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The Limit of the Human Equation.

1 On 17th June Governor Hughes, of New York, approved the bill of Senator Page amending the penal code so as to make it a misdemeanour for any railroad to permit " any employee engaged in or connected with the movement of any train to remain on duty more than sixteen consecutive hours, or to require or permit any such employee who has been on duty sixteen consecutive hours to go on duty without having had at least ten hours off duty, or to require or permit any such employee who has been on duty sixteen hours in the aggregate in any twenty-four-hour period to continue or duty, or to go on duty, without having had at least eight hours off duty, within such twenty-four-hour period ; except when, by casualty occurring after such employee has started on his trip, or by unknown casualty occurring before he started on his trip, and except when, by accident, or unexpected delay of train scheduled to make connection with the train on which such employee is serving, he is prevented from reaching his terminal."

Evidence exists that a work similar to the famous Simplon tunnel, but on a smaller scale, was executed some 24 centuries ago. Owing to the bad state of the water-supply of Jerusalem, says the Iron Ag^, the king ordered a reservoir to be made at the gates of the city, to which water was to be brought from various springs. The Shiloh tunnel, by means of which water was brought down from a source to the east of Jerusalem and poured into tbe pool of Siloam, was 1080 feet long, and in a straight line. It has been learned that woik was commenced at both ends of the tunnel, and the direction altered a number of times. The floor of the tunnel is finished with great care. The width varies from 1.9 to 3 feet and the height from 3 to 9 feet. There is much speculation as to how these engineers gauged theii direction so well as to be able to recognise and correct errors in alignment, as was certainly done. The Mohawk, ocean-going torpedo boat destroyer, built by Messrs. J. Samuel WHte and Co., Limited. East Cowes. Isle of Wight, for the navy, ran an official trial on the Maplin Mile on Tuesday, sth No\ ember, obtaining a mean speed of 34.3 knots. This is 1.3 knot in excess of the contract speed of 33 knots, which, considering the high basis speed, is a most remarkable result. The oil-fuel consumption was very satisfactory. The following are the principal particulars of the ship — Length, 270 it. ; displacement, 800 tons ; armament, 3 12-pr. qi. guns ; 2 18 in. revolving torpedo tubes ; speed to be maintained on a six-hours' full-power trial, 33 knots ; radius of action at economical speeds, 1500 nautical miles. The vessel is propelled by turbine machinery, comprising five turbines (three ahead and two astern), driving three shafts and propellers, built by Messrs. J. S White and Co., Limited, under license from the Parsons Marine Steam Turbine Company, the powe r of the machinery being about 14,500 i.h.f. The steam is supplied by six water-tube boilers, each of about 2400 h.p., of the White-Forster type, made by the same firm. These boilers are fired by liquid fuel on a S3 stem which has been experimented with successfully by the Admiralty for some years. No coal storage is provided in the vessel, and she will rely entirely on tbe liquid fuel installation. The official speed trial took place on Friday, and was very successful. The mean speed obtained on the mile was 34.5 knots, and on a continuous six hours' run 34.25 knots.

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Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/P19080201.2.40

Bibliographic details

Progress, Volume III, Issue 4, 1 February 1908, Page 127

Word Count
618

The Limit of the Human Equation. Progress, Volume III, Issue 4, 1 February 1908, Page 127

The Limit of the Human Equation. Progress, Volume III, Issue 4, 1 February 1908, Page 127