TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE

The fifteen ‘Portraits and Biographical Notes’ have been moved to the [end of the main text], in front of the Footnotes and book catalog.

Footnote anchors are denoted by [number], and the footnotes have been placed at the [end of the book], after the Portraits.

All changes noted in the [ERRATA] have been applied to the etext. Each change is indicated by a dotted gray underline.

Many minor changes to the text are noted at the [end of the book.] These are indicated by a dashed blue underline.

Macleod and Macdonald Engraver Glasgow

MODERN SHIPBUILDING
AND
THE MEN ENGAGED IN IT:

A REVIEW OF RECENT PROGRESS IN STEAMSHIP DESIGN AND CON-
STRUCTION, TOGETHER WITH DESCRIPTIONS OF NOTABLE
SHIPYARDS, AND STATISTICS OF WORK DONE IN
THE PRINCIPAL BUILDING DISTRICTS.

BY

DAVID POLLOCK,

NAVAL ARCHITECT.

With Portrait and Biographical Notes of Eminent Shipowners,
Shipbuilders, Engineers, and Naval Architects;
also, Views of Notable Ships.

London: E. & F. N. SPON, 125 Strand.

New York: 35 Murray Street.

1884.

(All rights reserved.)

PREFACE.

The great activity in shipbuilding and marine engineering during recent years, and the substantial progress, both in science and practice, which has marked the period, have often formed the subject of articles in the technical and daily press, and of papers read before professional institutions. So far as I am aware, however, no single work dealing historically with modern shipbuilding in a way at once trustworthy and popular, and in a form handy and accessible, has yet been published. The present work aims at supplying this want. In undertaking it originally, I felt encouraged by the acceptance which various articles, contributed to the columns of the Glasgow Herald, The Engineer, The Steamship, Iron, &c., had met with from many whose good opinion I had reason to value highly. With the kind permission of the proprietors of the above journals, I have made use to some extent of the articles in question—but largely amplified and corrected—in preparing the following pages.

The work is concerned exclusively with shipbuilding for the merchant marine, and no attempt is made to trace the progress connected with naval shipbuilding, although some of the many important influences which the one exerts upon the other have been indicated. Even as thus defined and restricted, the field of review is so vast that the limits which I had determined should bound the work with respect to price, and consequently with respect to size, have compelled me to treat briefly and in a general way many matters which it might have been of interest to enlarge upon. The list of authoritative papers and lectures to which readers can at first hand refer—given at the end of each chapter—may, it is hoped, compensate to some extent for these deficiencies.

The book being mainly historical, originality in the strict sense of the term cannot, of course, be urged for much of the contained matter; but efforts have been made throughout to present trustworthy statements of the very latest steps in advance. This is specially true of the chapter on scientific progress. My object, however, having been more to enlighten general readers than to seek to interest or inform professional ones, it is perhaps wanting in the scientific fulness needed to give it special value, viewed from the standpoint of the trained naval architect.

While the biographies and portraits given throughout the book may be considered fairly representative of those who as shipbuilders, shipowners, naval architects, or marine engineers have made their influence felt on the world’s mercantile marine during the period of review, the collection by no means includes all who are deserving of such notice. The subjects of portraiture are all in life, and actively engaged in their respective spheres of labour. The diffidence generally evinced by them in consenting that their likenesses and the note of their professional career should be given, has made my task one of difficulty. What may be called the over-diffidence of a few, originally selected for portraiture, has to some extent occasioned the incompleteness now commented upon.

As further accounting for the limitations of the present work, I think it fitting to add that the preparation of the whole book, including the task of seeing it through the press, has devolved upon me at a time when the ordinary intervals of respite from daily business have had to suffice for its accomplishment.

My best thanks are due to those firms and individuals to whom I had to appeal for statistics and other particulars, for their generally ready and courteous attention to my requests.

DAVID POLLOCK.

Dumbarton, November, 1884.

CONTENTS.

PORTRAITS AND BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES.

VIEWS OF NOTABLE STEAMSHIPS.

ERRATA.

[Page 11.]—Thirteenth line from top: for 1883 read 1884.
[Page 81.]—Fourth line from top: for “a single trial” read “one or two trials.”
[Page 163.]—Fourth line from top: for 1884 read 1845.
[Page 187.]—Third line from top: for “fluctuations” read “fluctuation.”
[Page 200.]—Dimensions of “City of Rome”: for 546 by 52 by 58¾ read 546 by 52 by 38¾.

“Into a ship of the line man has put as much of his human patience, common sense, forethought, experimental philosophy, self-control habits of order and obedience, thoroughly wrought handwork, defiance of brute elements, careless courage, careful patriotism, and calm expectation of the judgment of God, as can well be put into a space 300 feet long; by 80 feet broad.”—Ruskin.

“If any body of men have just cause to feel pride in their calling, and in the fruits of their labour, shipbuilders have. If we look at the magnitude of the operations of building, launching, engining, and completing a modern passenger ship of the first rank, and regard the multiplicity of the arrangements and beauty of finish now expected, and then think this structure has to brave the elements, make regular passages, convey thousands of human souls, and tens of thousands of tons of merchandise every year across the ocean, in storm or calm, we cannot but feel that they are occupied in useful human labour. But more than this, there is a public sentiment surrounding ships that no other mechanical structures can command. Beautiful churches, grand buildings, huge structures of all kinds have a certain interest pertaining to them, but it is different in kind from that which surrounds a ship. The former are fixed, immovable, inert; the ship is here to-day and gone to-morrow, building up a history from day to day with a reputation as sensitive as a woman’s to calumny, and like her consequently often a bone of contention as well as an object of admiration.”—William John.

MODERN SHIPBUILDING.

CHAPTER I.
RECENT PROGRESS IN STEAMSHIP CONSTRUCTION.

The achievements in shipbuilding and marine engineering within recent years may be said to borrow lustre from one particular feat of past times. The Great Eastern undoubtedly furnished, in large measure, the experience that has recently been causing so great a change in the tonnage of our mercantile marine. Commercially, as is well known, that huge vessel—“Brunel’s grand audacity,” she has been called—has all along proved a lamentable failure. It has been stated on good authority that between 1853—the year in which the contract for her was entered into—and the year 1869, no less than one million sterling had been lost upon her by the various proprietors attempting to work her. Financially, indeed, she may be said to have proved the “Devastation” of the mercantile marine. Although at various times in her long life-time she has unquestionably done most useful service in sub-marine cable-laying—service, indeed, which, but for her, could not well have been accomplished—these times of usefulness have been far outbalanced by her long periods of inactivity.

Apart from commercial considerations, however, this premier leviathan still stands out as a wonder and pattern of naval construction. In her admirably-conceived and splendidly-wrought structural arrangements—due to the joint labours of the late Mr I. K. Brunel and Mr J. Scott Russell—she possesses as successful an embodiment of the dual quality of “strength-with-lightness” as can be found in any subsequent ocean-going merchant ship. She was, if not the first, certainly the greatest embodiment of the longitudinal system of construction, and in virtue of this, as well as of her phenomenal proportions, she represents, alone, more of the intrepidity and skill essential to thorough progress, than are exhibited by combined hosts of the “departures” of recent times.

Despite the far-reaching views of the eminent designer, those changes which have since taken place in the essential conditions for successful ocean navigation eluded his vision. Owing to the opening of coal mines in almost all parts of the world, it is now no longer necessary nor desirable that a steamer should be capable of carrying coals for a return voyage, either from India or Australia—this being the dominant and regulating condition in the Great Eastern’s design. Further, the improvements in marine engineering, represented by the greater possible economies in coal consumption and the fuller utilization of steam, which have since been effected, have rendered the great ship inefficient and obsolete. In short, Brunel and his financial supporters were ahead of their time, and failed to appreciate the law of progress, now better understood—“invention must wait on experience.”

The urgent demands of our broader civilisation, improvements in navigation, the spread of population in new colonies and over wider continents, and, above all, the fresh accessions of experience and invention, are forces which now impel shipowners to increase the dimensions of their vessels, and shipbuilders to carry out the work. Each year the contrasts as to dimensions between the first leviathan and her later sister grow less and less. The completion within the past few years of such monster merchant ships as the Servia, the City of Rome, the Alaska, and the Oregon, and the forward state of the Etruria and Umbria, two remarkable steamships, building on the Clyde for the Cunard Company, constitute an epoch in the history of our mercantile marine, and give colourable justification to the belief sometimes expressed, that the proportions of the Great Eastern will in time be surpassed.

The feasibility—in a scientific sense—of ships growing in proportions commensurate with the growth of commerce and traffic, has often been commented upon. The whole tendency of our time is towards the aggregation of effort: the massing of capital and labour. A vessel of five thousand tons can be built cheaper than five vessels of one thousand tons. In the manning and working of ships there is a still more striking economy, e.g., one captain instead of five, and so on throughout the staff of officers, engineers, stewards, and crew. Not only so, but long ships can be propelled at greater speeds than short ones, the whole conditions of construction, engines, and propellers being considered. Mr Robert Duncan, in his presidential address before the Society of Engineers and Shipbuilders in Glasgow in 1872, declared:—“Looking forward one generation, and measuring the future by the past, I think it is not problematical that we shall see steamers of eight hundred feet long the ferryboats of two oceans, with America for their central station, and Europe and Asia for their working termini.” Even since that was uttered, eleven years ago, we have approached, in solid practice, the limit thus laid down, by 150 feet at least. Three years previous to Mr Duncan’s address, vessels exceeding four hundred feet were not afloat, with the notable exception already referred to; now, there are few merchant fleets of any pretensions engaged in ocean traffic which do not include vessels over or approaching four hundred feet, and it is even no great boast that vessels close on six hundred feet are afloat and in active service.

As better illustrating the growth in dimensions of merchant steamships, the Figs. on the following page may prove interesting. They show, all to the same scale, a number of representative steam vessels from the Comet downwards.

“Comet,” 1812.

“Elizabeth,” 1813.

“Industry,” 1814.

“Caledonia,” 1815.

“Rob Roy,” 1818.

“James Watt,” 1822.

“Sirius,” 1837.

“Great Britain,” 1843.

“City of Glasgow,” 1850.

“Great Eastern,” 1857.

“Scotia,” 1861.

“Columba,” 1878.

“Arizona,” 1876.

“Servia,” 1881.

“City of Rome,” 1881.

Along with the change or evolution in the sizes and types of merchant vessels, important modifications in their structural arrangement have of late years been effected, and it is to the constant progress being made in these matters—to the skill and intrepidity which are brought to bear on their execution, and to the readiness with which our shipowners recognise their importance and value—that the maintenance of our mercantile supremacy is largely owing. An American journal, writing a few years ago on this subject—perhaps with more of taunt for the conceit and self-sufficiency evinced by its own country than of adulation for the ability and enterprise displayed by ours—said:—

“In the whole world there is no place whatever that can in any degree compare with the Clyde for either extent or quality of steamship building; and at this moment an indisputable verification can be adduced, for between American and European ports there are at the present time something like a score of steam navigation companies, doing an immense passenger and carrying trade, with vessels of great power and magnificence, and notwithstanding the variety of trade nationalities, at least two-thirds of the vessels employed were built and equipped on the Clyde; and more—unless there has very recently been a change, there is not an American steam company in the whole Atlantic trade. With a run of about fifty years to try it, and after many unsuccessful attempts, the Americans have utterly failed to sustain permanent competition. All the British companies have prospered beyond any probable anticipation clothed with reason. The Cunard Company, starting with four vessels some forty years ago, have now twenty times that number. What is this something which enables Europeans to so far outstrip the Americans in a competitive traffic so as to exclude them from the merest show in the largest steam trade in the world? A baneful, overweening, and ignorantly selfish conceit invariably leads to disastrous results, and a nation given over to the fulmination of concentrated boast cannot fail to be suffocated with foolery of its own making.”

This is doubtless the outcome of a vicious antipathy—natural in the circumstances—to those stringent and over-reaching laws which forbid that ships built away from America shall sail under the American flag, or enjoy the pertaining privileges. American shipbuilders thus secured from the encroaches of foreign competition, have enjoyed their own pace, but at too great a sacrifice. Preferring to take the material most at hand, the manipulation of which they well understood, they have allowed their wood age to be dove-tailed thirty years into our iron one, with the other result that America now occupies as unimportant a place in the traffic of the sea, as the above quotation indicates.

Evidences are not wanting, however, to show that America is at least endeavouring, in some respects, to be abreast of the times, and that she has brought herself to acknowledge and follow the lead of this country. In this connection, the four new vessels presently being constructed for the U.S. Navy may be shortly referred to. The vessels comprise three cruisers and one despatch boat, all of which are being built by Mr John Roach, of Chester, Pa., the material employed in their construction being mild steel of American manufacture. Twin screws will be employed for the propulsion of the largest vessel—the Chicago—which is to be 315 feet long between perpendiculars, 48 feet beam, and 34 feet 9 inches moulded depth to spar deck. The other vessels are the Boston and the Atalanta, single screw cruisers of 270 feet length; and the Dolphin, single screw despatch boat, of 250 feet length and high speed.

In almost every feature except machinery these new American naval vessels strongly resemble Government vessels of recent British build, a circumstance for which there is little difficulty in accounting, as it is well known the naval authorities in the States have within recent times been recruited by young American naval architects educated in our Naval College at Greenwich, and consequently steeped in British naval practice. This and other facts, such as the visit of a technical commissioner of the States’ navy, two years ago, to our naval and mercantile shipyards—upon which he has since fully reported—leave one in no doubt as to the source of coincidence in design and structure.

S.S. UMBRIA.—Cunard Line.

The subject of America’s position as a shipbuilding and shipowning country has involved reference to wood shipbuilding, but to revert at any length to this topic in a work dealing with modern progress in British shipbuilding, the bulk of which is written of and for industrial and commercial centres where wood shipbuilding has been long entirely tabooed, is quite unnecessary. Doubtless, however, the amount of wood and composite building still carried on in the minor seaports of the United Kingdom, and in several of the British possessions, is of sufficient importance to demand some reference. As the present position of affairs in this connection is briefly and forcibly illustrated by statistics compiled and issued by the British Iron Trade Association, two tables taken from this source may be given, the subject thereafter being finally departed from:—

Tonnage of Vessels constructed and registered in the United Kingdom of Iron, Steel, and Wood respectively, in each of the years 1879 to 1883, with Percentage of Total Tonnage constructed in Iron and Steel.

