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338 tion in the merchant marine is de- pendent upon the development of a satisfactory speed-reducing gear to bridge over the gap between the high rotative speed of the turbine and the low speed at which the best propeller efficiency is had in merchant. ships, we think its day will be long delayed, not because such a gear may not be forthcoming but because of the consequent introduction of a feature bristling with trouble at point, which might be well enough a critical ashore, but has no proper place aboard ship. THE WESTINGHOUSE PROPEL- LER EXPERIMENTS. It has often happened that the by- product of a set of experiments has proved to be of as high or higher value than the George subject under investigation. Westinghouse, starting out on experimental investigations for an entirely different purpose, and with char- acteristic thoroughness overlooking no detail, develops some valuable informa- tion on that perplexing and imperfectly understood subject, the screw propeller, which, if followed up, as it doubtless will be, may greatly enlarge our knowl- edge of it. For thrust is developed along the center line instance, he discovers that no 'of the driving face, but rather the con- trary, a phenomenon in itself full of incentive to further research. The remarkable falling off in effici- ency, amounting to 50 per cent with an area reduction of probably not over 25 per cent, is in line with the results obtained by others with certain types, but it is safe to say that no one has ever assumed that at any point in the wake within the disk area of the pro- peller a. negative pressure existed. To be sure a tip velocity of 12,000 ft. per minute is beyond any standard propeller practice, but it is too soon to say that succeeding experiments may not dem- There is ample food for thought and warrant onstrate that it is permissible. for further investigation in the inter- esting facts so far developed. It is stated on apparently good authority that Rear Admiral Melville, late Engineer-in-Chief of the Navy, Tae MarRINE nRevizw has been associated with Mr. West- inghouse in these experiments. A NATIONAL DISGRACE. Elsewhere in this issue will be found a brief description of the new Japan- ese trans-Pacific liner Tacoma Maru... The vessel was built in Japan and is manned completely by Japanese officers and men. The Tacoma Maru is a cred- of «the energy and it to the merchant marine world and to the skill, business foresight of the Japanese na- tion. So far as the Japanese are con- cerned with the building and navi- gating of these steamers THE MARINE Review has nothing to offer except its highest compliments. - But as patriotic Americans we must deeply deplore those conditions that have made it necessary for the fleet which connects the western terminus of a great American railroad with the far east to be built in a foreign land and operated under a foreign flag. The construction of the Chicago, Mil- waukee & Puget Sound railway from the Mississippi Pacific coast is a triumph of American capital, valley to the engineering genius and business ability But that the ocean feeder this great system shou'd be under foreign control is a disgrace to the American for flag. In building the Tacoma Maru and Seattle Maru in Japan, the Chicago, Milwaukee & Puget "Sound take advantage of Japanese construc- interests tion bounties. In operating these ves- sels under the Japanese flag, the fleet subsidies from the Japanese which ing expenses and enable receives government, reduce its operat- it tO assist in still further crushing the life out of American shipping on the Pacific. We have no quarrel with the American To operate these vessels under the Arneri- railroad interests in this matter. can flag without government aid would be financial suicide. Our quarrel is with the congress that allows such conditions to exist and with certain middle west legislators in particular, perceive the great national loss that the construc- tion of these vessels * who, apparently cannot and others en- September, 1909 stead fastly tails, and who refuse to in remedying matters. the assist operation of the Japanese splendid training How generously this fleet will enrich capitalists! | What ships for the Japanese navy these ves- gels are! What excellent coliiers or transports they would be in time of war! ° Will we never wake up? NEW STEAMSHIP LINES TO THE ISTHMUS. Bernard N. Baker of Baltimore who has, at the instance of President Taft, been investigating the matter. of freight rates over the Panama railroad, owned by the United States govern- ment, has prepared his final report to the President bearing on the alleged discriminations of the Panama rail- road and Panama Steamship company against American commerce crossing the Isthmus. In this report Mr. Baker recom- mends that the government, by the aid of the mail service contracts, encou- rage the establishment of an indepen- dent line or lines of steamers on each coast, which shall connect with the Panama railroad. The plan proposed is sive and does not, as has been urged, contemplate that the governmert shall enter the steamship business. It sim- ply provides that by means of postal contracts one line of new and up-to- date steamers shall be established on the west coast, connecting Seattle, Portland, San: Francisco and San Diego with Panama, and on the east connecting New York and New Or- leans with Colon. These two lines would, of course, use the Panama railroad for -trans- shipments and Mr. Baker urges that the government establish a flat rate across the Isthmus for all shipments, whatever their origin. This, he argues, would remove the prerating systems which are now used to foster foreign commerce and which he claims now places American ship- pers out of the running, so far as pos- sible competition is concerned. Mr. Baker believes that the mail contracts will be sufficient encourage- ment to money interests to establish tie new steamefs. He says that he has no interest and will have no finan- cial interest in any line which may be started, but that he has assurances that the money will be forthcoming if the present administration will exer- cise its rights under the postal laws and award the mail contracts as out- lined above. comprehen-