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MA KR. fT 8 ing gear is so constructed that the buckets do not have to be lifted by hand. The forced draft apparatus consists of blowers capable of supplying to the fires continuously, with ease, sufficient air to maintain the maximum rate of combustion, with an air pressure in the fire-roms of 2 in. of water. The engines for the blowers are of sufficient power to run the blowers at full speed with steam of 100 lbs. pressure. The manufacturers of turbine machinery have been invited to submit plans for operating the forced draft blowers by steam-driven turbines, but as yet they have been unable to design a satisfactory ma- chine for this service. An evaporating and distilling apparatus is supplied of. a capacity equal to one gallon of water per indicated horse power of propelling engines per 24 hours. This rating has been made necessary by the great amount of fresh water required for the water tube boilers, drinking water, bath wa- ter, cooking water, and water for sanitary purposes. The refrigerating apparatus is capable of 'supplying the ship with ice and of keeping the cold storage rooms at the proper temperature. The cold storage rooms are partitioned off into separate spaces for the captain, ward room officers, junior officers, warrant officers and crew. By this method it is possible to enter any one of the spaces without reducing the temperature in any of the other spaces, each space being thoroughly insulated. Separate auxiliary condensers are installed, for the ex- clusive use of the dynamo engines, with air and. circulating pumps. The steering arrangements consist of a right and left-hand screw with traversing nuts direct-connected by side rods to a crosshead on the rudder stock. The weight of the rudder is transmitted to this crosshead by means of a ring fitted in a groove near the head of the rudder stock. Between the crosshead and the casting on the sternpost a floating disc is fitted, and recessed in the stuffing box casting to hold oil, the weight of the rudder being taken by this floating ring. The casting bolted to the sternpost and taking the weight of the rudder through this floating ring is fitted with a stuffing box around the rudder stock capable of adjustment in the steering-engine room. A friction band is fitted to the rudder stock and is operated in the steering-engine room. The engines are of ample power to put the rudder from hard aport to hard astarboard in twenty seconds when the vessel is moving ahead at full speed, with steam pressure of 150 lbs. per square inch. Provision is made at five different points in the ship for hand or steam steering. Ventilation is a matter of great importance as the general health of the crew is dependent upon it, and it is also used to prevent the ammunition compartments from becoming overheated. Artificial ventilation is provided for all quarters, living spaces, passages, storerooms, and magazines below the main deck; also for air spaces over boilers and engine rooms and around magazines; and for water closets and similar inclosures above the main deck. The systems are so sub- divided as to render unnecessary the piercing of any of the principal watertight bulkheads of the vessel with the ducts, except where absolutely unavoidable. This adds greatly to the safety of the ship, and the use of shorter ducts, made possible by the numerous subdivisions, increases the effi- ciency of the system. The ducts are designed to pass the required number of cubic feet of air per minute through each terminal, or to equal the total cubic feet per minute of each compartment ventilated, with the fan running at a speed corresponding to one ounce pressure with restricted deliv--- ery. This allows the air to be renewed often enough to insure good ventilation. The plumbing is another extensive installation. Fresh water is supplied to all bath rooms, lavatories, wash rooms, pantries, galleys, scuttle bulk (water coolers), bakeries, laun- R EF ¥v.o 2. 2 19 a -- ee ---- dries, refrigerating plants, etc. The showers and bath tubs are fitted for salt and fresh water and are arranged so that the water can be heated through a distributing cock, designed to stand a steam pressure of 100 lbs. per square inch, and capable of raising the temperature of the water from 45 to 110 degrees. The flushing and sanitary system is arranged for supplying water to all water closets and urinals, wash rooms, shower baths, laundry, pantries, galleys, etc. Fer the subsistence and care of the crew there are pro- vided galleys, pantries, bakeries, laundries, etc. The galleys are equipped with dressers, lockers, coal boxes, pan and ket- tle racks, ranges, steam jacketed kettles, vegetable steamers, coffee urns and steam cookers for cooking and warming food. The pantries are fitted with steam tables, drawers, lockers, dressers, plate racks, glass and cup racks, hooks, clips, etc. The bakeries are provided with baking ovens, dough troughs, and steam and bread boxes. The laundries are equipped with washers, extractors, mangles, electrically- heated ironers, tubs, soap tanks, drying racks and other accessories. An electrically operated firing device is installed in the fire-rooms for regulating the intervals of firing the furnaces. It consists of a cylindrical case with a dial, perforated with openings equal in number to the number of furnaces in the fire-room; each opening is covered with an opaque glass hav- ing a number on it left clear, each number corresponding to a furnace. Behind the glazed openings there are electric lights which are switched on and off successively by an electric motor. These motors run continuously, and are so arranged that all lights on the same side of the ship having the same number are illuminated at the same instant, fol- lowed by lights of the same number on the other side, and so on until all the furnaces have been fired. Naval ships have excellent and efficient facilities for car- ing for the sick and injured. There are sick bays, con- tagious wards, dispensaries, and operating rooms. 'These hospital spaces are equipped with all the necessary apparatus and instruments for this service. INVESTIGATING STEAMBOAT INSPECTION SERVICE The board of supervising inspectors of the steamboat in- spection service is now in Washington considering the report of the commission appointed to inquire into the General Slocum disaster. It might be well if the points were com- pared between the report of this commission and that formu- lated by the board of supervising inspectors themselves a year ago last June and submitted to Secretary Cortelyou, then secretary of the department of commerce and labor. Mean- while President Roosevelt has directed Secretary Victor H. Metcalf, the present secretary of the department of commerce and labor, to make a thorough investigation of the several districts of the steamboat inspection service. This, of course, is all very well because it does everyone good to be stirred up once in a while. The officers directed to make the inquiry are on the retired list. Each officer has had assigned to him a certain district of the steamboat inspection service as fol- lows: Rear Admiral Louis Kemff, first district, San Fran- cisco; Com'dr. Z. L. Tanner, third district, Norfolk, Va.; Rear Admiral John R. Bartlett, interior Mississippi district; Rear Admiral Wells L. Field, eighth district, Detroit, Mich.; Rear Admiral E. M. Simons, ninth district, Cleveland; Rear Ad- miral W. C. Wise, tenth district, New Orleans. The Hill & Sloan Ship Building Co., Seattle, Wash., has nearly finished a fishing steamer for the San Juan Packet Co. of Seattle. The steamer is 130 ft. over all; 24 ft. 6 in. beam and 13 ft. 6 in. deep. A fore and aft compound engine will be installed in her by the Warrington Iron Works of Seattle. The new steamer which will cost approximately $40,000 will be used on the Halibut banks, Alaska.