Tonnage of Wooden Vessels registered in the United Kingdom which were Lost, Broken up, &c., during each of the years 1879 to 1883, with Tonnage of Wooden Vessels built and registered in the United Kingdom during the same period.

Whence it appears that while 709,840 tons of the 1,779,112 tons of ships removed from the register during the last five years were wooden vessels, only 94,283 tons of the 3,667,144 tons built and registered in the United Kingdom during the same period were constructed of that material. In other words, wooden ships represent 45 per cent. of the total losses, while they only represent 2·5 per cent. of the total tonnage built and added to the register during the five years in question.

Just as the introduction or general adoption of the compound engine marked an epoch in the history of shipbuilding and marine propulsion, so now the introduction of “mild steel” or “ingot iron” as a material for shipbuilding, together with the more extended adoption of water ballast, and the rapid development of the continuous-cellular system of construction, may be said to constitute a fresh starting point in the history of the industry.

Although the introduction of steel as a material for shipbuilding dates at least as far back as 1860, its use has been but partial or occasional until within very recent times. The uncertainty as to quality, the frequent great disparity between pieces cut from the same plate, and the special care needed in the manipulation, prevented its general adoption. With the highly-improved “mild steel,” however, first manufactured in France, and applied to shipbuilding purposes there about nine years ago, and subsequently introduced into this country, began the more extended adoption of steel, which every day, or with every accession to experience, is displacing iron.

The facts relating to the introduction into this country of mild steel for shipbuilding purposes, may be briefly recounted. In the latter end of 1874, Admiral Sir W. Houston Stewart, Controller of the British Navy, and Mr N. Barnaby, Director of Naval Construction, availed themselves of the opportunity to observe and study the use of steel in the French dockyards of Lorient and Brest, where three first-class armour-plated vessels were then being built of steel throughout, supplied from the works at Creusot and Terrenoire. Mr Barnaby, at the meetings of the Institution of Naval Architects in March following, gave an account of his observations during this visit, and pointed out clearly and precisely to the steel-makers of Great Britain all the indispensable conditions which would have to be met and satisfied by steel for shipbuilding, so that it could be used with confidence in the construction of the largest vessels. Before the end of 1875, the Landore-Siemens Company was enabled to fulfil these conditions, and the Admiralty contracted with them to supply the plates and angles necessary for the construction of two cruisers of high speed—the Iris and the Mercury. The material involved in this contract was steel obtained by the Siemens-Martin process. Shortly after this the Bolton Steel Company was in its turn able to produce by the Bessemer process plates and angles, satisfying all the requisite conditions. The Steel Company of Scotland, Butterly Company, and other important works, also entered into the same business, and operations are still going on in various parts of the country connected with the formation of new works, and the perfecting of other processes.

The steel furnished by these different works, subjected as it has been to systematic and severe tests continually applied, is now possessed of the qualities of ductility, malleability, and homogeneity, which render its employment in shipbuilding not only permissible but highly desirable. Its good and reliable qualities have been admitted by the Constructors of the Navy, the Officers of the Board of Trade, of Lloyd’s, and of the Liverpool Registries, as well as by all the most competent authorities. The experience of all who have practical dealings with the material in the shipyard is that it entirely satisfies—even more than iron—all the requirements of easy manipulation. The confidence with which it can be relied on, as to its certain and uniform qualities, places it on a much higher level than the steel formerly manufactured; and its superiority over the best wrought-iron as regards strength and ductility renders it a highly preferable material.

While doubt exists, however, as to the adoption of steel for shipbuilding being commercially advantageous; there must be hesitancy on the part of shipowners and others concerned. Although, since its introduction, mild steel has been greatly reduced in price, the first cost of a steel ship is still somewhat over that of an iron one, even after the reduction in weight of material is made, which the superiority of steel permits of. It has been shown that, about two years ago, a spar-decked steamer, of 4,000 tons gross, built in steel, as against a similar vessel built in iron, entailed an excess in cost of £3,570. The advantages, however, which accrue from the change, both immediate and in the long run, make the gain clear and considerable. Steel ships have been built with scantlings reduced one-fourth or one-third, and in some early cases even one-half, from what would have been considered requisite had iron been employed. Some authorities, not unnaturally, questioned the wisdom of accrediting steel with all the qualities which make such sweeping reductions justifiable. Except in vessels for river or passenger service, however, this is much in advance of the reductions obtained in ordinary modern practice.

The reductions allowed in vessels built to Lloyd’s requirements—and it cannot be urged that this society is too reckless in concessions of this nature—are 20 per cent. in scantling, and 18 per cent. in weight. As it is impossible to adjust the scantlings of material to take the full advantage of these reductions, and further, as allowance has to be made for extra weight due to the continued use of iron in vessels of steel—for purposes not essential to structural character—the average weight-saving effected in practice is about 13 to 14 per cent. This represents, in the finished vessel, a clear increase of at least 13 per cent. in dead-weight carrying power. The gain obtained in general practice has been otherwise stated on good authority as 7 to 7½ per cent. of the gross tonnage.

In trades where there is constancy of dead-weight cargoes, this increase in dead-weight carrying power should speedily recoup the owners for extra first cost, and in the life-time of vessels generally, a clear pecuniary gain should result. In trades, however, where the cargo consists of measurement goods, the advantages are not so decided, for it may sometimes happen that before vessels have been loaded to their maximum draught the limits of stowage will have been reached. Even here, however, the steel vessel has the advantage of her iron rival; her hull is 13 per cent. lighter, and consequently may be propelled at a given speed with much less expenditure of power, and has the further advantage—often a very important one—of a shallower draught. This latter consideration alone, in a service where every iota of such saving counts, has influenced many shipowners to adopt the steel.

As the manufacture of mild steel progresses and extends, the assimilation of the rival materials as to cost is sure to follow. Already very great advances have been made towards this end, the fact being abundantly evidenced by the greatly increased number of steel ships on hand, and by the establishment of new works, and transformation of old, for the better production of the new material. In 1877 mild steel was about twice as costly as the iron in common use. The sources of supply, however, were then comparatively few, and the thorough and severe testing to which the new material had to be subjected, necessarily increased the cost relatively to iron, which has never been subjected to the same rigorous ordeal. In 1880, owing to the increased sources of supply and the progress in manufacture, the cost of steel had been reduced, relatively to iron, by about 50 per cent. At the time of writing (March, 1884), the price of steel for a good-sized vessel is—overhead—about seven pounds, seven shillings and sixpence per ton; while the corresponding figure for iron is about five pounds, five shillings, or a difference of only about twenty-nine per cent. in favour of the older material.

Doubts were at first expressed by not a few, regarding the durability of steel ships compared with those of iron, such misgivings being aggravated by the thinness of the steel plating. This fear is being gradually lessened by the results of laboratory experiments and bona fide experience—the broad deduction from which is, that the deterioration of steel, under the action of sea water, is no greater than that of iron, and that, if the same care and constancy in cleaning and painting, common to ships of the latter material, be extended to ships of the former, their durability will be equal.

Several large shipowning companies were not slow to place faith in the new material. In the early part of 1879, the “Allan Line” Company entrusted to Messrs Denny & Brothers, of Dumbarton, the order for a huge vessel, which the intrepid confidence of the principal partners in both the owning and the building firms determined should be of mild steel, be bound with steel rivets, and have her boilers of the same material. This was the large steamer Buenos Ayrean, the first transatlantic steamer built with the new material. She was finished early in 1880, and had not been over nine months in the water when the order for a second and still larger steel vessel—the Parisian—had been given by the same owners to Clyde builders. The Union Steamship Company of New Zealand, the Pacific Steam Navigation Company, Messrs Donald Currie & Co., and several smaller companies, ordered vessels of steel almost simultaneously, while yet the new material was in the early stage of trial. Amongst the orders for steel vessels which were subsequently given, the Servia and Catalonia, for the Cunard Company; the Clyde and Thames and Shannon for the Peninsular and Oriental Company; the India, for the British India Company; the Arabic and Coptic, for the Oceanic Steam Navigation Company, and the four twin screw steamers of the “Hill” Line, represent the principals. The companies who then adopted the new material have mostly continued to have their new ships built of steel, and to name the vessels since built and now building in which this material is employed, would simply be to enumerate three-fourths the fleet of high-class modern merchant ships. There were 21,000 tons of steel shipping built throughout the United Kingdom in 1879; 36,000 in 1880; 55,000 in 1881; 126,000 in 1882; and over 244,000 in 1883. It is computed that at the present time the amount of steel shipbuilding going on throughout the kingdom is not less than 175,000 tons, or the largest amount on hand at any one time since its introduction.

The modification in the structural arrangement of ocean trading vessels, already spoken of as the continuous-cellular system, although only within very recent times receiving extended adoption in the mercantile marine, possesses in some of its essential features the prestige of years. So long ago as 1854, Mr Scott Russell strongly advocated the principle of longitudinal construction, and applied it in practice to ships of the mercantile marine, to the success of which, in a scientific sense, the Great Eastern is surely overwhelming testimony. The principle met with much scientific favour from many besides Mr Russell, but it did not take root in solid practice. Pecuniary and other kinds of considerations interposed to prevent its general adoption. The urgency for increase in the size of vessels was not such as to make longitudinal strength (the special advantage claimed for the new principle) a great desideratum; and there was perhaps reluctance on the part of shipbuilders to relinquish time-tried and familiar methods. The system presently under notice—although, as has already been said, the same, in its main principles, as the system then advocated—by its descent through the Admiralty Dockyards, by its application to merchant vessels—first of East Coast, and then of Clyde build—and by its close association with water ballast, has undergone many modifications which almost constitute it a creation of recent times.

Sir Edward J. Reed, when Chief Constructor of the Navy, introduced the bracket frame system of construction into iron-clad ships of war, and, as already indicated, it is largely owing to the experience of the system as applied and practised in such cases—conjointly, of course, with its successful introduction in the case of the Great Eastern—that in so short a time it has reached the present structural perfection, and received such wide extension in merchant steamships. That it has recently received such wide adoption in the mercantile marine is due not so much to its structural advantages—and these are great—as to the way in which it lends itself to the economical working of steamships in actual service. This will be more explicitly referred to after some description of the system as applied in merchant ships has been given.

It is somewhat away from the field this work is concerned with, to trace the system in its stages of development in ships of war, but it may be said, shortly, that the impulse which the system has received in the mercantile marine has in no sense been a transference of the activity which at all times since its introduction has characterised the application of the system to the vessels built in our naval yards.

In order to assist the non-technical reader in appreciating what follows regarding the system in merchant ships, a general idea of the cellular bottom principle of construction is afforded by Fig. 1.

FIG. 1.

This shows in section the bottom part of a vessel amidships, fitted with a double or inner skin, extending across the ship from bilge to bilge, and there connected in a watertight manner to the outer bottom plating. A series of longitudinal plates are worked, fore and aft; set vertically between the outer skin of the vessel and the plating of the inner bottom, and connected thereto by continuous angles. Between these “longitudinals,” and at every alternate transverse frame, deep plate floors, lightened with oval holes, are fitted, connected to outer skin by the angle frame, and to inner bottom plating by pieces of angles corresponding to the vessel’s “reverse frames.” These floor plates are, in addition, connected by vertical angles to the longitudinals. Intermediate between the deep plate floors simple angle bar transverse frames and reverse frames are fitted, to give support to the outer skin and to the inner bottom respectively. Until recently, the deep floors consisted of “gusset” or “bracket” plates, each division being fitted in four separate pieces, the whole taking the form as shown in dotted outline. This practice is still most largely followed, but in those yards which are equipped with large hydraulic punching machines for piercing holes such as are shown in Fig. 1, the solid floors have superseded the bracket or four-piece floors, the change effecting a simplification of work and decided structural advantages.

With the employment of water as a substitute for dry or rubble ballast, the structural movement under notice may be said primarily to have begun. This movement has resulted in the present approved system, which, at the same time that it has regard to water-ballast with all its attendant advantages, most happily combines the important qualities of increased strength and security. The need for ballast in vessels whose service generally comprises “light” as well as “loaded” runs (as in the coal trade between Newcastle and London), or in trades where the full complement can only be obtained by shifting from port to port, is obviously great. It is doubtless to needs such as these, more than to any demand for increased structural strength, that the introduction and extended application of the longitudinal and bracket-plate principle is owing.

The screw-steamer Sentinel, built in 1860 by Messrs Palmer of Jarrow, Newcastle-on-Tyne, is mentioned by some authorities as embodying some of the main features of the longitudinal and cellular bottom system, and the screw-steamers Scio and Assyria, of 1440 tons, built in 1874 by Messrs Westerman, near Genoa, have been noticed in a similar connection. The next vessel, in point of time, which contained features answering to the system now in vogue, and from the date of whose production the movement has been almost constantly progressive, was the screw-steamer Fenton, built by Messrs Austin & Hunter, of Sunderland, in 1876.

Clyde builders were not slow to recognise the value of the system in its application to water-ballast steamers, and almost immediately some of the more intrepid of their number began to advocate its adoption, but with some modifications, in vessels then being contracted for. Mr John Inglis, jun., of Messrs A. & J. Inglis, Pointhouse, Glasgow, submitted to Lloyd’s Registry in March, 1878, the scantling section of some cellular bottom vessels, then in project, which contained several of the improvements introduced in subsequent practice. Messrs William Denny & Brothers, of Dumbarton, at the same time took up the principle, and have since actively applied it to steamers of every character in which water-ballast is a desideratum. Adopting it, five years ago, in four sister vessels for the British India Steam Navigation Coy., they subsequently raised the important issue with the Board of Trade regarding the tonnage measurement of these vessels. This august body insisted on computing the register tonnage—the figure upon which the tonnage dues are levied—not to the top of the inner bottom, but to an imaginary line half-way down the cellular space—in fact, to where the line of floor would have been if constructed in the ordinary fashion. Messrs Denny maintained, in effect, that as the register tonnage was meant to be a measure of the space available for cargo, the top of the ceiling on the inner bottom was the only equitable line of measurement. The principal reason for the Board seeking to pursue this course seems to have lain in the supposition that owners would endeavour to use the double bottom for cargo-carrying purposes. An ambiguity in the words of the Merchant Shipping Act, or their inapplicability to present day practice, were other possible elements in the case, but doubtless the red-tapeism and self-sufficiency characteristic of the Board had much to do with their action. This is borne out by the fact that although the Messrs Denny succeeded in their plea with respect to vessels having structural cellular bottoms, the absurd practice is still followed in cases where the bottom is fitted for water ballast on the girder principle, i.e.—the inner bottom fitted upon fore and aft runners or girders, erected on floors of the ordinary description, as shown in Fig. 2.

