davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1919-05-10

|hh the signing OF the amsce last November the entire IN
w dsia machinery Of the United States came dsocang
pause Conditions in the STEEL copper and cotton markets the
country changed over night The oil industry like these
war footing and like these felt the shock Of the sudden change
In the Pine Island field the shock especially The
demand for Pine Island crude had grown up principally with and
because Of the war Pine Island heavy crude Its natural
ning value for gasoline and kerosene negligible when compared
with Caddo DeSoo and other high grade crud and used
principally fuel oil.
New-York tribune., 1919-09-07
The Ne.r ooa and in dydock in the Brooklyn Nary Yard

steam turbine and produces the current
we have been seeking Each OF the
turbo generators produces $4,000 horse
power. In technical language this
spot within the ship is known as the
power plant.
The turbine is an essential part OF
this plant. 1t will serve to illustrate
another advantage OF the electric drive
which, in simple language, IS Just TINS:
4 steam turbine TO operate at It's maxi
mum efficiency must revoive reia-
lively high speed. say 1000 revolutions
minute. On the other hand. the
propeller 10 be most efficient must re-
volve with comparative slowness, say
200 revolutions q minute This Is be-
cause if the propellers revolved at h'gn
speed they would merely churn up the
water and fail TO drive the vessel
ahead.
Electricity acts as a connecting Ink
between this high speed turbine and
the low speed motor which drives the
propellers. Mechanical gears, which, n
the turbine driven vessel, nave been
New-York tribune., 1919-09-07

ship, we come to what the engineers
call the centre engine room. Here,
srrcod ort before IL. lies switch
board containing levers, dials, tele-
...o.cs, lnmcators and instruments for
measuring electrical currents.
/; is the main control station of the
ship. containing the arteries through
which the lifeblood OF the vessel tthe
electrical current) courses. In fact. /,
is often called the heart Of the vessel
and is the most vital spot on board.
Here in this compartment the cleo
trical current is received, measured
and passed on 70 the motors which We
have just left. From this station the
propellcrs may be made to reverse or TO
70 at full speed ahead; two propellers
may be reversed while the other two
arc driven ahead. Here also any com
bination Of control may be made up.
This is the turbo-generato. section.
There are two turbo-generators con-
sisting Of Curtiss steam turbine direct
connected to powerful generator.
This generator is operated by the
New-York tribune., 1919-09-07
Inspecting the Ship

As we express desire 20 sec the
shin from stem to stern, Lieutenent
Commander Carroll turns Us over 70
one Of the junior engineering officers
and We start by reporting TO the navi-
eating bridge part way up the fore
mas and examine into the various
spparatus for transmitting signals to
.ie engine room for the control of the
yessel and to half dozen other parts
O. the ship, each Of which has par
ticular and important function to per
form. The picture shows partial
view of this bridge with the signal
Instruments used.
Next we are led through circultous
routes down steep hatchways, through
narrow alleys and down more ladders,
through deck after deck, until we have
lost all knowledge Of time and space.
We find ourselves on the very bottom
o. the ship-the inner skin as the
nautical term is--directly behind the
rudder The rudder is so large and
porderous that only in the most un-
usual circum stances can il be moved
By hand. Here we meet the first appli-
cation of electricity. A complicated
New-York tribune., 1919-09-07

units are situated in this compartment
for rudder control and if all steering
methods fail Jury" rudder may be
rigged of the stern.
Forward along the bottom Of the
ship we come to the propeller shafts
fousin number-each operating al i'm
mense propeller. These shafts extend
from the motors which operate them
back through the ship and out at the
stern, through what are known respec-
lively as the starboard outboard shaft
alley, starboard inboard. port inboard
and port outboard alleys. The picture
illustrates the size Of these big shafts.
The view presented is the starboard in
board shaft. 1t took more %an an hour
to get this picture. AS the use OF flash
lights was prohibited artificial illumi-
nation by means Of a 1,o00-watt Edi-
son Mazda lamp had to be obtained
and half a dozen fuses were blown out
before the picture could be lighted
sufficiently 20 make a good exposure.
Following forward along the inboard
New-York tribune., 1919-09-07

