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24 MARINE REVIEW. PROBLEMS OF THE FUTURE. By Louis Gathman, inventor of the Gathman gun. What the most important invention of the new century will be can- not even be guessed at. But we certainly can predict the improvements and perfections of existing inventions. Perhaps of greatest interest will be a powerful telescope, which will enable us to learn more about our neighbor planets and their probable inhabitants, and perhaps permit of interplanetory communications by signs and signals. I am con- vinced that such a telescope is possible, but it could not be built for less than $100,000 if a power of ten times that of our present most powerful telescope is neces: sary. In the course of the cen- tury man will no doubt begin to understand how to live in har- mony with nature’s laws. Instead of being near the end of life at seventy or eighty, man will then be in his prime. Of very great importance will be the produc- tion of power. This, indeed, be- comes a very serious question on account of the limitation of fuel. In the future, power must be ob- tained from natural forces con- stantly in operation, and not irom materials of nature; the ma terials (a true product of the sun) ‘being stored up in millions al years, are but a limited amount in comparison with the rapidly increasing consumption. This question, I am convinced, will be satisfactorily solved by perfecting solar motors. Man will doubt- jess better understand nature's laws, and what use to make of them—for instance, withdrawing from the air, by artificial means, the watery vapor held in suspension there. In other words, making rain at will. Further, agriculture will advance and become a science. Electricity will play an important part in obtaining a maximum result from a minimum amount of space. Of more or less importance will be the perfection of implements of war. Our present battleships and costly cruisers will have to go. It will be impossible to protect their vitals by armor. Not even the pro- tective deck, below the water line, will save them from sinking when the 18-in. aerial torpedo gun now at Sandy Hook, opens fire on them. ‘Con- gress is now considering an appropriation to put this gun into action. Of somewhat greater interest will be the perfection of an air ship or rather aerial locomotive. This is already within the reach of mechanical engineers. Its completion and success, like that of many other great inventions, requires the aid of capital. But it seems to be the common fate of all great inventions and discoveries to raise a storm of opposition, and strangely, from those whom they are most calculated to benefit. We find, through all ages, as a rule, that no men have been more afraid of ‘real progress than those who have gained great wealth or high positions by birth, money, age, political or other influences, which so often bring men into positions which are and have been detrimental to’ progress and the welfare of the human race. Therefore low culture still predominates. OPPOSED TO THE SHIPPING BILL. The Merchants’ Association of New York has issued a pamphlet con- taining some of the recent correspondence which the association had with Senator Frye about the ship subsidy bill, now pending in congress. The board of directors of the association has declared that the bill is “counter to public sentiment, and in conflict with the public good in admitting foreign tonnage to American registry and half subsidy.” In a letter to Senator Frye the association declares: “We do not contend that the present ocean rates cannot be reduced, but, on the contrary, we believe that a reduction will follow upon a return to commerce of the tonnage diverted therefrom in the last two years. We do contend, however, that a reduction in ocean rates is not to be brought about by curtailing competition and that competition is cur- tailed once advantages are given to a few selected American owners of foreign tonnage not within the reach of all Americans. We believe that in the course of time the products of American ship yards, encouraged by a subsidy to American tonnage only will develop a fleet adequate to care for American commerce, and we very much desire such a consummation. It will not be reached, however, by a reduction of the subsidy that would accrue to such American tonnage through a deviation of several millions of dollars per annum as an extra bonus to the owners of foreign tonnage to bring it under the American flag. In conclusion we wish to assure you that no association will go further to assist in the education of public sentiment in favor of a legitimate subsidy measure than we will. We do not believe, however, that a subsidy bill is so necessary as to warrant the granting of power to a few to oppress commerce, and we do not be- lieve that any legislation is so important or urgent as to