FIG. 2.

This formed, and still forms in many places, a very common arrangement for water ballast steamers, although not so inherent a feature of the vessel’s structure as the continuous-cellular bottom. In most cases this system is fitted only for part of the length, and not, like the cellular system, applied throughout the whole length of the ship. If it was impossible for the Board of Trade to hold by the contention that cargo might be carried in bottoms of the structural cellular type, it is equally untenable in the case of bottoms such as are now referred to. The difference between the two kinds of ballast bottoms is one merely of construction, and if any one of the two lends itself to cargo-carrying purposes, it is certainly the cellular system. The anomaly is sufficiently striking to merit attention, and in certain districts where the girder system is largely adopted for medium-sized vessels, it is felt as nothing short of an injustice, both by shipowners and builders.

The concession or victory won by Messrs Denny removed a serious hindrance to the spread and general adoption of the water ballast cellular system. Other Clyde firms at the same time—or at least soon after the adoption of the system by the Messrs Denny—took the matter up and independently did much towards the popularisation of the cellular mode of construction. Speaking in the early part of 1880, Mr William John, of Lloyd’s Registry, now General Manager with the Barrow Shipbuilding Company, said:—“At the time Mr Martell read his paper on water-ballast steamers before the autumn meeting of this Institution (Naval Architects) at Glasgow, in 1877, there had been only two or three small steamers built (since Mr Scott Russell’s early ones) on the longitudinal principle. Now, it is within the mark to say there are one hundred steamers, built and building, whose bottoms are constructed on the longitudinal principle, or what is better described as the cellular system, amounting probably to 200,000 tons, and it is not outside the bounds of probability that a very few years will see the majority of merchant steamers constructed in this manner.” Mr John’s connection with Lloyd’s at the time, entitled his statements and opinions with regard to the prevalency and prospects of cellular construction to be accepted with every assurance, for it is in such Societies as Lloyd’s where the best consensus of information regarding the extent and tendencies of particular types of vessels can be obtained. In point of fact, the intervening period has witnessed, in great measure, a realisation of Mr John’s forecast. The advantages of a cellular bottom as regards safety, and for the purpose of ballasting and trimming vessels, also as meeting the greater need for longitudinal strength caused by the enormous growth in the size of vessels, have received that appreciation from shipowners and shipbuilders which is their due. The practice has accordingly spread, till now, it would not be rash to say, quite as many of the ocean-trading steamers being built are fitted with cellular bottoms as are without them.

The adaptation of water ballast to sailing vessels, as well as to steamers, has received consideration at the hands of both Tyne and Clyde builders. Previous to 1877, several small sailing ships were built on the Tyne, in which provision was made for water ballast in tanks entering into the structure of the bottom, but erected over the ordinary plate floors. About 150 tons of water ballast were carried by these vessels, the filling and discharge of the tanks being effected by Downton’s pumps, worked by the crew. The trade in which they were engaged—i.e.—carrying coal from the Tyne to Spanish ports, and back to this country with ore—was one in which the introduction of water ballast proved commercially and otherwise most advantageous. Two years subsequently Messrs A. M‘Millan & Son, Dumbarton, introduced water ballast into one of the largest class of sailing vessels then being built. Unlike previous sailing ships with provision for water ballast, however, the vessel was constructed on the structural cellular bottom principle, having bracket floors and continuous girders, as so generally approved in steamships. Capacity for water ballast, to the extent of over 300 tons was thus provided, the filling and discharge being effected by a special donkey engine, supplied with steam from a large donkey boiler. The boiler also furnished the motive power for cargo winches, off which, by crank gear, the manual labour pumps were also brought into requisition. Facilities for the expeditious management of ballast—the want of which, in sailing vessels, considerably hinders its adoption—were thus, in this case, efficiently provided. Several other sailing ships, built by Messrs A. M‘Millan & Son, and by other shipbuilding firms on the Clyde, have been fitted with this system, and the result of experience with these vessels in actual service, thoroughly encourages its more general adoption.

Many minor, yet aggregately important, structural features which are products of the progressive movement of recent years, or are simply revivals of old devices which were “untimely born,” still call for some notice. As a necessary consequence of the growth in dimensions and the change in relative proportions of vessels, greater regard has been paid to the systems of construction in which the longitudinal principle is involved. This, of course, is evidenced by what has been said of the cellular bottom system, but various minor structural features associated with the cellular bottom are also noteworthy in this connection. It is the practice, for instance, where large ships are concerned, to fit side stringers in the holds, throughout the entire length, made intercostal with regard to transverse plate or web-frames occurring at intervals of 16 or 20 feet, which extend from the bilge to the main deck. This arrangement—an outline of which may be found to the right of the section shown as Fig. 1—possesses many structural advantages, and finds additional favour with shipowners on account of its leaving a clearer hold for stowage by obviating the use of transverse hold beams.

Regard for transverse strength has increasingly evinced itself in the fitting of various kinds of plate side stiffeners or partial bulkheads. This is well exemplified in a very recent case—that of the National Company’s steamship America, built by Messrs J. & G. Thomson. This vessel, having been constructed independent of any special Registry Rules, embodies structural features not common amongst vessels in which such rules are undeviatingly conformed to. The system referred to, of plate frames or partial bulkheads, is one of the most conspicuous of these features. Throughout the length of the vessel, at intervals of about 18 feet, transverse plate stiffeners or frames, extending from the shell inwards about 4 feet, take the place of the ordinary angle frames, and are continuous from floors to upper deck, the stringers and other longitudinal features being scored through them. The surplus transverse strength resulting from this system is such as amply to compensate for uncommonly large breaches made in the deck beams and plating for light and air purposes in the saloons. This is a very special feature in the interior arrangement of the America, and will be referred to further on. The regard for transverse strength, again, conjointly with the increased attention to minute watertight sub-division, has led to the fitting of a greater number of complete watertight transverse bulkheads, relatively to the lengths of vessels.

In vessels of extreme proportions the method of forming shells two-ply, or of fitting all the shell plates edge to edge with outside covering-strakes over the fore-and-aft joints, has been recently revived and much improved. The system, although very expensive, has been adopted in vessels for the Anchor Line by Messrs D. & W. Henderson, Glasgow, and subsequently on even a more extensive scale by the Barrow Shipbuilding Company.

Affecting the structural character of modern ships very materially, but the result chiefly of an economy in labour, riveting by machine power has received a wonderfully extended application within recent years. Structurally, as well as commercially, the system has played a large part in the progressive movement under review. By its means the strength of united parts has been enhanced through the increase of their frictional resistance, and through the rigidity of joints, due to the more thorough filling of the rivet holes. The subject of hydraulic or machine power riveting will, however, receive fuller treatment in a subsequent chapter.

Within the past two or three years cast steel stems, stern-frames, and rudders, have been taking the place of forged iron work in ship construction. The practicability of manufacturing these of such strength and homogeneity as would meet the needs of ship construction even better than the ordinary forged work, had occurred some five or six years ago to several engaged in the steel trade. Mr J. F. Hall, of Messrs William Jessop & Sons, Limited, Sheffield, had the subject under consideration about that period, and actually made several small stern posts and rudders for steam yachts and launches. The advantages of solid and uniform steel castings over iron forgings—which, with their many weldings, so often prove inefficient when subject to any sudden shock—were even then rightly enough appreciated. It was only, however, after patents had been taken out by Messrs Cooke & Mylchreest, of Liverpool, for various devices connected with the actual fitting of such features to the ship’s structure—amongst other things the hanging of rudders without pintles or gudgeons—that the manufacture of cast steel stern-frames, rudders, &c., was seriously proceeded with.

In July, 1882, the Steel Company of Scotland (Limited), who are the manufacturers in Scotland of Messrs Cooke & Mylchreest’s patent form of rudders and stern-frames, successfully cast a stern-frame—the first of large size, it is believed, made for actual use in the construction of a steamer. In April of the same year, however, Messrs William Jessop & Sons (Limited), of Sheffield, had exhibited a crucible cast steel stern-frame and rudder of their manufacture, at the Naval and Sub-Marine Exhibition, held in London. These large castings, along with others, were subjected to a series of tests in the presence of Lloyd’s inspectors and other authorities, such as the forged frames and rudders ordinarily fitted would not have come through without severe damage, yet all of which the steel castings withstood most thoroughly.

Testimony to the efficiency of these new features in ship construction has already been furnished from the arena of actual experience, by the recent grounding of two steamers in which these features had been introduced. The screw-steamer Euripides, a Liverpool-owned vessel of about 1780 tons gross, completed in May, 1883, by Messrs Caird & Purdie, of Barrow, some time ago ran upon a reef of boulders, and remained thumping heavily for several hours. At the time she was laden with a full cargo of grain, which was afterwards delivered in perfect condition. The cast steel stem and stern-frame, which were manufactured by the Steel Company of Scotland, were practically without damage, notwithstanding that serious indentations were made in them. The stem, although receiving the full force of resistance, was not perceptibly altered in shape, and competent judges who inspected the damage in dock were of opinion that the stem, with its superior attachments, in all probability saved the vessel from total loss. The rudder on the Euripides is of solid cast steel, in one piece, and hung without pintles, and in a manner involving little or no riveting. In this, as in the other features, the immunity from serious damage testifies to the efficiency and durability of the steel castings. The second case of grounding referred to is that of the screw-steamer Strathnairn, of 400 tons, belonging to Messrs James Hay & Sons, of Glasgow; one of two vessels built by Messrs Burrell & Son, of Dumbarton, in which cast steel stern-frames and rudders were adopted. This vessel got aground while off Harrington, on the north-west coast of England, about the latter end of March of the present year. Her stern-frame sustained very considerable shock: such, indeed, as no ordinary forged work could possibly have undergone with like result. Subsequent docking showed that it would only be necessary to straighten the frame at the deflected portions in order to make it again structurally efficient. This was done, and the vessel is again actively engaged in service.

The weldless stern-frames, rudders, and stems, as patented by Messrs Cooke & Mylchreest, Liverpool, and manufactured for them by the Steel Company of Scotland, Messrs Jessop & Sons, Sheffield, and Messrs John Spencer & Sons, Newcastle, have various advantageous features which may be noticed somewhat fully. One of these is the casting of flanges on the stern-posts, for attaching the shell plates to; by which arrangement much of the difficult and costly work in the riveting and fitting of the shell plates at these parts is done away with, while a considerable increase of strength is obtained. The solid rudder is a great improvement on the built rudder as usually fitted; the entire absence of rivets being an important desideratum. The rivets connecting the rudder-plates to the frame-forging are frequently a source of trouble and annoyance, through their being loosened by the constant vibration of the rudder, and the shocks it often receives. The heads of the rivets not unfrequently drop off, and the rivets themselves sometimes fall completely out. All this, of course, is entirely obviated in the solid rudder. By Messrs Cooke & Mylchreest’s improved method of fitting the rudder—a device which is only applicable in a casting—pintles are wholly dispensed with, and in their place a much stronger joint is substituted, with a considerably increased wearing surface. The rudder is also jointed at the top of the blade, by means of strong flanges bolted together; an obvious advantage of this arrangement being that it can be readily unshipped, even when afloat.

In addition to the stern-frames, stems, and rudders, there are, also being supplied, keels, garboard strakes, and centre keelsons in long lengths. It is claimed for these that as the keel, garboard strake, keelson, and brackets for connecting the floors, are all made in one piece, they are much stronger than as ordinarily constructed, and that a considerable saving in both labour and rivets is effected. As there are no angle irons to contend with, the limber-holes may be made close to the bottom plating, and a much thinner layer of cement will, consequently, be needed on the bottom; the saving in this respect, according to the patentees’ calculation, being 50 tons in a 2,000-ton vessel.

As the prices of these frames and rudders do not exceed those charged for frames of wrought-iron, and moreover, owing to the pieces which are cast on to them forming attachments for keels, decks, &c.—thus cheapening the work of construction in the shipyard—there appears to be no question of their great superiority. The presence of blow-holes, not unfrequently a source of misgiving in castings, is found from experience to be a constantly diminishing fault in these articles. The demand for them has steadily grown since their adoption in a few actual cases. It would seem, indeed, that the demand is only limited by the powers of production possessed at present by the four or five steel-making firms who have undertaken this class of work, and have satisfied the requirements of the registration and the insurance societies.

In addition to the frames and rudders for ordinary screw vessels, the Steel Company of Scotland have also supplied several sterns for war vessels, with rams and torpedo openings, which have proved very satisfactory. Other new adaptations are the casting of large brackets for shafts of twin screw vessels, of large crank shafts themselves, and of heavy anchors; the results of tests presently being made fully warranting the anticipation that the material will very largely be employed in the future for these important items in the outfit of merchant vessels.

The more important features of growth or change in ship construction which have made the past few years a noteworthy period in the history of mercantile shipbuilding have now been reviewed. Speed, and propulsive power of steamships, although absorbing very much of the progress for which the period has been so remarkable, have not been dealt with, but are reserved for the chapter following. The subjects named will also necessarily receive some attention in the chapter devoted to progress in the science of shipbuilding. In anticipation, however, apologies should be offered for the paucity of detailed references to the propulsive agents on board ship. Marine engineering, in all its recent developments, would require for its proper treatment considerably more space than can be devoted to it in the present work.

To meet the exigencies of the progressive movement, both practical skill, scientific knowledge, and commercial enterprise have been needed on the part of our shipbuilders. These have not been by any means wanting, as abundantly evidenced by the foregoing record of what has been achieved. With a continuance of that readiness displayed by shipbuilders and naval architects to modify, and even revolutionize if need be, types and methods which the times have outgrown, the lead in merchant shipbuilding will long be ours. With a maintenance also of the enterprise shown by our shipowners, Britain will still continue, as regards the number, size, and power of her merchant ships, supreme among the nations.

List of Papers and Lectures bearing on recent improvements in ship design and construction, to which readers desiring fuller acquaintance with the technique and details of the subjects are referred:—

On a New Mode of Constructing Iron and Composite Ships, by Mr J. E. Scott: Trans. Inst. Engineers and Shipbuilders, vol. xv., 1871-2.

On the Strength of Iron Ships, by Mr William John: Trans. Inst. N.A., vol. xv., 1874.

On Transverse and Other Strains of Ships, by Mr William John: Trans. Inst., N.A., vol. xviii., 1877.

