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gear is entailed in the aggregate than with an oil fuel installation but the various parts are necessarily more bulky. Only the same number of at- tendants are required as with liquid fuel. Some of the advantages of pul- verized fuel aré“enumerated by Cap- tain Brand as follows: 1. Powdered fuel fired into a fur- nace is from 10 to 30 per cent more efficient than hand-firing 2. A vessel can go 5 per cent far- ther on the same stowage as run of mine coal, or from 15 per cent to 30 per cent farther on the same - weight of pulverized coal as run of mine coal. 3. The number of firemen and trim- mers required is only one-third of the number used for hand-fir- ing, and the same as required for oil-fuel burning. 4, The coal could be loaded into the es ship’s bunkers without the assis- tance of coal trimmers, e. g. blown in through pipes. Stand-by-losses, banked fires, and irregular steaming are obviated. Labor troubles from coal trimmers and firemen are avoided. A cheaper quality of fuel can be utilized. The wear and tear on the heat- ing surfaces of the boilers is less, as fire doors are not opened for firing. 9. No. discomfort for passengers while ship is being coaled, also no blackening of paint work during coaling operations. 10. No heavy smoking at the funnel. Authorize Installation on S. S. Mercer The fuel conservation committee of the Merchant Fleet Corp. through its chairman Capt. C. A. McAllister and its active head C. J. Jefferson has done everything in its power to facili- tate the continuance of tests which are being carried on at the League Island navy yard under Commander Evans. That the results indicate the practicability of burning pulverized coal in marine boilers is evident from an announcement made July 6 by the shipping board, authorizing the instal- lation of apparatus to permit the con- sumption of pulverized coal as fuel on the S. S. Mercer. This action by the board was based directly on the re- sults obtained during tests at the League Island navy yard station. This vessel is of 9730 tons dead- weight and was at the time of the authorization of her conversion laid up at Norfolk. She will proceed to the Philadelphia navy yard where in- stallation of the pulverized coal equips ment: will take place. Launch Diesel: Ferries for New York HE first diesel engined ferries i to be constructed by the depart- ment of plant & structures of New York City were launched July 19 at the Tebo plant of the Todd Ship- yards Corp., Brooklyn. The GREEN- WICH VILLAGE and the Mott HAVEN were sponsored respectively by Mrs. Alfred E. Smith, wife of the gover- nor and Mrs. Joseph V. McKee, wife of the president of the board of alder- men. Each ferry will be equipped with one 300 Shaft horsepower Nelseco diesel long with a beam of 30 feet and a depth of 12 feet and displace 234 tons. Accommodations are provided for sev- en vehicles and there are side cabins with a seating capacity of 74 persons. One of the boats will operate be- tween City and Hart’s islands and the other between East One Hundred and Thirty-fourth street and North Broth- er and Riker’s islands. These terminals are now served by steam boats, but due to the obsolescence of this type of machinery, these modern. ferries will give improved service to the hos- NEW DIESEL FERRY BOAT FOR THE CITY OF NEW YORK engine, built by the New London Ship & Engine Co., Groton, Conn. The en- gines are of the 6 cylinder, 4 cycle, mechanical injection, direct «reversible type and will give the boats a speed of about ten miles per hour. The en- gines are directly connected to the propellor shaft and are maneuvered from the engine room, as is customary with steam installations. The vessels are of steel, 101.6 fect ° pitals and penal institutions, as well as effecting large reductions in operating costs. Among those present at the launch- ing ceremonies were Mayor Walker, Aldermanic President McKee and oth- er members of the board of estimate, Police Commissioner Warren, Commis- sioner Albert Goldman of the depart- ment of plant & structures, John H. McCooey, Borough President James MARINE REVIEW—August, 1927 J. Byrne, Fire Commissioner John Dorman and Supreme Court Justice Stephen Gallagher. River CarferryService Now in Operation Jones & Laughlin Steel Corp. is now operating a car ferry service between its plants on the Monongahela and Ohio rivers. A barge carrying eight freight cars loaded with steel prod- ucts was towed from the main plant on the Monongahela river to the Aliquippa plant 22 miles down the Ohio river, July 1. At the Pittsburgh and Aliquippa plants cars are shunted over cradles upon the barges which are 200 feet long, 35 feet wide, 9 feet 7 inches deep and capable of carry- ing four cars on each of two tracks. It is said this is the first river car ferry service ever operated by a west- ern steel interest. Jones & Laughlin Steel Corp. was the first steel producer to transport coal in river barges from mines to the mills and coke ovens. It has been doing this for 85 years. In 1921 the corporation turned to the Ohio and Mississippi rivers for low-cost delivery of manufactured products, and it now ships many thousands of tons annually thus to Cincinnati, Louisville, Ky., Evansville, Ind., St. Louis, Memphis, Tenn., and New Orleans. After fifty years in the employ of the Canada Steamship lines, Capt. George Batten recently retired from active service. 23