Lxxxviii REPOET — 1875. 



It is a question of vital imj)ortance to the steamboat that the consumption 

 of fuel should be reduced to the smallest possible amount, inasmuch as each 

 ton of fuel excludes a ton of cargo. 



As improvements in the form of the huU arc effected, less power (that is, 

 less fuel) -will be required to propel the tcsscI through the water for a given 

 distance. Great as have been the improvements effected in marine eugines to 

 this end, much still remains to be done. Wolf's compound engine, so long 

 overlooked, is, with some improvements, being at last applied. Whereas the 

 consumption of fuel in such vessels as the ' Himalaj^a ' used to be from 5 to 

 6 lbs. of fuel per effective horse-power, it has been reduced, bj' working steam 

 more expansively in vessels of a later date, to 2 lbs. Yet, comparing this 

 with the total amount of energy of 2 lbs. of coal, it will be found that not a 

 tenth part of the power is obtained which that amount of coal would theo- 

 retically call into action*. 



Wo live in an age when great discoveries are made, and when they are 

 speedily taken advantage of if likely to be of service to mankind. 



In former times, man's inventions were frequently in advance of the age, 

 and they were laid aside to await a happier era. There were in those earlier 

 days too few persons who cared to, or who could, avail themselves of the prof- 

 ferred boon, and there was no sufficient accumulation of wealth to justify its 

 being ai)proj>riated to schemes which are always in their early stage more or 

 less speculative. 



There is no more remarkable instance of the rapid utilization of what was 

 in the first instance regarded by most men as a mere scientific idea, than the 

 adoption and extension of the electric telegraph. 



* Theoretical enej-gy of 1 lb. of coal: — 



Tbe proportions of heat expended in generating saturated steam at 212° Fahr., and 

 at 14'7 lbs. pressure per square inch, from water at 212° are : 



TJnila Mechanical 



of equivalent 



heat. in foot lbs. 



I. lu the formation of steam 892-8 089,242 



II. In resisting the incumbent pressure of 14-7 



lbs. per square inch 72-3 55,815 



965-1 745,057 



One pound of Welsh coal will theoretically evaporate 15 lbs. of water at 212° to 



steam at 212". Therefore the full theoretical value of the combustion of 2 lbs. of 



Welsh coal is 



2 X 15 X 745,057 foot pounds, 



or 



2 X 15 x7 45,057 , .» j • i i, 



P-- 7tWW.7; horse-power, if consumed in 1 hour, 



60 X 33,000 '■ ' 



= 11-2 horse-power. 



As the consumption of coal per effective horse-power in a marine engine is 2 lbs., 



the powei; obtained is to the whole theoretical power as 1 is to 11. 