On a System of Shipbuilding Combining Transverse and Longitudinal Framing, by Mr James Hamilton, Jun.: Trans. Inst. Engineers and Shipbuilders, vol. xviii., 1877-88.

On the Longitudinal Bulkhead System of Iron Ship Construction, by Mr Edwin W. De Russet, Trans. Inst. N.A., vol. xvii., 1876.

On Iron and Steel for Shipbuilding, by Mr Nathaniel Barnaby: Trans. Inst. N.A., vol. xvi., 1875.

On Steel for Shipbuilding, by Mr Benjamin Martell: Trans. Inst., N.A., vol. xix., 1878.

On the Use of Mild Steel for Shipbuilding in the French Dockyards, by M. Marc Berrier-Fontaine: Trans. Inst., N.A., vol. xxii., 1881.

On Steel in the Shipbuilding Yard, by Mr William Denny: Trans. Inst. N.A., vol. xxi., 1880.

On the Economical Advantages of Steel Shipbuilding, by Mr Wm. Denny: Journal (No. 1) Iron and Steel Institute, 1881.

On Iron and Steel as Constructive Materials for Ships, by Mr John Price. Proceedings Inst. Mech. Engineers, 1881.

On Steel, by Mr James Riley; Lectures on Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering: Glasgow, William Collins & Sons, 1881.

On Water Ballast, by Mr Benjamin Martell: Trans. Inst. N.A., vol. xviii., 1877.

On the Cellular Construction of Merchant Ships, by Mr William John: Trans. Inst. N.A., vol. xxi., 1880.

On the Increased Use of Steel in Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering, by Mr John R. Ravenhill: Trans. Inst. N.A., vol. xxii., 1881.

On the Structural Arrangements and Proportions of H.M.S. “Iris,” by Mr W. H. White: Trans. Inst. N.A., vol. xx., 1879.

On the Quality of Materials used in Shipbuilding, by Mr H. H. West: Trans. Inst. N.A., vol. xxiii., 1882.

On the Use of Steel Castings in lieu of Iron and Steel Forgings for Ship and Marine Engine Construction, by Mr William Parker: Journal, Iron and Steel Institute, 1883.

Some Considerations Respecting the Rivetting of Iron Ships, by Mr Henry H. West: Trans. Inst. N.A., vol. xxv., 1884.

Recent Improvements in Iron and Steel Shipbuilding, by Mr William John: Iron and Steel Institute, 1884.

CHAPTER II.
SPEED AND POWER OF MODERN STEAMSHIPS.

In these days of feverish activity in every avenue of business, when even leisure has come to be observed at a much more accelerated tempo than formerly, speed in locomotion would seem to be the first desideratum, not only on shore but afloat as well. In no ocean service is the truth of this so apparent as in the transatlantic mail and passenger service, the oldest and most constantly progressive, and where at the present time, certainly more than at any former period, the contest for supremacy amongst rival steamship lines has assumed the form of increased speed and enhanced passenger accommodation.

The Atlantic service, for these reasons, as well as because it exemplifies more of the fruits which have rewarded the joint labours of the engineer and shipbuilder in improving marine propulsion, may be selected for detailed review. In other ocean services, of course, the achievements of engineering and shipbuilding skill have also been made apparent, and in ways, perhaps, which the Atlantic service does not exhibit. Reference to these will afterwards be made, but attention will meantime be confined to the service stated, and to such considerations of the general progress made in ocean navigation as are necessarily involved in the particular subject.

It is needless, in view of the frequency with which the story of ocean steam navigation is told, and especially, considering the scope of the present review, to enter at any length into the details of early service. The first practically successful transatlantic steamers were the Sirius and the Great Western, the first a paddle-steamer 170 feet long, 270 horse-power originally constructed to ply between London and Cork, and the latter, a paddle-steamer, 212 feet long and about 440 horse-power, designed and built expressly for the transatlantic service. The Sirius left Cork on the 4th April, 1838, and reached New York on the 22nd; the Great Western left Bristol on the 7th April, three days after the Sirius, reaching New York on the 23rd—the time taken being thus 18 days and 15 days respectively. The return voyages of these pioneer long-passage steamers were made in 16 days and 14 days respectively, their performances at once establishing the superiority of steamers, commercially and otherwise, over the sailing ships which had previously for so long been the recognised medium of transit in the Atlantic passenger trade.

In 1840 a regular mail service by steamers was first introduced on the Atlantic. The first of these mail steamers was the Cunard paddle-steamer Britannia, 207 feet long, which sailed from Liverpool on July 4, 1840, and arrived at Halifax in 12 days 10 hours, the return journey being performed in 10 days. The Acadia, Columbia, and Caledonia all of about the same dimensions as the Britannia, at once followed. The success of the Cunard Line was so marked that opposition was soon provoked, and in 1850 the Collins Line of American steamers started to compete with the Cunard liners. The same year also saw the commencement of the well-known Inman Company, of Liverpool, their first vessel being the City of Glasgow, an iron screw-steamer of 1680 tons and 350 horse-power. The Allan and Anchor Lines were established in 1856, the Guion Line in 1863, and the White Star Line in 1870.

With the substitution of the screw propeller for the paddle wheel, first carried out to any great purpose in the small steamer Archimedes in 1839, but introduced with even greater effect in the Atlantic steamer Great Britain in 1843, was laid the basis of that progressive and magnificent success in propulsion which has since attended ocean navigation. It was with screw-steamers Mr Inman boldly assailed the Cunard Company in 1850, but notwithstanding this, it was only in 1862 that the Government consented to sanction the use of the screw in the mail steamers of the Cunard Company. The Scotia, measuring 366 feet in length, by 47½ feet in breadth, and 30½ feet depth, launched in 1861, was the last paddle-steamer built for this company.

The other great improvements contributing to the success spoken of, were the introduction of engines designed on the compound principle, and a little later, the employment of the surface condenser, and the use of circular multitubular boilers. In spite of the success with which the compound system was attended in vessels built for the Pacific Steam Navigation Company as early as 1856, and for some other private owners soon after, the great steamship companies, and shipowners generally, were very slow to adopt it. It was not until about the year 1869 that the compound engine came into general use, and it was only in 1872 that the Cunard Company seriously took it into favour.

The early steamers of the Cunard Line possessed an average speed of 8½ knots, and took about 15 days for the voyage. Through the Collins rivalry the speed was increased to an average of 12½ knots, and the time for crossing the Atlantic was reduced to 12 days 9 hours outwards, and 11 days 11 hours homewards. In 1856, the powerful paddle-steamer Persia (the first iron vessel built for the Cunard Company) was placed on the service, and attained an average speed of about 13 knots, consuming 150 tons of coal per day. She made the distance between Queenstown and New York, on an average, in 10½ days. In 1862 the Scotia, belonging to the same company, made the passage in 9 days.

Coming down to more recent times, the White Star Line, with its steamships Britannic and Germanic, built in 1874 and 1875 respectively, held for a considerable period first place in the matter of fast steamships. The vessels named were, however, in time beaten by the newer ships Gallia, of the Cunard Line, and Arizona, of the Guion Line. As illustrating the speed at which the vessels named accomplished the transatlantic voyage—between Queenstown and New York—the following brief list, compiled from published records, of fast runs out and home during the period 1875-1881, may here be given:—

When the success of vessels of the size of the Arizona and the Gallia was made apparent, it was decided by the Cunard Company to build a larger and faster ship than previous ones. Accordingly, in the autumn of 1880, specifications were issued to some of the leading shipbuilding firms, asking them to tender for the construction of a vessel of 500 feet in length, 50 feet beam, and 40 feet depth. At the suggestion of Messrs J. & G. Thomson, who were successful in securing the contract for this remarkable vessel, the dimensions were increased to 530 feet by 52 feet by 44 feet 9 inches. With these dimensions, and with mild steel as the constructive material, the new vessel—the Servia—was thereafter proceeded with in Messrs Thomson’s establishment.

The Guion line, not to be left behind, placed the order for a vessel of the dimensions first proposed for the Servia, with Messrs John Elder & Co., but, in order to be faster than the Servia, the weight-carrying was considerably reduced, and the boiler power much increased. The wisdom of this step has been justified by the now generally received opinion that these fast steamers should not carry such heavy cargoes as the slower ones. This new vessel for the Guion line was the Alaska, now justly noted for her fast runs across the Atlantic.

The Inman Company also decided not to lag behind, and as soon as the conditions of the design of the Servia had been fixed, they placed the order for a ship—the City of Rome—with the Barrow Shipbuilding Company, intended to be larger, finer, and faster. Expectations as to speed and carrying powers were not in her case fulfilled, and the result of the dissatisfaction which this occasioned, was, that the City of Rome changed ownership, Messrs Henderson Brothers, of Anchor Line fame, coming into possession. In the hands of its new owners, the City of Rome was re-arranged internally, and her boiler power was considerably augmented, while her engines also were thoroughly revised. When first built, the vessel was fitted with engines of 8500 horse-power. As revised, they indicate 12,000 the acquisition being largely due to the fitting of four additional boilers. The results which have accrued from the extensive alterations made are such as to have firmly established the vessel in a foremost place in the Atlantic service.

The performances of the vessels named have been the subject of considerable interest to all concerned in shipping affairs, and to the public generally. The following table of fast passages accomplished during the past two years by these vessels has been compiled from published records, and from information supplied by the shipowning companies:—

An addition to the list of competitors was made in the Aurania, built by Messrs Thomson in 1882, and tried in June, 1883, when she attained a mean speed of 17¾ knots, and showed herself not unequal to a maximum speed of 18½ knots under circumstances ordinarily favourable. An untoward and serious accident to her machinery laid the Aurania aside just as her capabilities in actual service were being shown. It is during the “passenger season” that the qualities of these transatlantic steamers are best brought out, and it remains with the season which has just begun, to demonstrate to the full the Aurania’s powers.

A similar remark applies to the Oregon, a still more recent competitor from the same stocks as the Alaska, whose dimensions correspond with those of the Alaska, except in respect to breadth, the first-named vessel having 3-ft. 6-in. more beam than the latter, the figures being—length over all, 520-ft.; breadth, 54-ft.; depth, 40-ft. 9-in. Extra power of engines to the extent of nearly 3000 horses indicated has been fitted in the Oregon. On the occasion of her speed trial on the Clyde she ran the distance between Ailsa Craig and Cumbrae Head—-29½ nautical miles—in 1 hour 20 minutes, or about equal to 20 knots per hour. This was attained with the engines indicating 12,382 horse-power and making 62 revolutions per minute, the steam pressure being 110-lbs. per square inch. This result was doubtless attained under conditions more favourable to speed than the vessel is, as a rule, likely to meet with in actual service; and, as has been indicated, it still remains with the future to determine how far the aims of the owners and builders of the Oregon are realised.[1]

In the America, launched from the yard of Messrs J. & G. Thomson, near the close of 1883, and presently being fitted for sea, the National Steamship Company (Limited), of Liverpool, have embodied the results of their careful study of the development and changes in the mode of conducting the American trade. From such experiments—for they can hardly be considered anything else—as the rapid passages of the Alaska, the City of Rome, and other “greyhounds of the Atlantic,” the company see it is no longer possible or profitable to have “composite” vessels—i.e., those intended to carry a large cargo as well as passengers,—but that practically one class of vessels must be built for the passenger traffic and another for the conveyance of cargo. The vessel represents an attempt to solve the problem of producing a ship which shall have large passenger accommodation and a high speed, with a comparatively small first cost and a reasonable consumption of coal. She is built of steel, and of the following dimensions:—Length, 440 feet; breadth, 51¼ feet; depth of hold, 36 feet; gross tonnage, about 6,000 tons. Her engines are of the inverted three-cylinder type, the high pressure cylinder being 63-ins. diameter, the two low pressure cylinders being 91-ins. each, while the piston stroke is 66-ins. Six double ended boilers and one single ended, having in all 39 furnaces, are fitted. The power expected to be developed is about 9,000 indicated. The speed guaranteed by the builders of the America is 18 knots an hour, and confidence is entertained by all concerned as to this result being attained.[2]

It is abundantly evident, notwithstanding what has already been achieved, that the brisk competition among transatlantic companies for the “fastest steamer afloat” has not yet exhausted itself. The determination some time ago publicly expressed by Mr John Burns, the able chairman of the Cunard Company, to maintain a leading position, has since taken decidedly active shape in the contract entered into and now being carried out by Messrs John Elder & Co.: that is, the construction of the two huge and powerful steamers of unprecedented speed, already referred to near the beginning of this work. They are each of 8000 tons burthen, 500 feet in length, 57 feet broad, by 40 feet depth of hold. Engines of 13,000 horse-power will be provided, which, it is computed, will drive the vessels at a speed of 19 knots an hour. With the establishment of these remarkable steamships in this most important service, the prospect is near of a transatlantic passage lasting only six days, if not indeed considerably under that period.

Communication with our South African colonies is another service in which modern progress, as regards high speed, has been conspicuously manifest. The steamers engaged in this service—belonging to the Union Steamship Coy. and Messrs Donald Currie & Co.—had special attention directed towards their powers as to fast steaming were exerted to the utmost them during the Zulu War of 1879, at which juncture in the transport of our soldiery. In the autumn of 1878 the Pretoria, belonging to the Union Coy., made the outward passage to the Cape, via Maderia, in 18 days, 16 hours, including 4½ hours detention. The passage home was made in the autumn of 1879 by the same vessel in 18 days, 13¼ hours, including about 5¾ hours stoppages. These passages are fairly representative of the best performances of the vessels engaged in this service, and they have not since been much excelled. In midsummer, 1880, the Durban, another of the Union Line vessels, accomplished the homeward run via Maderia in 18 days, 9 hours, including about 6½ hours stoppages. The Drummond Castle, belonging to Messrs Donald Currie & Co.’s Castle Packet line, has made the homeward run in 18 days, 18 hours, or, excluding detentions, in 18 days, 13 hours. The Hawarden Castle, of the same line, has made the fastest outward run on record. In the autumn of 1883 she accomplished it in 18 days, 15 hours, including five hours detention at Maderia, leaving the actual steaming time 18 days, 10 hours. The distance traversed by vessels on this service is some 6,000 miles, and the average speed attained is about 13 knots per hour. In the case of one of the Union Coy.’s vessels, the average speed attained has been as high as 13·8 knots per hour over the greater portion of the voyage, the indicated horse-power developed being about 2,570, and the consumpt of coal about 52½ tons per day. For a considerable time recently the Companies have found it more remunerative to drive their vessels at moderate speed, but in times of emergency, such as the outbreak of hostilities in our colonies, their qualities as transports traversing long distances at high speed are eminently efficient.

