The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

RicHArRD V. LINDABURY, TJ'ypical Modern Great Lakes Bulk Cargo Steamer Reduce Lake Vessels’ Fuel Bill- A Study of the Influence of Boilers, Main Machinery and Auxiliaries on Earnings of Great Lakes Cargo Vessels that Professor Sadler’s article in ik HAS been the thought of many the July 1926 number of MARINE REVIEW on lowering of Lake levels, and its effect on ships would have provoked discussion, at least with re- gard to some of the constructive criti- cisms he offers. Dr. Sadler questions the economic value of certain equip- ment, such as water-tube boilers, with higher pressures, superheaters, surface condensers with their special auxil- iaries, and independent. steam-driven auxiliaries for various purposes. This invites the question as to whether the owner is fully informed as to the influence of such equipment upon his capital and operating costs or whether its adpotion is due to a belief that it represents progress and improvement. One may be pardoned a sense of dis- appointment that a problem of such real magnitude does not arouse more interest among those vitally concerned. In response to the suggestion of sev- eral the writer offers the following comments, which will treat, practically exclusively, of engineering features and must be clearly understood as referring strictly to Great Lakes op- eration of cargo ships. It is quite pos- The author, Henry Penton, consulting marine engineer of Cleveland, has specialized in lake vessel design. This is Part I of Mr. Penton’s article. Part II will be published in an early issue. By Henry Penton sible therefore that some of the arguments advanced may be somewhat at variance with accepted practice or essentials in other trades and types. HENRY PENTON ‘The question of improvement in op- erating cost resolves itself principally into consideration of the subject of fuel although capital charges are 15 - Their necessarily involved to some extent. Fuel is not only the largest item but it is practically the only one _ sus- ceptible of treatment, since the other principals, payroll and insurance, are , beyond the operator’s control. First, then, we approach the fuel- consuming, or steam-making plant. We also approach a_ subject which everyone will agree is “loaded,” that is to say scotch or water-tube boilers. It is not proposed here to reopen the “battle of the boilers” or to traverse the ground fought over for so many years by the partisans of either, but to endeavor to determine which type is the more economical for the trade under consideration with the fuel ayailable, supported by data drawn from actual operation. It is important to make clear here that in assembling the boiler performance data which follows, every available source was drawn upon without any bias or preference, the only restraint as to either type being that figures should be from authentic sources. accuracy the author cannot of course vouch for; they are presented for what they may be worth but are believed reliable and in no instance are based upon verbal statements or general report and are strictly limited to Great Lakes ships. The figures cover the entire period of water-