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frames, beams and floors is adopted; the whole framework also is brought into play to resist breaking or bending. Messrs. Craggs & Sons have already be- gun building on this new system, and it is understood that several eminent east coast and Scotch firms of ship builders are negotiating to adopt the system under license from the patentees. ELECTRIC PROPULSION OF STEAMERS. An important proposal for the elec- gattical propulsion of ships has been laid before the Scottish Institute of Electrical Henry A, Mayor, a well-known authority on this Engineers at Glasgow by and kindred questions. Mr. Mayor says the steam turbine suggests a new starting point for re-examination of the problem of marine propulsion. The underlying principle of the proposal is the use of a high speed turbine running at.a uniform velocity for all speeds of the ship, and driving a dynamo from which electrical power is taken to a variable speed motor or motors coupled direct to the shafts of propellers of maximum efficiency. The dynamo and motor here occupy an in- termediate position between the power and the work, and in effect constitute a gearing which can submit to modifica- tions of its own characteristics to meet the characteristics on the one hand of the prime mover, and, on the other hand of the machinery to be operated. In regard to the objections hitherto urged against alternating currents, Mr. Mayor claims to have overcome them. The application of his system, he con- tends, would render the motor available for a great variety of industrial purposes, as it enables three speeds to be obtained without:any loss of efficiency. He gives a comparison of a 1,700-H. P. steam tur- bine with three propellers and a speed of 2034 knots, and the same with an in- In the first instance the propellers are 8 ft. 1%4 termediate electric equipment. in. in diameter, and the speed of revolu- tions 377 per minute. This gives on working out a probable maximum effi- With the electric motor interposed between the steam tur- ciency of 62 per cent. bine and the shaft drive, the propeller blade would be about 14 ft. in diameter, the speed 140 revolutions per minute, and an efficiency of not less than 70 per TAE MaRINE REVIEW cent an improvement, Mr. Mayor. holds, which would be,more than sufficient. to cover the loss in the electric motors. OFFICER IN THE MAKING. of the White Star: Line to place in -commission 4 THE DECK The recent decision training ship for mercantile marine officers is the outcome of investiga- tions extending over some period on the diminishing supply of suitable of- ficers for the large steamship lines. There is scarcely a trans-Atlantic line which has not, during the past year, added one ship or more to its fleet. When one considers that it does not seem so many years--in fact, we are not as yet afraid to count them-- since the Teutonic and Majestic were. the crack: ships of- the White < Star Line, and ranked with the finest the trans-Atlantic ferry could show in speed, comfort and accommodation, the rapidity with which this popular line has added to its fleet, and the in- creasing size of each forthcoming ma- rine leviathan, is a notable example of what can be done by one company in meeting the demand for greater ac- commodation for each class of pass- enger. The demand for large and fast ships, however, means a corresponding de- mand for suitable Officers. The pass- ing of the sailing ship, through pref- erence for steam-driven freighters, means a rapid decrease in the number of apprentice berths and the opportu- nities of learning seamanship with an eye to a captaincy. It has been said .that while the ordinary apprentice training on sailing vessels has much to commend it, many apprentices have to perform tasks of a very menial de- scription, neither useful for a seaman's training nor possessing any advantages educationally. The apprentice, how- ever, performed the tasks set for him as all in the day's work, and, in later years, 'does not seem to be any the less an officer and gentleman through having had to rough it in the earlier days of his career. There can be no doubt Of the ad- vantages to be derived from a cadet training, such as the White Star con- templates. The menial tasks afore- 23 mentioned have deterred many young f men who have enjoyed the benefits, ey higher education from embracing sea- faring as a profession. On the train- ing ship the cadets will be carefully instructed in the hands of an efficient nautical and educational staff, and will follow a systematic course of prepara- The board of trade has issued regulations tion, cadets who have had four years' instruction special granting on recognized training ships the privi- lege of sitting for examination as sec- ond mate; the apprenticeship on the Mersey will be for four years. The Mersey is a Clyde-built clipper ship 271 ft. in length and of 1,829 tons The staff of the ship will consist of register. commander, chief mate, first mate, second mate, surgeon, head master (nautical) and assistant mas- _ There will be a full staff of petty officers and a number of able- bodied seamen. Tet; The Mersey has ac- commodations for about 60 cadets and has been overhauled and refitted for The White Star Line is to 'be.commended in thus taking the this service. initial step toward insuring the supply of efficient deck officers in the future; that is, so far as the British flag is concerned, The large German lines have used this system for a number of years. COMPRESSED AIR IN BRITISH AND AMERICAN SHIP- YARDS. The progress in the use of pneu- matic appliances in ship building in this country and particularly in the of. the Great Lakes~ is brought out in a somewhat startling ship yards manner by consideration of an arti- in London Engineering of June 12 treating of the improvements at the yard of Harland & Wolff at Bel- fast which has long occupied the premier position among the _ ship The yard has evidently been undergoing material cle yards of the world. modifications and improvements, but the point we wish to draw attention to is the great disparity in the vol- ume of compressed air to be supplied even under the new conditions as compared with typical lake yards. The yard compressors at the Belfast