The employment of steamships in long voyages and at high rates of speed, for which, not so long ago, it was generally supposed sailing ships were only adapted, has been eminently successful. By the opening of the Suez Canal the passage to China was shortened from about 13,500 miles to about 9800 miles, that to India from over 10,000 miles to 6000. Although steamers were running to China via the Cape of Good Hope, before the opening of the Canal, and doing the service most admirably, it is subsequent to that great change, and indeed quite recently that the most noteworthy advances have been made in shortening the time occupied on these important services. The passage is now made by steamers under ordinary circumstances in less than thirty days, which sailing ships under the most favourable conditions took three and a half to four months to accomplish. The average speed attained by the steamers prior to the short route never exceeded ten knots; steamers now frequently average twelve knots over the whole distance, except during their passage through the Canal.

The Stirling Castle, built in 1882 by Messrs Elder & Co., for Messrs Skinner & Co.’s China fleet, attained a speed of 18·4 knots on her official trial. During 1883 she proved herself to be the fleetest vessel ever engaged in the China tea-carrying trade, arriving in the Thames several days ahead of the China mails, although the latter came part of the way overland. The run from Woosung to London was made in 27 days 4 hours steaming time. Other vessels belonging to this Company, and vessels of the other lines on this important service, although not equalling the performances of the Stirling Castle, are exemplifying almost daily the immense superiority of steamers over sailing ships for regularity and despatch in long passages.

As the distance to Australia—i.e., some 12,000 miles as ordinarily taken—is only about 900 miles less via the Suez Canal than by the Cape of Good Hope, steamers are employed on both routes. On the 12th May, 1875, the St. Osyth left Plymouth for Melbourne via the Cape, called at St. Vincent for coal, and thence steamed continuously to Melbourne, reaching her destination on the 27th June. Her full steaming time was about 43½ days, the average speed attained being over 11½ knots per hour. This passage, although considered most remarkable at the time, has since been surpassed. The Lusitania, of the Orient line, in 1877 made the passage to Melbourne in 40¼ days, including a detention of 1¼ days at St. Vincent while coaling. Her actual steaming time was almost exactly 39 days, her average speed being only a trifle under 13 knots. The Cuzco, of the same line, during the summer of 1879, made the homeward passage from Adelaide to Plymouth in 37 days 11 hours, including all detentions. In the Orient, which was the first vessel specially designed and constructed for the Australian direct steam service, a most noteworthy step in advance was made. She was launched in September, 1879, from the yard of Messrs Elder & Co., and on her completion was tried for speed, when she attained a maximum average speed of 17 knots per hour. She has made the passage from Plymouth to Adelaide, via Suez Canal, in 35 days 16 hours, and the same voyage via Cape of Good Hope in 34 days, 1 hour, steaming time.

S.S. AUSTRAL.—Anchor Line.

The Orient was followed in 1882 by the magnificent Austral, whose high promise was suddenly blighted for a time by an unfortunate accident. While coaling at her moorings in Sydney harbour by night, the water was allowed to flow into the ship through her after coal ports, carelessly left open and unwatched, and she thus gradually filled, and sank to the bottom. She has since been raised, brought home, and restored to her pristine splendour. She is presently engaged in the express service of the Anchor Line between Liverpool and New York, her performances being such as should gratify all concerned. The Austral on her trial attained a speed of 17·3 knots, and has made the passage from Plymouth to Melbourne, via the Suez Canal, in the unprecedented time of 32 days, 14 hours steaming.

Until quite recently the only direct communication with New Zealand has been by sailing vessels, but the New Zealand Shipping Company (Limited) and the Shaw, Savill, & Albion Company (Limited) are at the present moment in the thick of organising monthly services of high-class modern steamships to the Antipodes. The former Company in 1883 despatched the Ionic, which they had chartered, with other of the White Star steamships, for the purpose. This vessel made the passage out to New Zealand in 43 days, and home in 45 days, including stoppage for coaling. Passages of a similar character have been made by this vessel and others of the Company’s own fleet, three of which—the Tongariro, Aorangi, and Ruapehu—are splendid new steel vessels from the stocks of the famous Fairfield yard. The vessel last named has just made the passage home from Lyttelton, New Zealand, to Plymouth, in the marvellously short period of 37 days, 20 hours, 40 minutes, steaming time; the time, with detentions, being about 39 days. The other Company referred to are having two magnificent steel vessels built by Messrs Denny & Bros., of Dumbarton, to be named the Arawa and Tainui, each of 5000 tons gross. These vessels are to maintain a sea speed of 12½ knots, the engines to be fitted representing a noteworthy advance in the line of economical consumpt of fuel with prolonged terms of steaming.

Between 1875 and 1882 the number of steamers having ocean speeds of 13 knots and upwards, increased from twenty-five to sixty-five. Of these there were only ten—previous to 1875—of 14 knots speed and upwards, whereas at the beginning of 1882 there were twenty-five of this character. During the years 1882 and 1883 alone the increase in the number of such vessels has been almost double that for the previous period named. The highest speed previous to 1875 did not exceed 15 knots, now there are numerous vessels with speeds exceeding 17 knots, several even approaching 18 knots, while in one or two cases the speed attained—under favourable circumstances probably—is stated to have been considerably over 18 knots, the Guion Liner Oregon, indeed, reaching the round figure of 20 knots.

Viewed purely from the point of view of the sea voyager, such results are alike remarkable and gratifying, whilst considered in their technical and commercial aspects they also call for admiration. It is questioned, however, whether in most cases the attainment of great speed has been accompanied with corresponding or proportionate advance in other matters with which vital progress is concerned. Commercially, it is of the utmost importance that increase of speed and power should be achieved, with the least possible weight of machinery, water, and fuel to be carried; with the least possible expenditure of fuel; with safety and efficiency in working; with low wear and tear, and cheapness of maintenance.

The efficiency of the ship and machinery in fulfilling the various and often conflicting conditions of economical service is a matter with which the naval architect and the marine engineer have jointly to deal. Where the conditions cannot all be equally satisfied, it is the province of these two to make that sort of compromise which gives the best results in each special case. In cargo-carrying vessels, for example, an economy in the consumption of fuel may often be the dominant and regulating quality. An economy of one-fourth of a pound per horse-power per hour gives, on a large transatlantic steamer, a saving of about 100 tons of coal for a single voyage. To this saving of cost is to be added the gain in wages and sustenance of the labour required to handle that coal, and the gain by 100 tons of freight carried in place of the coal. Again, it is estimated that every ton of dead-weight capacity is worth on an average £10 per annum as earning freight. Supposing, therefore, the weight of machinery and water in any ordinary vessel to be 300 tons, and that by careful design and judicious use of materials the engineer can reduce it by 100 tons without increasing the cost of working, he makes the vessel worth £1,000 per annum more to her owners. To these and other such considerations, which often influence the naval architect and engineer in their designs, and due regard to one or more of which not infrequently prevents the attainment of all-round success, should be added many others concerned with the after-management of vessels. For example, the length of voyage to be performed, the seasons and the markets in particular trades, the number of ports of call, and the coaling facilities at each, are all matters which must be taken into consideration when measuring, from one standpoint or from particular instances, the degree of success attained in general.

The diminution in coal consumpt, coincident with the increase of steam pressure and the acceleration in speed which has been attained in recent years measures the principal element of progress. In many of the “racers” of recent times, it is true, speed is attained at what may appear a great sacrifice of fuel, but these are cases in which the commercial considerations often used to measure the efficiency of ordinary cargo-carrying steamers are not applicable. Owners—of transatlantic steamships especially—realise from experience that “speed pays,” and they find it of more advantage to ensure certainty of arrival at the port of destination than to save a few tons of coals on the voyage.

During the past sixteen years or so the advance made in respect to the reduced ratio of fuel consumed to power developed has indeed been considerable. Before the period stated a vessel of say 700 tons carrying capability was not only much slower than the present-day vessels but the coal supply amounted to about 16 tons per day of 24 hours, whereas vessels are now being built of like size which attain an average speed of 9 knots, the consumpt of coal not being more than 6 tons per day. In 1872 the consumption of coal in vessels whose engines were worked at a pressure of from 45-lbs. to 65-lbs. per inch (the latter being then the highest pressure recorded), did not exceed 2½-lbs. per indicated horse-power per hour. This indicated an improvement in the marine engine during the previous decade, represented by a reduction in the consumpt of fuel by more than one-half the amount previously thought indispensable. Since 1872, there has been a further reduction in the average consumpt of fuel to the extent of 15 or 16 per cent., or in the average from 2⅛-lbs. to less than 1¾-lbs. per indicated horse-power per hour.

As in the case of the vessels themselves, mild steel is largely taking the place of iron in the construction of marine boilers. The change has reduced the weight of this important item of machinery by about one-tenth, a great advantage in itself, as increasing the dead-weight capability of the vessel. The questions as to the reliable character of the boilers made of steel with respect to strength under working, and as regards corrosion, are being practically answered as time goes on; and, as in the case of ship structure, in a way very satisfactory for the new material. There is every probability that a further advance may soon be made in connection with marine boilers, in the way of constructing the shell in solid rings, thus doing away with the longitudinal seams. The strength of boilers is of course governed by the strength of the seam, and this is never above 75 per cent. of the solid plate. Hence, if solid shells are employed, an increase in pressure of about 25 per cent., with the same thickness of shell, may be obtained. Appliances are now being laid down in the Vulcan Steel and Forge Coy., Barrow-in-Furness, for this purpose.

Improved appliances and modes of construction, no less than the change of material employed, have played a large part in rendering the boilers of modern steamships capable of being worked at the higher pressures now common. It is not possible, however, with the space at command, to treat of these; nor is it practicable to consider or even enumerate all the various improved fittings which in the aggregate so materially enhance the efficiency of boilers.

One such feature particularly noteworthy because of the success with which it has been applied to the boilers of very many modern high-class merchant ships may be shortly referred to. This is the corrugated mild steel furnace, manufactured by the Leeds Forge Company on Mr Samson Fox’s patent, an illustration of which is given in Fig. 4. This shows a single corrugated furnace flue, flanged at the end to meet the tube plate of the boiler. The strength of these flues to resist collapse has been proved in the presence of the officials of the Admiralty, Board of Trade, and Lloyd’s Register, to be, on the average, four times greater than a plain flue of the same dimensions. An immediate effect of this has been to increase their average diameter from 3-ft. to 4-ft., the thickness of plate-½-inch—remaining the same; a result as to diameter and thickness quite impracticable with ordinary furnaces. Some have even been made to carry 170-lbs. per square inch of steam pressure, 4-ft. 8-ins. outside diameter constructed of one single plate, with the weld so arranged as to be below the fire bars in the furnace.

FIG. 4.

THE LEEDS FORGE C^o LTD

By the corrugated, as against the plain tube, a greatly increased heating surface is presented to the flame and the heated gases of the furnace, thus yielding a greatly enhanced evaporative power, equal to at least 50 per cent. more than in the ordinary form. Better allowance is made by the corrugated surface for the expansion and contraction caused by changes of temperature in the furnace, without in any way impairing its efficiency as a longitudinal stay for the boiler. Through the increased diameters and the augmented surface possible by these corrugated tubes, their adoption lessens the number of furnaces and stokers necessary for the horse-power required. As a further consequence, the boiler space may be diminished, and an increase effected in the cargo space or freight-carrying capacity of the vessel.

The advantages of corrugated flues as compared with plain flues cannot all be named, but the extraordinary extent to which they are now employed in the best class of steamships is the best proof of their superiority. It is stated that if the flues which have been made by the Company since their introduction about the beginning of 1878, and are now at work, were placed in one continuous line, they would extend to a length of over twenty miles, representing, in marine and other engines, nearly one million horse-power.

The number of separate types of boilers introduced into steamships has been much increased of recent years—an evidence that engineers are growingly conscious of the possibilities which may result from improved efficiency in this agent of propulsion. One direction in which their efforts at present are being largely put forth, is that of securing the more complete combustion of fuel in the furnaces. Considerable success has already attended the working of boilers under forced draught, or the admission of air to the furnaces under pressure. Combined with special types of boilers, it has been affirmed that nearly 50 per cent. more power has been obtained by this means. There is doubtless much to be expected from this system in the future, especially as it may be associated with a change in the form or type of boilers by which the number and weight of such items will be reduced. The saving of space in the vessel, the economy in consumption of coal, the reduction in dead-weight of machinery, are possibilities of the movement now in progress which cannot fail to effect materially the commercial character of our high-class mail and passenger steamships, and merchant vessels generally.

Other directions in which advance has been made during the period under review are, considerably higher steam pressures, less heating surface, and smaller cylinders, for indicated horse-power developed. The various improvements in design and construction which have contributed to these results cannot be entered into with any degree of fulness here. For detailed treatment of these matters, readers are referred to the papers read by eminent engineering authorities, before the various professional and scientific institutions, a list of which papers follows the present chapter.[3]

Reduction in the weight of machinery per indicated horse-power developed is, in general terms, the common line in which engineering effort lies, and in which no little advance has lately been made. Every possible opportunity of using steel, where it can be introduced with safety and efficiency, has been taken advantage of. Hollow crank steel shafts and propeller shafting in place of solid shafting; propellers and pistons of cast steel in place of iron; and boilers of mild steel plates, are a few of the directions in which large weight-savings have been effected. That there is still great room for improvement in this direction is shown by the following statement, given by Mr F. C. Marshall, of Messrs R. & W. Hawthorn, Newcastle-on-Tyne, in his valuable paper read before the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in 1883. The figures given show for various classes of vessels the average weight of machinery per indicated horse-power, in steamships of the merchant marine—and for comparison—of the Royal Navy:—

The figures given are for weights of machinery, including engines, boilers, water, and all fittings ready for sea.

One of the most important of recent advances in marine engineering—affording as it does the means of using higher steam pressures than have hitherto been used with economy—is the introduction of the triple expansion description of engines already referred to. This important departure was begun in 1874, when Mr A. C. Kirk, of Messrs R. Napier & Sons, designed and fitted on board the screw-steamer Propontis, built for Mr W. H. Dixon, of Liverpool, by Messrs Elder & Co.—with whom Mr Kirk at that time was engineering manager—engines involving the principle of triple expansion and abnormally high pressure of steam. In 1877 the principle received further practical development on board the Isa, a pleasure yacht fitted with triple expansion engines, designed in 1876 by Mr Alexander Taylor, consulting engineer of Newcastle-on-Tyne, who has subsequently designed several other engines of the same type for larger merchant steamers.

