May 24, 1900] 



NA TURE 



91 



The early composite ships were classed as experimental, and 

 subject to biennial survey, in order that the condition of the 

 fastenings might be examined, and the effects of the galvanic 

 action set up by the iron framing and yellow metal sheathing 

 ascertained from time to time. 



So far back as 1862, applications were made for vessels to be 

 classed which were to be built with puddled steel, but in the 

 absence of experience regarding the durability of steel, the Com- 

 mittee of Lloyd's Register felt it was not in their power to 

 sanction the proposal. 



In 1864, however, a steam yacht of 2400 tons was built for 

 the Viceroy of Egypt under the survey of Lloyd's Register Sur- 

 veyors, and constructed partly of steel. A reduction of about 

 one-fourth was allowed in the steel scantlings from those re- 

 quired for an iron ship of the same size. 



In April, 1876, Mr. James Riley, then manager of the Siemens 

 Steel Works at Landore, read a paper before the Institution of 

 Naval Architects on the production of mild steel, setting forth 

 the results of experiments that had been made with steel manu- 

 factured by the Siemens- Martin or open hearth process, and 

 showing the qualities of this material as to ductility and tensile 

 strength. 



These results were placed before the Committee of Lloyd's 

 Register, and in 1877 plans from Messrs. J. Elder & Co. were 

 approved for the construction of two paddle steamers to be 



[>IA»AM SHCW:NC TW rONNAU or iron MIO STUL VtSSCLf 

 BUILT MO RtCISTtRCO IN Wt UHlTtO KINCCOM SINCI TXCTt** «W 



nm 



built of this material for the English Channel service, with a 

 reduction of about 20 per cent, in the scantlings which had been 

 adopted for iron vessels. 



In the same year, in consequence of a report which may be 

 found in the volume of Transactions oi this Institution for 1877, 

 it was decided to admit steel with scantlings 20 per cent, lighter 

 than prescribed for iron, in vessels building for classification, 

 subject to the material having a tensile strength of from 26 to 

 30 tons per square inch, and an elongation of 20 per cent, on a 

 length of eight inches. These limits of tensile strength have 

 since been raised to 28-32 tons. 



The progress in the use of mild steel for shipbuilding purposes 

 may be judged from the fact that while in 1878 seven steel 

 vessels, of 4470 tons, were classed in Lloyd's Register, and 435 

 iron vessels, of 517,692 tons, the record for the year 1885 showed 

 118 steel vessels, of 165,437 tons, as compared with 260 iron 

 vessels, of 290,429 tons. As wood was superseded by iron as a 

 material for shipbuilding, so in its turn iron has given place to 

 steel. Of the total output of the United Kingdom during the 

 past year, 988 per cent, of the tonnage was built of steel, and 

 I 'I per cent, of iron. The iron tonnage was principally made 

 up of trawlers, and comprised no vessel of more than 303 tons. 



The accompanying diagram shows the relative changes in the 



NO. 1595, VOL. 62] 



tonnage of steamers and sailing vessels of iron and steel bfilt 

 and registered in the United Kingdom since 1880. 



Soon after the introduction of mild steel for shipbuilding pur- 

 poses, attention was given to the making of heavy steel castings 

 to take the place of iron forgings for stern frames, rudders, pro- 

 peller brackets, stems, quadrant tillers, &c. These castings are 

 required to be subjected to certain tests, and at the present time 

 are often adopted in place of iron forgings. 



It may be here remarked that, notwithstanding the early 

 doubts as to the durability of steel, experience has shown that 

 where proper care is taken to thoroughly clean and paint the 

 surfaces, the deterioration is not appreciably greater than that 

 of iron. In some parts, however, such as thin deck plating, 

 and plating of inner bottom and floors under boilers, steel 

 appears to be more liable to deteriorate, and in consequence of 

 this, iron is often used for these parts in vessels otherwise con- 

 structed of steel. 



UNIVERSITY AND EDUCATIONAL 

 INTELLIGENCE. 

 Oxford. — An appointment will ere long be made to the new 

 Wykeham professorship of physics, which will be endowed in 

 accordance with statute by New College. It is understood that 

 a portion of the space to be vacated in the 

 University Museum by the removal of the 

 Radcliflfe Library will be utilised, at least 

 temporarily, as a laboratory for the teach- 

 ing of electricity. 



Merton College proposes to contribute, 

 out of its University Purposes Fund, the 

 sum of 700/. towards the cost of fitting up, 

 and 500/. towards that of maintaining for 

 two years, the new electrical laboratory, 

 provided that no further liability be hereby 

 undertaken by the College. This proviso 

 is intended to guard against the College 

 University Purposes Fund being regarded as 

 a permanent source of income. Messrs. W. 

 Peterson, principal of McGill University, 

 and John Fletcher, professor of Latin in 

 the University of Toronto, have been ap- 

 pointed as representatives of the University 

 at the centenary of the University of New 

 Brunswick, and Mr. W. R. Morfill, reader 

 in Russian, has been appointed representa- 

 tive at the five-hundredth anniversary of 

 the University of Cracow. 



The statute making the degrees of 

 B.C.L. and D.C.L. accessible to persons 

 who have obtained a degree in arts in 

 other Universities, and study law in Oxford 

 although they have not been admitted to 

 the degree of B.A. , has been approved by 

 "" '" "• Congregation and Convocation ; and also 



the decree instituting the new research 

 degrees of Doctor of Letters and Doctor of Science. 



It is proposed that the necessary qualification for intending 

 candidates for the diploma in Geography shall be that can- 

 didates give satisfactory evidence that they have received -a good 

 general education, and not, as at first suggested, that they 

 should have passed the examination for the B.A. degree. 



On May 22 the honorary D.C.L. degree was conferred upon 

 the following colonial representatives: — The Hon. Alfred 

 Deakin, the Hon. James R. Dickson, CM. G., and the Hon. 

 Sir Philip O. Fysh, K.C.M.G. 



The 2 1 2th meeting of the Oxford University Junior Scientific 

 Club was held on Friday, May li. Papers were read by Mr. 

 S. A. lonides, Balliol, on " Microphotography," and by Mr. 

 P. Elford, St. John's, on " Chemists of the Nineteenth Century." 

 The following papers will be read during the course of the 

 present term :— " Musical Tetanus," Prof. Sir John Burdon 

 Sanderson, F.R.S. ; "The Labile Hydrogen Atom," Mr. A. 

 F. Walden, New College ; '* A Method for Measuring the 

 Diameter of the Earth," Rev. T. C. Porter. 



Cambridge.— Dr. J[. W. L. Glaisher, F.R.S., has been 

 appointed by the council of the Senate a governor of St. Paul's 

 School. 



