ELECTRIC PROPULSION OF THE U. S. S. JUPITER. 199 



for the full expansion of the steam and full available energy in the low-pressure ranges, 

 whereas no steam engine can do so. By going from non-condensing to condensing on steam 

 engines the gain is something like 30 per cent, and going from non-condensing to condens- 

 ing on turbines the gain is more than 100 per cent. There is every reason why the steam en- 

 gine is necessarily inefficient in low-pressure ranges ; that is one reason why the turbines have 

 been introduced, and while certain refinements will improve reciprocating engines, the his- 

 tory of the art would seem to indicate that the reciprocating engine, for all purposes to 

 which turbines are now used, has been virtually given up. 



What I said about knowledge of the Jupiter was not intended as a reflection on the Navy 

 at all, but simply intended to imply that there is no possibility of studying that unit on board 

 ship as it was studied in Schenectady, because we made particularly careful and analytical 

 study of it, in which tests we could vary the speed and load, and trace curves of all possible 

 variations, of speed, load, pressure, vacuum and superheat. It was the first turbine of the 

 type which we produced. We first built a turbine of an earlier type, for the Jupiter, and got 

 permission from the government to rebuild it, because it gave us the first, easiest, and quick- 

 est opportunity of getting information about the performance of this new type. Having done 

 so, we wanted to investigate its action thoroughly. 



As to the possible failure of the governor on the Jupiter which Commander Robison 

 has mentioned, it would have no more effect than if you had a governor on some other ship 

 and took it off; the Jupiter is not dependent on the governor. There is a hand-operated 

 throttle valve and there is an emergency stop. We use a type of valve which has a tendency 

 to be closed by the steam. It is a reliable means of stopping, so that the governor could be 

 entirely left out and the ship still be safely and well operated. 



The question of operation at light load would only simplify the electrical problem, be- 

 cause you have less load on the turbine. The turbine will run at any speed assigned to it, 

 at the load which may result. 



With reference to the paragraph in the paper which has been criticised, and with regard 

 to what I have said, I want to explain that there is no one who has more respect for the 

 engineers of the Navy and naval officers generally than I. I used to be in the Navy my- 

 self, and some of these men I have criticised I am very fond of. The only view which, in 

 my opinion, should be taken of a paragraph of this sort is that it is simply a statement of 

 opinion. It does not read to me like an indictment of anybody. I think I have very good rea- 

 sons for all these various items as mentioned in that paragraph. I also think that some of 

 the engineer officers of the Navy have not investigated these points as they should have done. 

 I have invited them to investigate them, but there has not been a man sent to Schenectady to 

 investigate electrical propulsion. , There was a man detailed to report it. Two naval of- 

 ficers have been stationed in Schenectady and had an opportunity to talk with me from time 

 to time on this subject. One was Commander McNamee and the other Lieutenant Foote, who 

 is there now. Both have become very enthusiastic about my designs for warships. I 

 was told by a friend of mine that he had heard it said in the Navy Department that when- 

 ever any officers went to Schenectady they got crazy on the subject of electrical propulsion, 

 and I suppose that is the reason why more do not come there. 



There is a great deal in what I have been saying which is easily the subject of analysis 

 and investigation. I have done an immense amount of work on this subject and am doing it 

 simply as a matter of engineering interest. I have other kinds of important engineering work 

 to do, and there is nothing I want to do so little as to lose my reputation as a successful en- 



