FUTURE STEAM SPEEDS AT SEA.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 8684, 1 December 1899, Page 4

FUTURE STEAM SPEEDS AT SEA.

As to the speed of the future, I remember reading an article on mechanical impossibilities written about twenty-five years ago. It was well written, and possibly it was generally correct, but one operation, which was cited as impossible of accomplishment, was that of propelling a steamer at the rate of twenty-five miles an hour across the ocean. At that time the Atlantic had never been crossed by a screw steamer at so high a rate as fifteen miles an hour, the Scotia being the fastest liner in those days, she having crossed the Atlantio at an average rate of 14 1-3 knots. Steaming across the ocean at the rate of twenty-five miles an hour might, therefore, well have been looked upon at that date as imposible, but to-day there are steamers which have reached that speed, und ther6 are others in course of construction which may probabiy exceed that rate ucross the Atlantic. Although, roughly speaking, the power required to propel a steamer varies with the cube of the speed, yet before a third of the next century expires, another increase of at least 50 per cent, in ocean speed may safely be prophesied. How this is to be accomplished itwould be too hazardous to attempt to surmiso; but I may point out how I think it will be done, and that is by carrying aud handling 5000 toua of bunker coals in a hull drawing nearly 50 feet of water. The model of the ocean mail steamer of the next century will probably be that of a very much enlarged "destroyer" of great breadth and length and small draught of water forward. Lighter and stronger materials will compose the structure, which may be moved by multiple propollucs, possibly working in a tunnel, so that a number of wheels could be worked by separate Bhafts, actuated by rotary motors, as the size of screw shafts and engines even now under construction are perilously large, or the motive power may be produced by compressed air or gas. Then, the form of at least resistance probably being discovered, the hull, broad und light in comparison with the augmented dimensions, will rise on top of the waves rather than pass through theip. The rolling and pitching may be more severe than at present, but with improved cabins and a shortened voyage, the difference may not be noticed. The construction of a steamer of 65,000 tons will probably not trouble the constructors of the future nearly as much as did the building of the Great Eastern thoso of the past. There will be infinitely less labor, both mental and physical, than was required for the construction of a great ship iv those days.— J. R. Oldham in Cassier's Alugazine.

Mr Tom Pollard gave a matinee performance of the "Belle of New York " at Auckland the other day, and handed the gross receipts over to the Transvaal War Fund.