The March of Electricity
By Brewster S. Beach

CCARCELY fifteen years electricity had nerr beea seriously
considered agency the propulsion OF marine vesses
though adoption electrical the operation OF
streecas automobiles railroad engines etc. an accepted Ide
The torcad march Of electrical since the United States
has not in gears itself seaarng nation COM
paratrey Various applications Of eecctD
as motive force driving locomotives and other rehces Of land
ed adranced stage Development out e
seemed hare "esapcd due probably to the dncmfes
surrounding satisfactory and efficient electrical means
of propuison condition. destined to last
long.
The possibility Of electrical propulsion Of ships ~os talked about
electrical 10 be used, bn the dudl
study It's application arGited the Development the steam
Ven the turbine Development reached ddconced stage
combining high speed M light ogh engineers ready to adopt
electricity deteeh the t6he ana pro-
peers successful they been IN this respect that today the
United nary Indicated by Secretary Daniels has been
principle dfice and has decided to all Of its
no capital ships electrical machinery whe the theory already
mang strides in the cogo-carrs mercantile marine ted
electricity again the fovtron Of scientific achieve
electrically propelled ship has undoubtedly comcdnd
to stay.
New-York tribune., 1919-09-07
Castor Oil for Aircraft Engines

I peculiarly suited to the polishing Of
! high class furniture, carriage bodies
and paintings, and is extensively en-
ployed in the preparation OF vellum,
tracing cloth. etc. Caprylic acid plays
part in the production OF ethers
which are used by perfumers and con-
fectioners. Castor oil is used in the
making Of certain waterproof prepara-
tions, and a liquid disinfectant is OBJ
tanned from the seconds or lower
grade oil. The oil is an admirable
preservative for various kinds OF
feathers, Is extensively used in the
leather industry and is particularly
servceable in adding TO the service
life Of leather betting employed In
heavy work. Our fypapers would not
be so effective if it were not for castor
oil, and the oil enters into the get-up
of great many adhevise agents.
"In the sugar mills of the West In
dies, upon the railroads of India and
other parts of the Far East and in
British shipping circles castor oil has
long been used as mechanical lubri-
cant; aAoat, however, it is generally
blended. In India the oil mas been found
to be Az economical and superior
Mountaineering n markedly brillian.
fame. Indeed, the peoples Of India
have found ways to utilize the oil and
the refuse pomace which may suggest
other services here in the future. Tn
pomace contains from 6 to per cen;
of nitrogen and a measurable amour
Of potash, and it Is authoritatively said
that the castor-seed cake possesses 2.8l
Der cent Of phosphstes. It 10 therefore
New-York tribune., 1919-09-07

answering the supreme tests OF sus-
tanned fight under wide range OF
,emperature and varied atmospheric
conditions. Nature, somehow, had en-
dowed the castor oil with character
istics that were singularly and strlk-
inply united, as if the wants OF me-
chanical fight had been curiousiy an
ticipated."
Abiding to some Of the other uses
to which castor oil is adapted, the
writer goes on to say:
The other fields of employment are
much more extensive than most OF US
realize. For instance, castor oil figures
to large extent in the manufacture OF
substitute or artificial leather, which
take. the place Of natural leather in
the upholstering.
"Castor oil is an essential compo-
nent in some artificial rubbers. and
,here are various kinds of celluloid
which depend upon this product OF the
castor bean.
"Castor oil furnishes very satisfac-
tory coloring for butter; and from
castor oil is produced the so-called
.Turkey-red OIL which is an important
factor in the dyeing Of textiles and IN
the treatment Of the fabrics. One OF
it's largest uses is in the making OF
transparent soaps
"Castor oil yields sebacic acid, which
is superior to stearic acid in the man
ufacture of candies, and from 1t also Is
obtained caprylie acid, which lends
itself 70 the composition Of vsrnishss
New-York tribune., 1919-09-07
The Best Engineering Training

