Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-06-19

vary the output of the main gener-
ators to the main motor. In this way
| the speed of the propeller is regulated
| just as is the speed of a street car
| The control is said TO be fool proof"
| because the two levers 0he speed reg
ulator and the reverse) are so inter-
| locked as to make it impossible to eff.
feet the wrong switching combina-
lions, thus avoiding damage to the
electrical machinery.
u " X
Go much for the engineering features
~ of the Northland. A word about
the ship herself. She is a graceful
cruiser, ZIG feet in length. with a 80
foot beam. The electrically driven
motor power calls for smoke stack
so small as to appear almost absurd
In craft of her size. The stack is
very nearly lost behind the bridge: it
is scarcely as tall as the neighboring
ventilators.
The hull of the Northland is built
to withstand heavy ice pressure The
water line plates are designed for
pressure of 100 pounds to the square
inch. while the deck beams have
web framing throughout. The decks
themselves are built like the truss of
bridge laid out flat, giving the
maximum resistance to external pres.
sure. The ship Is equipped with
adequate sails in. addition to her
motor power. Her instrument equip
ment would be a joy to any mariners
soul. She is the first of the Coast
Guard vessels to boast fathometer,
an instrument for sounding the
depth of the water at any position of
the ship. BY pressing button
sound waves are sent to the bottom
of the sea, the instrument, a round
disc, recording the depth to the
tenth of a fathom, or within less than
one foot of the exact measurement.
The fathometer is located conven-
ienty near the steering wheel. Here
also is the submarine detector. used
for listening to ships in adjacent 20
sitions in foSs or heavy storms: the
radio compass and the course recorder,
comparatively new instrument for
indicating the exact course of the |
ship. This instrument is reminiscent
of the telautograph used today in the |
majority of large banks A magne- |
tized needle marks the course as it is |
run upon chart.
All in all, the Northland is ideally |
equipped to take up the work of the |
Bear as member of the ice patrol |
fleet. policing the northern water |
ways. warning ships OF menacing ice |
drifts and keeping open traffic lane |
through the Winter months.
In the performance of this and
similar duties the United States
Coast Guard Corps serves the com.
merce of the world 1t is interesting
to know that the foreign powers made
a point some years ago of requesting
that our cutters be assigned as the
official re f1n 1NriR incl
waterways of this hemisphere be-
cause of their recognized skill and
daring on the seas.
In charge of Comdr. J. A. Hottell,
formerly of the Bear, the Northland
will take her place among the active
cruisers of Uncle Sans life saving
corps and water police force" with
a competent staff. including Lieut..
Comdr. Frank j. German, executive
officer: Lieut. Comdr. W. c. Maglath-
lin. engineering officer; Lieut.. l.. ..
Hammerstrom. navigator: Lieut.. 0.g)
X. r. Wood. gunnery officer; Ensign
y. r. de Otte, radio officer; DR.. T. X
feliken, medical officer and DIR. +. w.
Harper, dentist.
The historic Bear has earned her |
release from strenuous duty, but she
VIII not be retired to sink into 3D.
iV'on or suffer from disuse. Like the ,
famous Constitution, she has many /,
ardent admirers. From the west
came protesting cry at the first sug'
gestion of scrapping the old cruiser.
Acceding TO urgent requests, IL was
leclded by Coast Guard authorities 10
send her to the California coast
where she will cruise in the waters
of the Pacific, serving as training :
ship for Coast Guard men. Her nag
will not be furled nor her storm,
Scared masts dismantled She VIII
bear herself proudly in her old age
/ ship apart, cherished by those whom
;hs has faithfully served.