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50 MARINE REVIEW Reviews of Late Books Marine Engineering in Theory and Practice by Commander S. G. Wheeler R. N.; cloth, two volumes, 182 pages in volume 1, 6 x 9% inches; published by Crosby, Lockwood and Son, Lon- don, and volume 1 furnished by MARINE REVIEW for $4.00 postpaid and in Europe by the Penton Publishing Co., Ltd., Caxton House, London, for 18 shillings net. Volume 1 of the work under review - here, though intended to be an ele- mentary discussion of the theory and practice of marine engineering, is a complete text book on heat engines and mechanical engineering in connec- tion with them. Steam engines, boil- ers, turbines, internal combustion en- gines and auxiliary machinery are covered both in their general appli- eation and with particular reference to type used and practice at sea. There is a special chapter devoted to metals and the strength of ma- terials, written by Lieut. Commander G. C. Malden, R. N., who is lecturer in metallurgy and applied mechanics, Royal Naval Engineering College at Devonport. The ground covered in this book is applicable to engineering in the merchant service as well as the British navy. Where an impor- tant principle is elucidated even land practice is sometimes referred to. This book fills to a worthy extent the real gap in marine engineering literature of recent years. The first volume contains more elementary the- ory than the second but deals with reciprocating engines and turbines in a practical as well as a theoretical manner. The second volume, while mainly concerned with practice also deals appropriately with theory. The steam turbine is dealt with thorough- ly. Internal combustion engines, air pumps, condenser arrangements, and other auxiliary machinery are also fully covered. Treatment of engine room arrangements applicable to the merchant as well as the naval service is discussed. Any marine engineer desirous of improving his own knowl- edge and experience will find this book of real value. * * * Die Binnenschiffahrt der Vereinig- ten Staaten von Amerika, by Dr. Ernst Esch, director of the Institute of Transportation of the University of Cologne. Published by G. A. Gloeck- ner, Leipzig, Germany. 3 Marks 70. 136 pages. Illustrated. Approxi- mately 6x9 inches. Furnished by MARINE REVIEW for $2.00 net and in Europe by the Penton Publishing Co. ical, Zeitschrift Ltd., Caxton House, London, for 10 shillings net. Reviewed by R. S. MacElwee This concise study of the American inland waterways problems is the re- sult of an extensive trip made by the author through the United States in 1924 and is the first of a series of publications to be expected as the fruit of these firsthand studies. The others will doubtless appear or show their influence in the author’s period- fur Verkehrswissen- schaft. — Dr. Esch has condensed into most compact form all of the most essen- tial elements of our extensive inland waterway problem. He has done so with a combination of keen insight and understanding of the prominent features of the subject matter with an orderliness of arrangement that shows a master craftsman in trans- portation literature. The reviewer himself has indefinitely postponed an effort to produce a volume upon in- land waterways because of the appar- ently hopeless mass of undigested ma- terial that he has accumulated. There- fore, he appreciates keenly the ability of his colleague to pick out the essen- tials and arrange them in an orderly _ manner in the compass of 1386 pages. Short chapters carry the following captions: History of the development of canal and river traffic. Reasons for the decline of waterborne traf- fic. Inland water traffic since the middle of the nineteenth century. The great divisions, size of the groups, and totals of volumes of tonnage of inland waterways. Principal inland waterways of the Atlantic Coast, Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific Coast and Central Mississippi. Great Lakes. The river and canal territory of the Mississippi. The river and canal ter- ritory of the State of New York. The Federal Government and inland waterways. Private organizations for the promotion of inland waterways. Plans for future extension of the in- land waterways of the United States. The tendency toward closer co-opera- tion between inland -waterways and railroads. Passenger traffic on in- land waterways. Summary of the prospects for the development of in- land waterways. In this portion will be found: Stat- istics of traffic on rivers of the United States, 1922-23. Statistics of canal traffic in the United States, 1922-23. Collection of photographs. Map of October, 1926 the United States. Map of the inland waterways of the United States east of the Mississippi. Three pages of bibliography. It is regretted that the author has not given us the benefit of more criti- cism. Here is an opportunity to have the opinions of the director of a school of transporattion at a university situ- ated at Cologne, a city which is syn- onymous with river traffic on a large scale since the early Middle Ages, and past whose gates probably the most efficient system of river commerce flows daily. However, the author’s object is to summarize the existing conditions with a few words descrip- tive of a tendency. of development. Also, he probably had some delicacy about expressing too frank an opin- ion as a guest in a foreign country. Some of the author’s remarks, how- ever, are very interesting. For in- stance, the following on page 74, “Comparatively small development of canal traffic is astonishing in view of the fact that other available means of transportation are no longer in a posi- tion to take care of the gigantic growth of the traffic in the country. Especially since, as is the case in most branches of economic life in the United States, these means of trans- portation are given, not for the com- mon weal, but for their own aims and interests and the competition between them often leads to disadvantages to the . shipper. ii... It is difficult to point out in detail the reasons why the canal (the New York barge canal) to date has not reached expectations. To the competition of the railroads, already mentioned on various occa- sions, might be added the fact of the state operation of the canal which is inimical to a simple and economic business administration.” In closing, Dr. Esch says, “The years 1922 to 1924 show plainly the favorable action of a new interest in inland waterways. But it is still too early to prophecy an early realization of a complete suc- cess of the present more favorable tendency. But it is true that the time will come when economic princi- ples will accord to inland waterways their proper place. But first, the American people must learn to think independently of the influence of that portion of the public which is finan- cially interested in railroads and to free themselves of the influence of the railroads upon the governmental agencies in Washington. This free- dom will only come when the natural resources of the country are no long- er so easily obtainable as in the past and when the struggle for daily bread drives the otherwise care-free Ameri- can to economize.”