liberal or professional, or it may be
vocational. The latter aims 70 ft
young men specifically for definite
occupation, such as manual trade, or
for stenography or bookkeeping. Pro-
fessional education has essentially the
same object, except that profession
is broader in scope and requires a
stronger and broader foundation of
general principles.
"Vocatioral education may be con-
cerned mainly with training the body
n even one muscle, rather than with
training the mind. Vocational educa'
ION will not be considered here, but il
may be remarked that il possesses in
high degree one Of the most inn
portapt elements, namely, interest.
The pupil becomes at once interested
in the work; i, is related to his ex.
perience; he sees the use and meaning
Of il all the time. It's results are
therefore, likely TO be satisfactory,
even more so than the results OF moro
formal education. and its Importance is
steadily increasing with the recognition
Of the fact that one OF our main prob
lens is TO put the boy IN the right
place and fl him FOR d specific job.
Engineering education IS in a sense
vocational, but, as the field OF engi-
neer.ng is wide. and rests upon SUBJ
s,antial body Of principles OF science, II
must be broad and must deal rather
with those general principles than with
any specific job. Yet the line between
the two is not sharp. and many grsdu.
ates Of vocational schools make the
best Of engineers ultimately.
New-York tribune., 1919-09-07
The officers Quarters

Vending our way toward the day
light we are at once attracted to the
officers quarters and stop for a
momen. to pay a visit to the private
cobin Of the vessels commanding off,
Ger, Captain A L. Willard, a stoeAily
built. broad shouldered naval oihcer OF
commanding personality.
Directly forward OF Captain Will
ards quarters is the officers wardroom'
which We next visit, picture Of which
the reader may examine. The ward
room serves as combination dining
hall and recreation room. There are
card tables, books and phonoeraph
with which 10 while away the AL 700
New-York tribune., 1919-09-07
Steering Gear Machinery

The courteous officer who accom-
panies US explains the workings Of this
machine and tells us that this is only
one Of five different methods Of steer
ing the ship. Whereupon we proceed
to a watertight compartment directly
aft to what is known as the auxiliary
steering gear And here we see four
large wheels connected TO shaft which
when occasion demands, can be used to
move the rudder by hand. But this
shaft is also connected to an electric
motor and by the simple turn Of a
switch can be operated electrically as
we'll. 1t takes eight men to move the
rudder by hand. Two other electrical
New-York tribune., 1919-09-07
Main control apparatus and
Switchboard

used 70 reduce the turbine speed down
to a suitable propeller speed, are en-
tirely eliminated and the necessary re-
duction accomplished by simple cleo
trical means.
The operating units OF vital impor-
tance are each inclosed in separate
watertight compartments. In addition,
the machinery is grouped very close to
the centre of the ship, as far as pos
sible away from the sides.
To follow the power route TO its
source we must go still further forward
and at this point come to amdshps IN
the vessel. Nine huge steam boilers,
arranged three in a compartment, store
up the steam under a pressure OF 200
pounds 70 the square inch and deliver
il to the turbines.
The current which the two turbo-
generators produce is used entirely in
the actual propulsion OF the vessel, tho
successive stages Of which have been
outlined. Important as it is, the New
Mexico must have additional e.ectrica!
energy with which to operate scores Of
auxiliary apparatus.
For instance, electric motors operate
the i2-inch and l4-inch guns, blowers
which supply the ventilation OF the
shin. electric fans, telephones, air,
heaters, pumps, refrigerating machin-
cry, wireless apparatus, kitchen appli-
ances. laundry equipment ana scores
more. 10 say nothing Of the lighting
system. Motor driven machinery also
operates the boat cranes and the anchor
windlass, and there arc scores oil stor-
age batteries which stand ready TO keep
the electric lights going should the
main lighting system fail. |. has been
estimated tha. there are aboard the
New Mexico no less than $50 electric
B motors
New-York tribune., 1919-09-07
Some Interesting Statistics