sustain the charge of class legislation, and all the adverse sentiment which that will evoke.” President C. B. Orcutt of the Newport News Ship Building & Dry Dock Co., in an interview on the outlook for American ship building. published in the Manufacturers’ Record, refers to the opportunities in the south for the establishment of ship yards and states that American vessels are built of better material and show better workmanship than the average European ship. Mr. Orcutt strongly favors the subsidy bill pending in congress, on the ground that it will stimulate not only the shipping in- terest, but every department of American industry without an exception. He states that the Newport News company intends making a specialty of Jarge contracts in future and that the new dry dock will give facilities for ens large ships, which in the past have had to be docked in foreign yards. [January id, NEW SPECIALTIES OF THE CRANE CO. The blow-off valve illustrated herewith is manufactured by the Crane Co. of Chicago and was designed to overcome the trouble generally ex- perienced with the ordinary valves and cocks used for this purpose. It will be observed that the valve seat is on the outside, which prevents sediment lodg- ing at this point. The projec- tion on the under part of the disc prevents any discharge taking place until the seats have become widely separated. This prevents wire drawing. This valve should always be connected from the pressure side. The company recom- mends them to all steam users as the most reliable blow-off valves on the market for this trying position. They report that their customers say that the valves are giving entire satisfaction and are far supe- rior to the ordinary blow-off valves which they have used in the past. They have been in use on the Crane Co.’s boilers for three years and they are still in perfect order. They can be made in either angle or globe patterns; angle will al- ways be furnished unless other- wise ordered. The second illustration shows the Crane patent low ” MWA, «water alarm. The low water lll @ alarm as originally made by MM the Crane Co. some ten years — ago, was considered sufficient to meet all requirements. A comparatively short time ago some of the states enacted a law, stipulating that low water alarms “should be of a type capable of being tested by the inspector of workshops and factories.” It was, therefore, necessary that an additional valve, with pipe and fittings, be used, thereby enabling the inspector to make atest at any time. The’Crane alarm can be attached directly on top of the boiler, or can be a piped to any position z most convenient to the engineer. The company furnishes fusible gaskets oF with these low water i ee alarms that melt at 270°. FA ; . o Gaskets that will melt at r Nip) See Ne a much higher degree ce are made to order.. The © cs te @ directions, which follow, a= J are interesting: @ - = Drill and tap hole in i or | top of boiler of the same elf a . a | size as bushing “A.” ay Screw short piece of pipe inside of bushing, 1 the pipe to be long i enough to reach within H | 2 in, of top of boiler i tubes. Connect tee ‘‘E”’ i by a pipe to any suitable place in the boiler pro- ducing live steam. As long as the water does not go below the low water line, the water in tube ‘“B” prevents the steam from reaching the fusible plug. The mo- ment the water falls be- Hee the low water line, the steam will rush in RICE and fuse the plug “C,” thereby allowing the steam to escape through the hole in the wheel, which raises lever ‘“D,” opening valve in whistle “F,” thereby allowing steam in pipe “E” to give the alarm. To renew fusible plug, close valve “G,” unscrew nut “C,” and insert new gasket. Then re- place nut “C,” allowing Pipe “B” to cool before opening valve “G.” Then remove the key “I,” which indicates that valve “G’ is open and ready for operation again. By following this rule there can be no mistake, as the key cannot be withdrawn unless valve is open. The valve “J” should be open only when testing. When testing, open valve “J,” allowing live steam to pass into pipe “B,” which will melt the gasket. This should be done once a month to keep pipe “B” clean. An item of importance to lumber men of the Pacific coast came last week in a telegram from Washington to the effect that the secretary of the navy had ordered an investigation of the merits and quality of Doug- las fir with a view of having it used for sheathing battleships built on the Pacific coast. As there has never been any government tests of fir yellow pine has invariably been specified for government work. The board on naval construction has decided to recommend to con- gress the construction of a 3,000-ton training ship for the naval academy, in accordance with the plans of Supt. Wainwright. It was concluded that the Chesapeake is too small for the accommodation of the cadets.