TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 191 
On the Strongest form of Sea-borne Vessels. By Dr. FARQUHARSON. 
The author stated in this communication the result of his attempt to 
determine the true form of the Ark of Noah, as given in the Hebrew 
text of Genesis, compared with the Greek Septuagint ; and arguing that 
this form, though unfit for carrying sails, was excellent for flotation, 
stability and strength (being triangular in the cross section, with a flat 
base and angular top), suggests that the forms of sea-going steamers 
should be reconsidered and altered, with a view to these circumstances. 
Mr. Evans delivered in a printed report ‘“‘ On Anthracite Pig-iron.” 
On the Turbine Water-wheel. By Professor Gorvon. 
The fundamental principle upon which the construction of the 
Turbine-Fourneyron is based, is that by which the maximum of useful 
effect is obtained from a given fall of water, depending on the relative 
velocity of the water and its recipient, which ought to be such that the 
water enters the wheel without shock, and quits it again without 
velocity. A notion of its construction may readily be formed, by sup- 
posing an ordinary water-wheel laid on its side, the water being made 
to enter from the interior of the wheel by the inner circumference of 
the crown, flowing along the buckets, and escaping at the outer cir- 
cumference. Then centrifugal force becomes a substitute for the force 
of gravity. It was explained that the Turbine consists essentially of— 
1. A reservoir, the bottom of which is divided into radial compart- 
ments by curved plates, serving to guide the water to take a particular 
direction of efflux. 
2. A circular sluice, capable of nicety of adjustment. 
3. The wheel with curved buckets, on to which, when the sluice 
was raised, the water entered at every point of the inner circumference, 
and flowing along the buckets, escaped at every point of the outer cir- 
cumference. This latter is a characteristic feature in the Turbines of 
Fourneyron. Reference was made to the principal Turbines erected 
in France and Germany,—particularly to that at Inval, near Gisors, 
and those at Mullbach and Moussay, as illustrative of their use for falls 
varying from 9 inches to 10 feet. And again to those at St. Blasier, 
in the Black Forest, as instances of high falls,—the one being 703 feet, 
the other 345 feet; the one expending 5 cubic feet per second, the 
other 1 cubic foot per second; the one being 56 horse-power, the 
other very nearly 60 horse-power ; the one giving an efficiency of up- 
wards of 70, the other of upwards of 80 per cent. of the theoretical 
effect. A drawing of the latter was exhibited—full size. It is 143 
inches diameter. Its extreme depth or breast is -225 inch, or less than 3. 
It makes 2200 to 2300 revolutions per minute. It serves a factory 
in which are 8000 water spindles, 34 tine and 86 coarse carding- 
engines, 2 cleansers, and other accessories. 
The conclusions drawn by Morier from his experiments on these 
wheels with the brake dynamometer, or friction strap, are these :— ' 