Before taking the reader through the
sAip certain popular and statistical
data concerning her will be of interest.
The battleship New Mexico was built
4. the Brooklyn Navy Yard and
launched in the summer Of 1917.
She is 624 feet over all.
She weighs (displsces) $4,000 tons.
She draws thirty feet OF water.
She is ninety-seven feet four and
sse-half inches broad, measuring at the
vsterline.
Al full speed she can make slightly
i, excess of twenty-one knots an hour.
She generates $4,000 horsepower for
propulsion.
Her crew numbers nearly 1900 men.
She burns oil instead Of coal as fuel
and has total fuel capacity Of S,4Oo
tons, or 6,s0OO0O pounds, or about
iQ00. 900 gallons.
The best of engineering skill was
lavjshed on her manufacture and many
well known firms contributed to her
equipment.
Let Us now begin our examinations
/, OF the ship itself. After passing
through the closely guarded gate Of the
navy yard and being escorted 10 the
ship by an armed orderly. we report TO
the officer Of the deck, resplendent II
brich, uniform and white gloves, on
the quarter deck and are led down a
ha,chway to one of the upper decks
proceeding aft. along which we come to
the log room, which is the Office OF
Lieutenant Commander P. l.. Carroll,
chief engineer.
New-York tribune., 1919-09-07
The Propelling Motor

This motor, which, as already noted,
is but one Of four Of similar size
stands twelve fee, high from the floor
and twelve feet wide. II generates
1000 horsepower and obtaiqs its cur
rent from other machinery which we
will visit shortly.
This great motor, Ike the rest, Is IN
closed in watertight compartment,
protected by bulkheads. and II anything
should happen to it the current may
be cut off at once and directed TO the
operation Of the three propelcrs which
remain.
still almost on the bottom Of the
New-York tribune., 1919-09-07

edge is secondary; but discipline should
be acquired in subjects which will bring
knowledge with il.
"No effective results will follow un-
less the student is Interested and sees
the value. use and application Of what
he studies. He cannot appreciate what
he studies, or become really and profit
ably interested in it, in concrete way,
unless he can relate 1t to his expert
cnce. Education cannot turn out hn-
she'd produc:-tha. Is 20 say, man
lifted to take a responsible position at
once. Il can only fit him TO begin at
the bottom Of the ladder, and give him
the foundation upon which to build.
Experience is necessary before he can
advance, but If he has well trained
mind and the proper attitude he should
gain and assimilate experience rapidly
and progress much faster than other
wise.
I'VE live in a world Of other men.
To make our way We need, besides a
disciplined mind, many other qualities,
such as knowledge OF men, tact, per-
sonality. perseverance,. energy, enthu-
siasm, power 20 concentrate, ability 10
work hard and effectively, and. above
all, character. Education should aim
to cultivate such qualities as far as
practicable.
Education nay. on the one hand. BE-
New-York tribune., 1919-09-07

shaft we go through several more
watcrtight compartments, drop down g
hatchway and find ourselves in the pro-
pelling motor room. This is the sec
ton Of the ship which actually drives
the propellers and the tremendous
motor which meets our gaze gives an
inkling OF the power necessary to MAKE
the hir shafts rcVolve.
New-York tribune., 1919-09-07

aircraft of all sorts, showing 1t to
be most important commodity
from a military standpoint. He
says:
Early in the year, the War De
partment and the Department of Agri-
culture joined forces in an energetic
campaign to induce the farmers OF
certain sections Of the United States
to undertake the cultivation Of quite
100000 acres of castor bean plants
and, as a consequence Of this patriotic
appeal to our tillers Of the soil, lOs'-
900 acres were actually sown. The
urge to this action was the need OF
something like 100000 gallons OF
castor oil for tho nations fighting
lying machines.
Extensive experiments carried on
By the Allies and later undertaken
by the Bureau Of Aircraft Production
Of the War Department proved con-
elusively that castor oil was the lubri-
can't par excellence for fast-running
Motors Cor aerial service. Up to .
Point various blends of mineral and
vssstsb;s oils did we'll enough, but
loas el those vss fousd capable q
New-York tribune., 1919-09-07