As not infrequently happens in connection with inventions, several minds were occupied, and independent ideas matured almost simultaneously, in the matter of triple expansion engines. Mr Kirk had secured the patent for engines involving this principle subsequent to, but before he was made cognisant of, Mr Taylor’s work. At the same time he learned that in quite another quarter the designs for such a type of engine had already been perfected. Mr Kirk, on hearing these facts, relinquished the patent rights he had secured. Notwithstanding this, it is to the success of the engines designed by Mr Kirk, and fitted by his firm on board the screw-steamer Aberdeen, that the recent development of the system is largely due. This vessel was built in 1881 for the Australian service of Messrs G. Thomson & Co., London and Aberdeen, and measures 350 feet by 44 feet by 33 feet. Her engines work at a boiler pressure of 125 lbs. per square inch. The three cylinders are respectively 30 inches, 45 inches, and 70 inches in diameter, and the stroke is 4 feet 6 inches. The smallest is the high pressure cylinder, into which the steam is first admitted; from thence it passes, after expansion, into the second or intermediate cylinder; after still further expansion it passes into the third or low pressure cylinder, from whence, after the expansion is completed, it is discharged into the condenser.

When the Aberdeen was completed, 2,000 tons of dead-weight were put on board, and the consumption was tested on a four hours’ run at 1,800 horse-power. The result was the consumption at the rate of 1.28-lbs. per indicated horse-power per hour, with Penrikyber Welsh coal. From this the designer of the engine inferred a sea consumption of good Welsh coal at the rate of 1·5 to 1·6-lbs. per indicated horse-power. The maximum measured mile speed was 13·74 knots, with 2,631 indicated horse-power, and a consumption of 1 ton 17 cwt. per hour. The vessel started from Plymouth on 1st April, 1881, upon her first voyage to Melbourne, with 4000 tons of coals and cargo—weight and measurement—on board. She arrived at Cape Town on the 23rd April, having accomplished the distance—5,890 miles—in 22 days. After taking in about 140 tons of coal, she left for Melbourne on the 24th, and arrived there on the 14th May, in 20 days. The whole time occupied in steaming from Plymouth to Melbourne was, therefore, 42 days. Her average indicated horse-power on the voyage has been about 1,880, and the consumption less than thirty-four tons per day, or at the rate of about 1·69-lbs. per indicated horse-power over the whole voyage. Since these results were obtained, Messrs Napier have fitted three sets of 5000 H.P. triple expansion engines into vessels built for the Compania Transatlantica Mexicana, and are completing a duplicate of the Aberdeen.

The firm of Messrs Denny & Coy., Dumbarton, are at present making engines of the triple expansion type for the new steamers of the Shaw, Savill & Albion Company’s direct New Zealand service. There are four cylinders and two cranks, the cylinders being arranged in pairs, tandem fashion, the small on the top of the large. Expansion takes place in three stages, the first small cylinder taking steam from the boilers about five-eights of the stroke, and expanding into the valve chest of the second small cylinder, where it is further expanded. From thence it exhausts into the valve chest common to both the large cylinders described. The steam to be supplied to these engines is to have a pressure of 160-lbs. per square inch, the highest yet carried in marine engines. These instances of actual advancement, taken in conjunction with the favourable light in which the triple expansion principle is regarded by our foremost marine engineers, augur well for the future of steamship propulsion.

The activity characterising merchant ship construction, and especially the enormous increase in their dimensions and speed within recent years, have necessarily led to speculation with regard to what form the ship of the future will take. There have not been wanting, indeed, actual propositions and elaborately prepared designs of what the ideal ship should be. A company was sometime ago formed in Washington, U.S., to have three vessels built of a novel type, the patented invention of Captain Lundborg, a Swedish engineer, intended to make the Atlantic passage in five days. It was also announced that the order for their construction had actually been given out, but this is wanting in confirmation. Great expectations were entertained in America regarding what was termed the dome-ship Meteor, built on the Hudson in the early part of 1883 from the designs of Captain Bleven. A company had been formed under the designation of the “American Quick Transit Company,” the chief supporters being Boston merchants, to build several large steamships on the proposed lines, but the utter failure of the Meteor to answer the promises of her inventor has relegated the scheme to the vast limbo of unfulfilled American projects. Three years ago or more, scientific journals gave publicity to a scheme of “Ocean Palace” steamship, patented by Mr Robert Wilcox, of Melbourne, Victoria, the claims for which ranked themselves under the heads of speed, safety, and comfort. Double hulls, as in the case of some Channel steamers, were employed, but each of the hulls was divided into two cigar-shaped portions, thus giving to the submerged whole, a quadruplicate character, and which, with its palatial superstructure, was apt to remind one—shall it be said?—of Rome and her seven hills, or Venice and her island base! The design, nevertheless, was to give the least resistance with the greatest buoyancy and stability. The method of propulsion proposed by Mr Wilcox was also novel. He placed a couple of enormous drums fore and aft (between the hulls), which were to be driven by the engines as if they were paddle-wheels. Over these drums was placed a continuous band of iron links, upon which, at suitable intervals, paddles or blades were fixed. A comparatively low speed of engine was to give a high speed of velocity to this band of blades; and as there would be twenty-one paddles, all immersed at the same time, their grip of the water was to be such that there should be little slip. Whether on a serious application of the principles involved in this invention to a ship for the Australian service the voyage would have been made, as was claimed, in 26 days, equal to an increase in speed of 75 per cent., has never of course been determined! Still another scheme, and one which the inventor has been encouraged to prosecute by the recommendations of eminent authorities on both sides of the Atlantic, is that of Captain Coppin, noted for his success in salvage operations, which consists of an “Ocean Ferry” partaking as to form somewhat of the features above described for Mr Wilcox’s “Ocean Palace.” The speed said to be possible by Captain Coppin’s vessel is twenty knots an hour, and the terminal ports proposed are Milford Haven and New York. It was announced some time ago that M. Raoul Pictet, the eminent engineer of Geneva, was engaged upon the question of ship design and propulsion, and was in hopes that by application of his ideas he might yet send ships careering over the sea at the rate of thirty-seven miles an hour!

Enough has been said to show that there is no lack of inventive effort being put forth towards a realization of the ideal ships of the future. In a service, however, like that of the Atlantic, where competition is strong and keen, and where the monetary issues are neatly adjusted between rival companies, there is little chance of any of the various projects being tried. An impression exists among shipowners—for which doubtless there are sufficient grounds—that time and capital staked on novelties or “new departures” are simply invitations to defeat in the race or to absolute ruin itself. This commercial prudence and industrial caution has been startled in several ways of recent years—e.g., by meteoric flashes such as the Livadia and Meteor—the ultimate effect of which has been to illumine and make clearer the probable line of advancement.

By pretty general consent of those most competent to judge the ships of the immediate future will possess the broad distinctions of being either purely passenger or purely cargo-carrying mediums. It is equally agreed that twin in place of single screw propellers will be employed, and that for the express ships nothing less than 20 knots per hour will be considered satisfactory. On a subject, however, concerned not with historical facts, but with theories and scientific forecasts, it may be well not to enlarge, especially as the future is evidently charged with possibilities of which present-day designers can have but indefinite notions. The subject of employing electrical energy as the propulsive power on board ship is at the present time engaging serious attention, but the degree of practical and commercial success attained does not, as yet, warrant any anticipation of its immediate application to vessels beyond small craft, such as launches and ferries. In the midst, however, of such immense and marvellous works achieved by this great—and, in some senses, modern—force, it would be both idle and unwise to keep out of view the possibilities of its future as affecting ship propulsion.

List of Papers and Lectures bearing on the speed and propulsive power of modern steamships, to which readers desiring fuller acquaintance with the technique and details of the subject are referred:—

On the Boilers and Engines of Our Future Fleet, by Mr J. Scott Russell: Trans. Inst. N.A., vol. xviii., 1877.

On the Compound Marine Steam Engine, by Mr Arthur Rigg: Trans. Inst. N.A., vol. xi., 1870.

On Compound Engines, by Mr Richard Sennett: Trans. Inst. N.A., vol. xvi., 1875.

On the Progress Effected in the Economy of Fuel in Steam Navigation, Considered in Relation to Compound Cylinder Engines and High Pressure Steam, by Mr F. J. Bramwell; Proceedings Inst. Mech. Engineers, 1872.

Our Commercial Marine Steam Fleet in 1877, by Mr J. R. Ravenhill: Trans. Inst. N.A., vol. xviii., 1877.

On the Steam Trials of H.M.S. Iris, by Mr J. Wright: Trans. Inst. N.A., vol. xx., 1879.

On the Steam Trials of the Satallite AND Conquerer under Forced Draught, by Mr R. J. Butler: Trans. Inst. N.A., vol. xxiv., 1883.

On Combustion of Fuel in Furnaces of Steam Boilers by Natural Draught, and by Supply of Air under Pressure, by Mr James Howden: Trans. Inst. N.A., vol. xxv., 1884.

Propositions on the Motion of Steam Vessels, by Mr Robert Mansel: Trans. Inst. Engineers and Shipbuilders, vol. xix., 1875-76.

On Steamship Efficiency, by Mr Robert Mansel: Trans. Inst. Engineers and Shipbuilders, vol. xxii., 1878-79.

The Comparative Commercial Efficiency of some Steamships, by Mr Jas. Hamilton Jun.: Trans. Inst. Engineers and Shipbuilders, vol. xxv., 1881-82.

The Speed and Form of Steamships Considered in Relation to Length of Voyage, by Mr James Hamilton, Jun.: Trans. Inst. N.A., vol. xxiv., 1882.

On the Comparative Efficiency of Single and Twin Screw Propellers in Deep Draught Ships, by Mr W. H. White: Trans. Inst. N.A., vol. xix., 1878.

On Twin Ship Propulsion by Mr G. C. Mackrow: Trans. Inst. N.A., vol. xx., 1879.

On Marine Steam Boilers: their Design, Construction, Operation, and Wear, by Mr Charles H. Haswell: Trans. Inst. N.A., vol. xviii., 1877.

On the Introduction of the Compound Engine and the Economical Advantages of High Pressure Steam, by Mr Fred. J. Rowan: Tran. Inst. Engineers and Shipbuilders, vol. xxiii., 1879-80.

On Compound Marine Engines with Three Cylinders Working on Two Cranks, by Mr Robert Douglas: Trans. Inst. Engineers and Shipbuilders, vol. xxv., 1881-82.

On the Triple Expansive Engines of the s.s. Aberdeen, by Mr A. C. Kirk: Trans. Inst. N.A., vol. xxiii., 1882.

On the Efficiency of Compound Engines, by Mr W. Parker: Trans. Inst. N.A., vol. xxiii., 1882.

On the Construction and Efficiency of Marine Boilers, by Mr Josiah M‘Gregor: Trans. Inst. Engineers and Shipbuilders, vol. xxiii., 1879-80.

On the Strength of Boilers, by Mr J. Milton: Trans. Inst. N. A., vol. xviii., 1877.

On the Use of Steel for Marine Boilers and some Recent Improvements in their Construction, by Mr W. Parker: Trans. Inst. N.A., vol. xix., 1878.

On the Reaction of the Screw Propeller, by Mr James Howden: Trans. Inst. Engineers and Shipbuilders, vol. xxii., 1878-79.

On the Progress and Development of the Marine Engine, by Mr F. C. Marshall. Proceedings Inst. Mech. Engineers, 1881.

On Some Results of Recent Improvements in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, by Mr William Pearce. Lectures on Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering: Glasgow, William Collins & Sons, 1881.

The Speed and Carrying of Screw Steamers, by Mr William Denny. Lecture delivered to the Greenock Philosophical Society, 20th January, 1882, in honour of the birthday of James Watt (19th Jan.): Greenock, Wm. Hutchison.

On the Advantages of Increased Proportion of Beam to Length in Steamships, by Mr J. H. Biles: Trans. Inst., N.A., vol xxiv., 1883.

Cast Steel as a Material for Crank Shafts, by Mr J. F. Hall, Inst. N.A., vol. xxv., 1884.

CHAPTER III.
SAFETY AND COMFORT OF MODERN STEAMSHIPS.

Every advance—whether it be in dimensions or power of steamships, or whether it consist of modifications in their structure or appointment—toward that ideal period when sea-voyaging will have attained its maximum of comfort and its minimum of risk, is deserving of record. The qualities of safety and comfort, even more than increase of speed and the consequent shortening of sea passages, are first essentials in the realisation of this great end. The structural modifications, and the great development in size of recent vessels, affect the qualities named in ways which already may have been made evident, but which call for more detailed treatment. The more minute watertight sub-division of the hulls of vessels, for instance, and especially the presence of an inner skin or cellular bottom, are marked accessions to their safety.

The primary object and ruling principle of all proper watertight sub-division, is so to limit the space to which water can find access, that in a vessel with one, or even two, compartments open to the sea, the accession of weight due to the filling of these compartments would not exceed the surplus buoyancy she should possess. Until within recent years this was not so fully regarded as it ought, owing chiefly to the objections of shipowners to minute sub-division, as impairing a vessel’s usefulness and capacity for stowage of miscellaneous cargo. These objections have still doubtless much weight for vessels in certain trades, but the tendency of modern passenger traffic to estrange itself from cargo-carrying mediums, makes them almost inapplicable to a large section of our mercantile marine. There is now, indeed, more faith in well divided ships generally as being in the long run no less efficient and more economical than scantily divided ones.

FIG. 5.

FIG. 6.

The salutary influence exerted by the Admiralty, in stipulating for increased sub-division of the hulls of all merchant vessels eligible for state employment in times of war, worthy of special recognition. A few years ago only thirty or forty large steamers in the merchant navy were so constructed, as regards sub-division, that they would have survived for a few minutes the effect of collision with other vessels or of grounding on rocks. Within recent years—greatly owing to the stipulations referred to, and to the desire f shipowners to comply with them for the reasons given—there are few, if any, of the many first-class mail steamers turned out, not so constructed.

FIG. 7.

FIG. 8.

