MIRACLES OF SCIENCE 



small engines of many types. The Selandia was the 

 first large vessel equipped with an oil motor to be put 

 in commission, but numerous other vessels, some of 

 them even larger, are building. The interest of the 

 British Admiralty has already been referred to. It 

 is said that the German Admiralty is building a cruis- 

 er to be equipped with two six-cylinder engines each 

 of 6,000 horse power. A sister ship to the Selandia 

 was put in commission a few months later, and the 

 East Asiatic Company is reported to have given 

 orders for two similar vessels, and for two cargo ves- 

 sels, all to be equipped with Diesel engines. 



The explanation of the popularity of the new en- 

 gine is not far to seek. It is founded on efficiency 

 and cheapness of operation. Tests have been made 

 on large Diesel engines, showing the consumption 

 of only 0.38 pounds of fuel per brake horse-power- 

 hour. Marine engines actually in use average 0.4 to 

 0.44 pounds of fuel per brake horse-power-hour, 

 running under full load. 



Contrast these figures with the 1.46 pounds of 

 coal required to produce the same result, and it will 

 be clear that the champions of the new engine are 

 not mere visionaries. 



It is estimated that the Diesel engine would drive 

 a ship as fast and as far with 100 tons of fuel as the 

 best steam engine would with 350 tons of coal. As 

 the liquid fuel may be stored in tanks placed in the 

 double bottom of the ship, there is an obvious saving 

 in space that is of great importance. The space 

 formerly occupied by boilers and coal bunkers will 

 be available for passengers and cargo. 



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