"ss1 .' X: .:' %;': : :' :,:' : s; :::
' which best fits the youth
for his post-collegiate
days. In THE Engineering and
Mining Journal an abstract from
the bulletin of the Society for the
Promotion of Engineering Educa-
ton, by Professor George F. Swain,
Of Harvard University, deals briefly
with the various ways the young
man may prepare for his life's work.
He declares:
an the words Of that fine old Eng
lish schoolmaster, Richard Nulcaster,
who wrote more than 300 years ago,
which cannot be improved even to-day:
The end OF education ana training is
to help nature to her perfection in tho
completed development Of all the vari-
Gus powers Its aim is to give the
tudcnt power to meet the problems
which life Will bring him. Etucltion
: strictly utilitgrian, using the word
IN It's widest sense. The student should
be taught first what is necessary; sec
ond, wha. is useful; third, what is or
namental. All Of these are utIlitarlan,
or useful in the largest sense. The
objects to be aimed at are mainly two
s,..;citua ~ mind. and intereat: knoVls
New-York tribune., 1919-09-07

easy to understand why the stuff makes
an excellent fertilizer.
in India, too, gas is obtained from
low grade Of castor oil and is widely
used for lighting. Finally. 1t has been
found practicable to produce this gas
from the seed cake after the oil has
been extracted for other purposes. Not
withstanding the pretty general belief
that the castor bean plant will not be
New-York tribune., 1919-09-07

touched by cattle, it is stated as fac.
by competent authorities that the
leaves. not the stalks, are widely fed 10
cows in India, and an added yield OF
milk is attributed to this forage. In
Assam the foliage of the castor bean
is cultivated largely for the purpose OF
feeding silkworms. and an excellent
paper pulp can be made from the
plant"
New-York tribune., 1919-09-07

mass of machinery, pistons, rods,
valves. dials and electric motors com
bines to make up the steering gear en-
gine. This machinery Is operated and
controlled directly from the navigating
bridge by control device.
New-York tribune., 1919-09-07
VERY great deal has been said
and written about the United
\ States battleship New Mexico.

A VERY great deal has been said
~ and written about the United
~ States battleship New Mexico
= Popular interest. no doubt,
"a centred around this great super
ar,sdnought because it is the first
s.ttleship Of any nation to be propelled
" electricity.
Electric drive has been so successful
and i.s military advantages have be-
.oms % generally recognised that the
Navy Department has decided TO equip
Al OF its new capital ships with elec-
re propulsion apparatus.
With a view TO presenting TO the
.ublie sn intimate popular description
~ this battleship, the General Electric
company, which manufactured and in
.ulled It's electrical propulsion equip
.snt, recently asked and received the
,.Ymission Of the Navy Department to
,sit the New Mexico at dry dock in the
Rsooklyn Navy Yard, to mingle with
tie officers and men and to take pict-
sres Of the ship, both inside and out.
The results of this visit are here set
<srth. The views are believed TO be
tAe only pictures Of the interior Of a
Mttleship ever procured - certainly
dses the beginning of the European
New-York tribune., 1919-09-07
A German Wooden Shoe

NHIS of the famousor the Germans would say,
the which large portion
the people have been reduced through the block
ad The present specimen manufactured by one of the
largest firms Man The sole OF two pieces
M wood hinged with scrap leather allow action The
trap passing the foot is of paper hbre
The heel counter of material while the ankle strap
made Of scrap leather.
New-York tribune., 1919-09-07
aboard the New Me xico, the First Electric Sh

short hours Of leisure afforded On ON.
Ger on active duty.
A. long line Of ranges extends along
one side. This kitchen 10 run by steam
and oil rather than electricity. The
ranges burn oil instead Of coal for
fuel. The crew eats in the kitchen, sit
ting at long tables which, when not in
use, are strung up against the roof.
All the baking is done electrically
electric motors operate the dough mix
ers and dough kneaders, while tho
loaves are baked in electrically heated
ovens.
The New Mexico has twelve is-inch
guns and many of smaller calibre, in-
cluding a battery Of sn.i-aircraft guns.
The larger calibre guns, three IN each
OF the four turrets. are operated oy
electricity. The turrets are revolved
and the guns elevated by electric
motors. Ammunition hoists run elec.
trically and there are electric gun
leaders, while even the big guns are
fired by electrical means, but the
smaller calibre guns are generally
operated by hand