186 REPORT—1862. — 
The revolution in tactics alluded to above, rendered of course the ordinary 
system of rigging useless, and the inventor has consequently devised the system of 
Self-reefing traversing sails (also lately exhibited at the International eT 
The masts, which are T-shaped, are supported by revolving shears, and the sai 
are fixed on spars rigidly attached to the masts. The mast is thus inclined to the 
wind, or “rakes,” to use the ordinary term, whether the vessel be by the wind or 
going free—an arrangement which, for the same vertical height of masts, gives a 
greater and far more efficient spread of canvas than can be produced by any of the 
systems now in use. Ona smart breeze springing up, the sails reef themselves to 
the compass requisite for the vessel’s progress; and, as the gale freshens, reef after 
reef is taken in, until, when it is at its height, her sails will be found close-reefed, 
without the employment of a single hand. If the ship be clear of the land, her 
sails can be furled, her helm left, and the ship will ride the gale out head to wind. 
Ships and boats on this principle can, of course, equally with any others, be pro- 
pelled by steam or other power. In his ee eric Guide-Propeller (exhibited 
also in 1851 (Class VIII. 82) and 1862 (Class XII. 2746)), the inventor has endea- 
voured to introduce a great simplification into ship propulsion, by combining the 
processes of steering and propelling. The plan consists in pumping a current of air 
through tubes which are led outside the vessel into the water, this current being 
capable of the nicest regulation and change of direction by means of valves. 
Water may be used instead of air, and is recommended for boats, in which, it may 
be observed, oars are entirely dispensed with, and propulsion is effected by hauling 
on an endless rope. 
The last point is Ventilation, and for the appreciation of the advantages of the 
new system in this respect it is almost necessary to refer to models. In the Ex- 
hibition of 1862 a model was shown, made to a scale, and intended to test the 
relative merits of a ship on this system and the ‘Great Eastern.’ The dimensions 
of the vessel on the Vertical- Wave-Line system of equal tonnage were, length 432 
feet (as against 700 in the case of the ‘Great Eastern’), breadth 108 feet, depth 
76 feet. 
Models and drawings illustrative of the construction and propulsion of Vertical- 
Wave-Line ships may be seen at the Naval Museum of the Royal United Service 
Institution, Middle Scotland Yard, and at the Museum of the Commissioners of 
Patents, South Kensington. 
A New Marine Boiler for generating Steam of High Pressure. 
By Dr. F. Growarnt. 
The boiler was a cylindrical tubular boiler, with certain arrangements of radial 
tubes for taking up and conveying the steam, and made to rotate slowly in the fur- 
nace on its axis. The advantages claimed were freedom from priming, smallness 
of space occupied, superheating the steam, and economy of fuel. 
On the Prevention of Railway Accidents. By J. SpwE1t. 
The author considered that the main cause of accidents was the want of punctu- 
ality in the trains; and that this arose mainly from the overloading of them, which 
rendered it impossible that they could keep time. Engines were made to perform 
certain work, and draw certain loads, and if these were exceeded it was impossible 
that time could be kept. This was a matter that the public could not ascertain 
for themselves, and he therefore advocated the importance of having engines 
licensed, like boats, omnibuses, &c., by Government, to draw certain oa; and a 
statement giving that information should be placed conspicuously on the engine. 
This would prevent the overloading, as it Bt be in the power of every passenger 
to see whether the power of the engine was duly apportioned to the carriages it had 
to draw. 
On the Failure of the Sluice in Fens, and on the Means of securing such Sluices 
agamst a similar Contingency. By W.Txorotp, M.I.C.E. 
The author described the circumstances attending the failure of the sluice, and 
