52 



ANNUAL OF SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY. 



The disasters continually occurring at this place have given it a 

 melancholy name in English history. Scarcely a year passes in which 

 there are not above 1000 lives lost at these treacherous quicksands, and 

 the number last winter was 1500 ! Every attempt to moor a vessel or 

 floating beacon over the sands has hitherto failed. The present light 

 was fixed only after reaching the chalk, eighty-two feet down. 

 Admiral Tayler's plan is to moor his refuge in deep water, not over, 

 but near the sands, and to keep life-boats and a supply of every neces- 

 sity for giving aid in case of shipwrecks, and for sheltering the saved 

 sailors. Two or three hundred persons could receive temporary shel- 

 ter, and there is every accommodation and comfort provided for the 

 keepers of the refuge. The refuge, with its boats, stores, and mate- 

 rials, rests on a frame-work of piles, with strong transverse beams, the 

 longitudinal piles floating about nine feet above water and twenty- 

 seven below. The water in this framework, along with the surround- 

 ing eddy, effectually breaks the force of each advancing wave, the 

 water being perfectly smooth under the lea of the refuge. The piles 

 rise and fall with the tides, but are otherwise firmly moored at the 

 stern beam. 



IMPROVEMENTS IN SHIPS AND STEAMERS. 



A VESSEL is now in the process of construction at Green Point, 

 in the vicinity of New York, under the direction of William Norris, 

 Civil and Mechanical Engineer, and John W. Griffiths, Naval Archi- 

 tect, which it is anticipated will perform the transatlantic voyage 

 within six days in the winter season. The dimensions of the vessel 

 are as follows : 



Length on deck .225 ft. 



Depth of bold 21 ft. 



Diameter of paddle-wheels. 33 ft. 

 Beam amidships 37 ft. 



Draft of water 6_V ft. 



Displacement 750 tuns. 



Tower 1,200 horses. 



Accommodations for 80 passengers. 



The following advantages in the improvement introduced in the con- 

 struction of this steamer are claimed by the builders : - - 1. A perfect 

 security against fire or water. 2. Less risk to life, and greater com- 

 fort to passengers. The boilers will be placed within walls of iron, 

 with iron beams over the same. Air chambers, of sufficient sustain- 

 ing capacity, will extend the whole length of the ship. The sudden 

 shocks of head and beam seas, to which all ships of the present con- 

 struction are liable, are obviated by these improvements, while the 

 gentle undulating motion ahvays maintained, will tend to prevent sea 

 sickness, and at the same time keep the decks dry except from spray. 

 The full power of the engine will be reserved ibr combatting heavy 

 gales, while ships of the present construction are compelled to slacken 

 their steam as the gale increases in severity. These new improvements 

 enable more steam to be applied, the harder the gale blows. The ma- 

 chinery of this ship will consist of one walking-beam engine with two 

 tubular boilers, all of the most improved construction, but without any- 