Much valuable information on the subject was given in a paper on “Bulkheads,” read before the Institution of Naval Architects in March, 1883, by Mr James Dunn, of the Admiralty, whose experience in matters relating to the qualification of merchant ships for State employment eminently entitles him to be considered an authority. From diagrams contained in the paper, the effects of good and of inefficient sub-division of vessels are well illustrated. Figs. 5 to 8 in the present work represent some of these. They are concerned with two vessels, in one of which—an actual case—the bulkheads were well placed and cared for, and carried to a reasonable height as shown in Fig. 5; the result of a collision proving that under such conditions they were of immeasurable value, while in the other vessel, although having the same number and a similar disposition of bulkheads, their presence is rendered valueless by their being stopped at or about the water-line, as indicated in Fig. 7. In the first case, a steamer of nearly 5,000 tons, during a fog, ran into the vessel represented by Fig. 5 and 6, striking her abreast of No. 3 bulkhead, and opening up two compartments to the sea. The bulkheads, however, as has been said, were carried to a reasonable height, and the water could not get beyond them—they stood the test—the vessel did not sink, but kept afloat at the trim shown in Fig. 6, and in this condition steamed 300 miles safely into port. The second case—though a suppositionary one merely, yet representative of not a few merchant steamers now afloat—would not be attended with like results should such an accident happen as has been described. In vessels so bulkheaded, the water not being confined to the two holds, numbered 2 and 3, as it was in the previous actual case, would pour over the top of the dwarf bulkhead into the foremost hold, and the ship would soon assume the position indicated in Fig, 8: one not at all favourable, as may be readily believed, for the completion of a voyage to port.

These cases illustrate the value of minute and careful sub-division of the hulls of vessels by watertight bulkheads. Unless, however, the bulkheads are carried a few feet higher than the level of the water outside—and it is to be regretted that this is still not infrequently overlooked or neglected in merchant steamers—they are valueless, and, indeed, had better not be in the ship at all. They will contribute to the loss of the vessel by keeping the water at one end, and carrying her bows under, whereas if they are not fitted, the same volume of water will distribute itself throughout the bottom of the ship fore and aft, preserve the even trim of the vessel, and allow more pumps to cope with the inflow. Although her freeboard, or height of side above water will be reduced, she will still be seaworthy, the boiler fires may be kept burning, and the machinery going, sufficiently long for her to reach a port of safety. Readers appreciating the above considerations will readily see why it is that sailing vessels are usually fitted with only one transverse bulkhead—that near the bow—and understand how it is that the outcry sometimes made by inexperienced people about the absence of other bulkheads in emigrant sailing vessels is for most part unheeded by those on whom the responsibility falls.

From statistics presented in the paper above referred to, it is shown that during a period of six years, ending with December, 1882, the average loss per annum of ships not qualified for the Admiralty list was one in twenty-five; while of ships so qualified the annual average loss was only one in eighty-six. The chances of loss from any cause are thus seen to be nearly four times as great for a ship not constructed to qualify for the Admiralty list as for a vessel entered on that list. During the first four-and-a-half years of the period referred to, not one ship of those entered on the list was lost by collision although a considerable number had been in collision, and escaped foundering by reason of the safety afforded by their bulkheads. During 1882 six casualties happened to ships on the list, one of which—a case of collision—proved fatal. This was a case, however, such as no merchant steamer afloat at the time would have been capable of surviving. The whole of the ship—a small one—was flooded abaft the engine-room, the two after holds being open to the sea. The whole of the losses from the Admiralty list during the period referred to—eleven in number—have been from drifting on rocks, or otherwise getting fixed on shore, with the solitary exception above quoted. In the same period 76 ships have been lost which had been offered for admission to the list, but had not been found qualified; of these 17, or 22½ per cent., were lost by collision; and 10, or 13¼ per cent., were lost by foundering; most of the rest stranded or broke up on rocks. The risk of fatal collision, according to Mr Dunn, is about 1 to 100, irrespective of the class of ship, and the ships on the Admiralty list enjoy almost absolute immunity from loss by this cause.

The foregoing indicates the way in which minute water-tight sub-division has come to be widely regarded. Much requires yet to be done to reach the end desirable, as there are many vessels built prior to the movement sadly deficient in the qualities concerned. The bulkhead near the bow—the “collision” bulkhead, as it is termed—has done noble service in many cases of collision, and it is with reason that its position and structural character in all vessels are subject to special supervision and made a condition of classification in the Registries. Recently it has been made imperative by Lloyd’s Society that vessels over 330 feet long should have two additional water-tight bulkheads extending to the upper deck, in the holds, forward and aft of the machinery compartment. The requirements of this Registry, it may be said, constitute at once an anticipation and a reflex of the needs of merchant ship construction. In water-tight sub-division, as in other matters, the Society and its large staff of able surveyors are “powers which make for” sterling efficiency.

The extended adoption of double bottoms is specially contributory to the safety of vessels in the event of their running over a reef into deep water, or in going ashore. Numerous instances are on record of steamships so constructed sustaining damage to the outer skin, and yet—because of the inner bottom remaining intact and perfectly water-tight—no serious damage resulting. The case of the Great Eastern is an early yet notable example. This great vessel in 1860 ran over a reef of rocks and tore a hole 80 feet long and 10 feet wide in her outer skin, yet, because of this feature in her construction, she was placed in no jeopardy.

In this connection it would seem that even the employment of steel as the constructive material affords safety to a vessel in circumstances which would almost prove fatal to a ship built of iron. The remarkable experience which befell the first steel ocean-going steamer—the Rotomahana, belonging to the Union Steamship Company of New Zealand—may here be recounted. While steaming between Auckland and the Great Barrier Island on New-Year’s-Day, 1880, this vessel struck upon and ran over a sunken rock. She had a large party of pleasure seekers on board, and but for the fact that she was built of such a ductile material as mild steel, the commencement of the year 1880 might have been clouded by a catastrophe which would have spread gloom and sorrow throughout New Zealand, if not over a wider circle. At the earliest possible moment the damaged vessel was docked for examination. The results are effectively summarised in an extract from a letter referring to the accident, written by the managing director of the Company. He says:—“This experience has clearly shown the immense superiority of steel over iron. There is no doubt that had the Rotomahana been of iron, such a rent would have been made in her, that she would have filled in a few minutes.” The starboard bilge for over 20 feet of its length was more or less indented, one plate especially being greatly misshapen between two frames. This plate was removed, hammered, rolled flat again, and replaced—after the frames which had been bent inwards by the force of the grounding had been straightened. No new material except rivets were required for the execution of the repairs. The Rotomahana, as if to show her ability to “laugh at all disasters,” has grounded twice subsequently on the rocky and treacherous coast along which she plies, yet has come out of the ordeal with immunity from positive danger. Her remarkable experience may safely be taken as most convincing evidence of the suitability of mild steel for shipbuilding. Other cases are not wanting, however, in which the same thing is exemplified. One which recently astonished everybody concerned with shipping was that of the Duke of Westminster, a vessel 400 feet in length, built of mild steel by the Barrow Shipbuilding Coy., which lay bumping for a week on stony ground near the Isle of Wight, without making a drop of water. The bottom plating of the Duke of Westminster, as she appeared in dry dock, was corrugated between the frames for more than half the length of the vessel, and yet not a single plate was cracked, nor a rivet started. Another case of an equally striking character is that of the British India Coy.’s steamer India, built by Messrs Denny, of Dumbarton, which went ashore near the mouth of the Thames in December, 1881, and was left high and dry at low water. Her bottom, although forced up about 3 inches over a length of about 40 feet amidships, did not give way, and the vessel, during the period she was aground, did not make a drop of water.

All these are instances of the enhanced safety of ships due to the employment of steel, which ought certainly to be recognised by underwriters in the way of reduced premiums for vessels constructed of this material. One consideration which, it is both curious and sad to say, militates against this result, and which, judging from views entertained by shipowners themselves, stands in the way of the employment of steel, is not its inability but its very efficiency to withstand the results of grounding or other catastrophe. It is argued that while the effects of grounding are less severe in the case of steel, and do not result in fracture or through-piercing because of its great ductility, yet the amount of damage requiring repair is invariably much greater than in the case of iron. This view of the matter—which virtually places pounds, shillings, and pence before the comfort, if not the very lives, of those on board ship—the author feels bound to say, is not, so far as he knows, shared by owners of ships engaged in mail and passenger service, and it cannot surely be entertained by underwriters of any proper discernment.

Safety in ocean steamships, in so far as affected by design, has unquestionably received greater attention at the hands of designers within recent years than formerly. The particular directions in which this is evinced, as well as the causes at work in bringing it about, will be dealt with in the chapter on scientific progress, the object here being to indicate the extent to which the safety of ships is affected by the qualities of their construction and outfit. The general question of seaworthiness, affected as it is by matters almost beyond the province of the marine architect, is in great measure the care of others concerned. The underwriting or insurance societies looking to their own interests, the Board of Trade on behalf of the lieges, and shipowners on their own and their customers’ and servants’ account, are parties on whom responsibility devolves in this connection. The question whether they are duly, and at all times alive to such responsibility, is one very difficult to answer, and cannot be fully dealt with here. Apart from the question of remissness by these bodies, in what are clearly their special duties, there is great difficulty in apportioning the duties and responsibility aright. The Board of Trade have not infrequently received checks when with precautionary motives they have interfered with departments and in matters but little affecting a vessel’s seaworthiness. The conflict which has so long raged and still rages between the Board and the shipowners of Britain regarding the loading of vessels, illustrates, and is indeed the result of, both difficulties. The Merchant Shipping Bill, introduced by Mr Chamberlain, and in a modified form now before Parliament, will, it is hoped, furnish a satisfactory solution of the matter. Shipowners themselves have too often insisted on exercising functions and dictating in matters which only may be determined with propriety and safety by builders or by competent naval architects.

The amount of thorough supervision to which a vessel is subjected while under construction, renders the fear of unseaworthiness, from either defective construction or equipment, the least reasonable of all the fears with which ocean navigation is regarded. It is in later circumstances, and concerning matters of a more extraneous character, that the most justifiable fears may be entertained regarding a vessel’s safety. Overloading, improper stowage, bad management, under-manning, insufficient repair, besides the numerous inevitable and unforeseen circumstances incidental to sea-voyaging, may be instanced as the causes to which the greatest losses are attributable.[4] Few instances of loss from structural defects are adduceable, and even in these, causes of a more or less extraneous character are associated with the loss. On the other hand, instances could be multiplied where vessels sustaining the casualties which rough weather or rank carelessness make always imminent have come out of the ordeal with credit to the constructors. One notable case may be instanced. The Arizona, of the Guion Line, some time after being put on the Atlantic service, while steaming at a speed of 14 knots, and almost in mid-Atlantic, ran into an iceberg of gigantic dimensions, and notwithstanding that the force of the concussion smashed her bows for a length of 20 feet into an unrecognisable mass, she kept afloat, and reached a port of safety.

Where, as has already been indicated, there is such close oversight and thorough supervision—where, indeed, the real interests of every party honestly concerned lie so clearly in the high qualities of construction—nothing short of such results as the foregoing should be expected. The insurance companies, on whom the burden (monetary at least) of loss at sea ultimately falls, see it their interest to know that those registration societies, on whom they rely for guarantee as to a vessel’s structural and general efficiency, are themselves efficient and trustworthy authorities. These societies, known as Lloyd’s, Liverpool Underwriters, and Bureau Veritas, Registries, in spite of the dread as to business rivalry affecting injuriously their standards of classification, have still a high criterion, and enjoy the confidence of insurance societies and shipowners alike.

Shipowners themselves, notwithstanding some examples to the contrary, are, and have always been, anxious and painstaking seekers after thoroughness; not merely mercenary grubs, sacrificing considerations of safety to features promising exemption from tonnage or other registration dues, and perhaps the extinction of a rival. Some of the best British vessels, notably those of the Cunard Line, are unclassed at the registries, but have been built under private survey. The well known boast of the Cunard Company that not a single life has been lost by mishap at sea during their long and extensive service, is eloquent testimony to the care exercised in the construction and management of ships. It is the practice of some companies to effect classification in two, sometimes three, separate registries, and the number of inspectors employed to superintend the work of construction, over and above the surveyors of the registries and the overseers of the firms, is in some instances astonishing. The crowning case of all is that of the building firms themselves—many shipbuilders unquestionably being conscientious and thorough to a degree which simply mocks this great array of supervision.

In the outfit of vessels correspondingly close attention is paid to those features, fixed or portable, which contribute to the safety of the ship and the welfare of passengers. The universal adoption of steam winches for working cargo enables the pumps communicating with the holds to be wrought by steam, through levers attached to the barrel ends of the winches. Special donkey-engine pumps, in addition, are now employed in all the higher class vessels, and automatic means of registering the quantity of water in the holds are beginning to be introduced. Provision against outbreaks of fire, no less than against foundering, has been receiving greater attention than formerly. Many of the first-class mail steamships are fitted with fire-pipes leading to every compartment, and which convey at the turning of a valve a charge of steam sufficient to extinguish the most serious outbreak. Lowering and detaching gear for life-boats is now a necessary part of every first-class steamer’s equipment. Over a dozen different apparatuses for effecting this very important purpose are at present in the market, some of which are admirably adapted for safe and speedy working, even in the hurry and panic which too often accompanies cases of shipwreck.

Important as these devices are for saving life and property in event of casualty, the appliances which contribute to the prevention of casualty at all, are perhaps more so. This is a gradually increasing and improving element in ships’ outfit. Conspicuous among this class of articles are navigational instruments, and of these perhaps the most noteworthy are the instruments with which the name of Sir William Thomson is associated, although many others, in use or awaiting adoption, and designed for equally important purposes, might be referred to, did space permit.

Within the period covered by this review, this eminent inventor has introduced an instrument which enables soundings to be taken while vessels are going at full speed, at depths of 100 fathoms and under. The sounding line adopted is a fine steel wire, such as is used by pianoforte makers, which passes through the water with very little resistance, and can be sent to the bottom by a light weight or sinker, even when the ship is going full speed. Fastened to a short length of rope, near the sinker, there is a brass tube, in which is placed a glass tube two feet long, closed at one end and open at the other. This glass tube is coated inside with chromate of silver. As the sinker goes down, the air in the tube becomes compressed, and sea water rises up inside, the height to which it rises depending on the depth, from the surface, to which the glass tube goes down. As the sea water rises in the tube, the salt of the water acts on the chromate of silver and changes the colour from red to white; thus a mark is left on the glass tube showing the height to which the sea water rises, from which the actual depth may be at once measured by a prepared scale. By means of this sounding machine a ship can feel her way round a coast in a fog without reducing speed. In later instruments the inventor has devised another form of automatic gauge, which obviates the use of glass tubes, and is a decided improvement on the gauge here described.

