their attention to the adoption of similar princi
Mes to the driving Of merchant ships and to larg
passenger vessels.