ENGINEERING PROGRESS IN THE U. S. NAVY. 87 



sea before the Neptune was. I do know that the gearing on the Neptune was 

 developed by Admiral Melville and Mr. Westinghouse, the two great men I had the 

 honor of serving. I do not think that the gearing was put on the Vespasian before 

 Admiral Melville and Mr. Westinghouse started their work and began to complete 

 their experimental installation. The experimental tests were made on the biggest 

 scale of anything I have heard of — instead of trying it out on a few hundred horse- 

 power, the test was made using 7,000 horse-power, which would be appropriate 

 for a large ship. As I remember the figures for the Vespasian,'they were 700 horse- 

 power. Admiral Melville and Mr. Westinghouse gave this experimental gear a 

 working trial lasting forty hours, developing 7,000 horse-power, the gearing being 

 tested most carefully with an accurately standardized dynamometer, in order to 

 determine the efficiency, which was shown to be very high. Such a test would 

 count, of course, very strongly, as we have learned to-day, because we have heard 

 how well the machinery of the Jupiter has performed in the shops of the General 

 Electric Company at the Schenectady test. In the same way this gearing performed 

 in the shop test, before the machinery of the Neptune was put on board the ship. 

 Likewise Mr. Curtis has shown you that the machinery of the Nevada has performed 

 well in the estimates and design. 



The Neptune has been in service some two years, and has had some heavy 

 weather, and all that sort of thing, and as a result the chief engineer of the ship, the 

 man on the ship, and his superiors at the Navy Department who get the facts 

 direct all say the gearing has worked successfully. Hence I am surprised to hear a 

 gentleman say that the only successful appUcation of gearing has been made by 

 Sir Charles Parsons. I felt that I could not refrain from putting this on the record, 

 out of respect for those two great men, Mr. Westinghouse and Admiral Melville, 

 whom it was my pleasure to serve for many years. 



Mr. Anderson: — I think Mr McFarland is quite right. The gearing of the 

 Neptune has worked exceptionally well, just the same as this paper says; at the 

 same time, has the whole of the machinery installation worked well? 



Mr. McFarland: — I understand it works satisfactorily — not with the 

 economy 



Mr. Anderson: — That is the whole point 



Mr. McFarland :— Let me finish — you asked me a question. Let me answer 

 it, and do not stop me before I get through. You want to know if it has worked 

 satisfactorily. I understand it has, but not with the degree of economy that was 

 expected by Mr. Westinghouse. They will put other turbines in that will give the 

 full economy. 



Mr. Anderson: — I am pleased to hear that. Is there not some question of 

 changing the actual gearing? 