The well-known Improved Mariner’s Compass introduced by Sir W. Thomson enables the magnetism of the ship to be completely corrected instead of only approximately. This is attained by the use of several small needles instead of one or two large ones. The requisite steadiness of the compass card is obtained by means of an aluminium rim suspended round the edge of the card. The extreme lightness of the card reduces greatly the wear of the needle point supporting the compass. Along with the compass the inventor supplies an azimuth mirror which greatly facilitates observations either on a point of land or on a star, the whole invention proving from experience an almost indispensable item of outfit for well-appointed vessels.

The care and ingenuity expended on the question of ship safety must not, however, be measured simply by the amount of attention and skill exercised in constructing and outfitting vessels of the common type. The question has very naturally occasioned many distinct novelties in ship design. Some of these have been directly designed to secure safety, but the greater number have aimed at combining with safety the other qualities of speed and comfort; as in the instances given in the previous chapter. The success attained in practice, it need scarcely be said, has hitherto been but partial.

The problem of rendering ships absolutely unsinkable has, from very early times, received attention from many concerned in shipbuilding and navigation. Propositions and trials have been made from time to time, without as yet any very marked success attending any of them. Various plans have been submitted for safety-ships, the general principle of which consists in forming the ship into two or more distinct and entire portions, and in the event of one sustaining damage by collision or otherwise, those remaining to be disconnected and sent adrift—presumably with all passengers on board.

Other life-saving devices, while interfering somewhat with the original structure, have simply been intended to use or modify existing features or material on board ship. Two of these which have received attention from the Scientific Societies may be shortly described as examples of the class of devices referred to. One was the proposition of Mr Jolly, M.A., of the Royal Navy, laid before the Institution of Naval Architects in 1874; the other being that of Mr Gadd, submitted to the Manchester Mechanical Society in 1879. Mr Jolly’s proposal was to construct what he felicitously termed the “ark saloon,” an erection on the upper deck, and resembling very closely an ordinary deck-house, but instead of being built permanently on the vessel, it was to be an independent structure capable of being readily disconnected, and “while answering all the purposes of accommodation found in ordinary deck-houses, to have within it hidden resources capable of converting it when afloat into a perfectly navigable vessel.” Mr Gadd’s proposal was to form the upper portion of the bulwarks of ships of loose sections 12-ft. long, composed chiefly of hollow, thin metallic tubes. These sections when immersed in the water would form so many pontoons, and would be provided with cords and loops along their sides, and in the event of the ship going down would be lifted out of their place by the action of the water. Objections on economical grounds to Mr Jolly’s scheme, fully pointed out by members of the Institute, apply almost equally to the proposal of Mr Gadd. The expense involved in their application would far outbalance in the eyes of the shipowner the possible service they could render. No provision was made by Mr Jolly for launching his ark saloon, thereby limiting its use to cases of foundering; and even in event of this, the “ark” was only to be so in name until the good ship should “go under,” and leave the saloon serenely floating—presumably with all souls inside. The difficulty in Mr Gadd’s proposal, of at once making the bulwarks easily floatable and structurally efficient for the resistance of heavy seas, seriously detracted from its feasibility.

It would be a somewhat heavy task to make adequate note of all the varied proposals and patented inventions for the preservation of life at sea. Some of these, as in the foregoing instances, are proposals affecting structural features; but others, and by far the most numerous, are simply adjuncts to the vessel. Ingenuity has been specially directed of late towards bringing into efficient requisition, in event of impending shipwreck, the commonest items of a ship’s outfit. This has been abundantly evidenced in the several naval exhibitions held within the past three years in various parts of the country. Firms whose work lies in cork and Indiarubber manufactures have there exhibited in great profusion various forms of life-belts, life-buoys, life-saving mattresses and pillows, and life-saving dresses. Others, availing themselves of larger items, have shown life-saving adaptations of deck-seats, deck-houses, and bulwarks made into the form of life-rafts. Not a few of these devices have received adoption in our passenger-carrying steamships, and their more general use—especially if accompanied by proper knowledge of how they may best be taken advantage of—would materially help to rob shipwreck of some of its terrors at least, if not of its dire fatalities. It has been urged in this connection—and the plea is eminently reasonable—that Parliament should invest the Board of Trade with proper powers—if that Body is not already vested with all that is requisite—to take the matter of life-saving appliances thoroughly and practically in hand, and by means of experiments in all kinds of weather to determine which are the best means of saving life under different conditions. Having done this, also to draw up rules for the proper stowage and use of such appliances on board ship, and to see that such rules are strictly observed, and that no vessel be permitted to go to sea which is not so equipped.

The development in the size of steamships not only affects the quality of safety, but also in various ways the element of comfort at sea. The greater length, for instance, is calculated to neutralise the longitudinal oscillation, the effects of which are so often fatal to the comfort of passengers. Again, the great length affords an advantage in the way of allowing better state-room accommodation; all the rooms, or a larger proportion of them, being next the vessel’s side, and consequently more airy and better lighted. It is not, however, in the increased length so much as in the development of all three dimensions, and especially in the increased ratio of breadth to length, that modern types of steamships are enhanced in the qualities of safety and comfort. Mistaken or imperfect notions as to the ratio most desirable for speed, have kept in perpetuity types of steamers which the fuller light of modern scientific investigation has shown to be undesirable. Great beam is now believed to be not incompatible with great speed, and even apart from questions of speed the advantages accruing from breadth are better appreciated.

As an illustration of this movement, one of the more recent of the many transatlantic mail steamships may be instanced. In the Aurania, of the Cunard Company, the proportions—although perhaps only in the line along which modern professional ideas tend—are certainly in advance of the general practice with regard to vessels of her great size. The dimensions of the Servia, the Alaska, and the City of Rome—three vessels comparable with the Aurania as constituting the largest merchant vessels afloat—all give a proportion of 10 beams to the length. The Aurania’s dimensions—470 feet by 57 feet by 39 feet—show her to have only about 8¼ beams to length. The success of the older type of vessel having proportions somewhat similar to this “modern instance” has in no material sense been eclipsed by the narrow types which subsequently for so long prevailed. Availing themselves of that freedom which independence of the registration societies yield—their vessels not being “classed”—the Cunard Coy determined to adopt the old-time proportions. The step has been justified, in so far as affected by the matter of speed, the powerful vessel, at her trials on the Clyde, having attained a mean speed of 17¾ knots, or 20½ statute miles, per hour. The stable qualities due to the great breadth of the Aurania has in actual service further confirmed the wisdom of the change. The magnificent vessels presently building on the Clyde for the Cunard Coy., though between 20 and 30 feet longer, are the same breadth as the Aurania, i.e., 57 feet. This is accounted for by the fact that the breadth of beam fixed for the Aurania was the largest amount permissible, having regard to the breadth of entrance of the largest dock in New York. This en passant is worthy of notice as giving colourable justification to the complaints sometimes made that civil engineers are urged to progress in dock accommodation only by shipbuilders treading on their heels.

Coincident with the changes made in the dimensions and structure of vessels, there are numerous features of enhanced comfort for passengers and crew which are deserving of notice. Notably is this manifest in the arrangement of saloons and state-rooms—their appointment, lighting, and ventilation. The character of steamships for the great ocean highways in this respect is above and beyond anything which Board of Trade enactments seek to secure. The amount of spirited competition itself on those services, acts as an efficient promoter of excellence in design and equipment.

It is now the prevailing fashion to appropriate that part of a steamer just before the engine and boiler hatchways for the principal saloon and first-class berthing, and it has so many advantages over the old plan of locating these apartments in the poop or after extremity of the vessel that its adoption in large steamers of the passenger-carrying trade has become all but general. Some of these advantages may be briefly enumerated. They are:—ampler and airier saloon space: the plumbness of the vessel’s sides permitting a saloon completely athwartship, which is scarcely practicable in the conventional situation aft, because of the curvature of sides; increased facilities for ventilation; purer air; freedom from the noise and vibration caused by propeller; comparative immunity from the effects of “pitching” or longitudinal oscillation.

Nothing, perhaps, in connection with improved saloon accommodation strikes one so much as the increased height between decks now prevalent. While from six-and-a-half to seven-and-a-half feet was considered sufficient some years ago, it is now the practice in first-class steamers to make the height as much as from eight-and-a-half to nine-and-a-half feet. The feeling of spaciousness this change contributes to the saloons, as well as the scope it yields for architectural treatment of the walls, are not the least gratifying results of the improvement. How much the latter result has been taken advantage of in our modern passenger steamships need scarcely be told, as their architectural and decorative character is often and eloquently enlarged upon by delighted voyagers.

FIG. 9.

LONGITUDINAL SECTION OF GRAND SALOON IN S.S. America, SHOWING DOME-ROOF.

A noteworthy feature in improved saloon accommodation is the provision of music rooms or social halls, which are usually situated above the dining saloons, and connected or made one therewith by means of light and ventilation wells placed in the centre. The size and ornamentation of these, and the light and air they are the means of admitting, contribute in a very marked degree to the spaciousness, beauty, and comfort of the main saloon. By recent special modifications in the deck structure, several builders on the Clyde—notably Messrs J. & G. Thomson—are rendering this feature of greater value than ever. In the National Line Steamship America, just finished by the firm named and to which attention has already been directed, the Grand Saloon is a splendid apartment, extending from side to side of the vessel, and measures over eighty feet in length. Its size and height are augmented in a remarkable degree by the fitting of a dome-roof extending in height through two tiers of decks, and embracing about half the length of saloon. This feature—some conception of which may be gathered from the sketches shown by Figs. 9 and 10, is altogether free of athwartship beams, and practically gives to the saloon a clear height of 18 feet. The crown of the dome is formed of beautifully-executed stained glass, finished round its base in a richly coloured frieze formed of panels containing well-executed oil paintings. The whole feature, for structure, ampleness, and ornamentation, is a noteworthy advance in the way of rendering the saloons of steamships more comfortable—not to say palatial—and reflects the utmost credit on the building firm.

FIG. 10.

CROSS SECTION OF GRAND SALOON IN S.S. America, SHOWING DOME-ROOF.

In several vessels built within recent years on the Clyde there has been adopted—in addition to the athwartship middle length saloon, a curious and complete reversal of the traditional arrangement with respect to accommodation for the crew. The plan, one would think, must shock the orthodox sentiment of our seamen, whatever they may think of its utility. A few strokes of the draughtsman’s pencil, and per saltum “Jack” and his “castle” are transported to the poop, and the precincts so long sacred to his use are prostituted to the lounge and the tobacco pipe of the pampered “land-lubber”—i.e., they form a luxuriant smoking saloon for passengers.

Of the multifarious ways in which modern invention and skill are laid under contribution to the end that voyagers shall have the maximum of safety and comfort on board ship, the system of electric lighting now so extensively adopted is not the least noteworthy. It is only about three years ago since the application of the incandescent form of electric lamp on board ship was first tried. The success of the system and its rapid extension during the subsequent period has been remarkable, and is a matter upon which electricians, shipowners, and sea voyagers are alike to be congratulated. In every well-appointed passenger ship for ocean service, the electric light has already supplanted the former method of lighting the saloons, state-rooms, and machinery spaces, by means of oil lamps, which has so often proved a fruitful source of annoyance to passengers and crew, if not, indeed, of positive danger to the vessel herself.

The advantages of the change are such as constitute the electric light an invaluable acquisition on board every modern passenger steamship. The light gives off very little heat, there is no smell, no products of combustion to produce headaches and sickness. No matches are required, and the danger from fire is absolutely reduced to a minimum. The light requires little or no attention on the part of stewards, for it is only requisite that a man be sent round once a day to see whether any of the lamps require renewal, and the renewal of a lamp is performed as simply as trimming the wick of an oil lamp or placing a fresh candle into a candlestick. The danger, annoyance and time, formerly spent in storing up and dealing out large quantities of paraffin or other oils, are completely obviated. The lamps are as easily subject to the control of the passenger as ordinary gas jets. Instead of the flickering and somewhat clumsy oil lamps, the electric system presents, encased in neat, tiny, glass globes, a steady, mellow white light, the adaptability of which to any conceivable position or design is one of its most beautiful properties. The artistic grouping of the electric incandescent lamps, and their combination with the architectural features of saloons, are matters to which the forms adopted for the best known lamps—the Edison & Swan types—specially lend themselves. A single Edison lamp is shown by Fig. 11.

The work in electric lighting on board ship for the year 1883 shows how firmly the electric system has become established as the only system for first-class passenger vessels. The report of the Edison & Swan United Companies embraces the work on thirty-one vessels, including three Indian troopships (and four more on order), four vessels for the Clan Line, one for the Peninsular and Oriental Company, one for the Union Steamship Company, three for the Cunard Company, three for the British India Steam Navigation Company, three for the New Zealand Shipping Company, and so on. The list of Messrs Siemens Brothers amounts to twenty high-class vessels, including the Arizona, the Servia, the Aurania, the City of Rome, the City of Chicago, the Austral, the Germanic, and the Massilia. These two firms thus give fifty-one vessels, and adding those entrusted to outsiders—four in all—affords a total of fifty-five, representing an aggregate of not less than 11,000 incandescent lamps.

FIG. 11.

EDISON LAMP.

The application of the electric light on board ship to the purposes of signalling, as a substitute for the ordinary system of oil lanterns, has been fully shown in theory and already partially effected in practice, but its development in this direction is necessarily retarded by considerations which do not affect its use in the interior of vessels. Vessels traversing the ocean in darkness are necessarily dependent one on the other for the means of knowing their proximity, and as the electric light much exceeds in power and brilliancy that of oil lanterns, it would have the effect of eclipsing the latter even within a large radius. The adoption of the electric light for this very important purpose would, therefore, have to be pretty much a simultaneous and general movement throughout the ships of the various companies, if not of the various nations. Apart from such considerations, however, other objections have been instanced to the appropriation of the electric light for this purpose. Difficulty, it is said, has been experienced in distinguishing the colours pertaining to the port and starboard side-lights, and fears are entertained regarding the liability of the light, or the machinery employed in generating the current, to suddenly fail in its action. Few of the objections named, of course, amount to very serious obstacles, and as the system is yet so much in its infancy, it may well happen that a few years will witness all that is here foreshadowed.