22 



ON TUB METHOD ADOPTED TO COMPOUND 



ation wliethcr the old state of thingf? sliould be porpctnatcd 

 by replacing the old boilers with new of similar construction, 

 or whether by some means the efficiency of the vessel as to 

 speed and cargo-carrying capacity conld still bo maintained, 

 and at the same time the coal bill reduced, which is as you 

 are aware the big leak through which the gross earnings 

 of a stefi.mcr disperses itself; and I would take this 

 opportunity of improssing upon you all, in these times of 

 distressed ship-owners, with what readiness they would re- 

 ceive any one who would introduce to them a means where- 

 by their coal bills may be mateiially I'educcd or done away 

 with altogether. 



I have great faith that electricity has a mine of wealth in 

 store for us here. Cannot some of our electrical bi'cthren 

 come forward and help us ? 



However, I must not waste any more time in vain specula- 

 tions, but return to the consideration of what is to bo done 

 with our boilers. 



At this time scarcely anything was being built but com- 

 pound marine engines, with boilers working up to as much 

 as 100 lbs. per sqnare inch, and consuming about one-half 

 the coal per indicated horse power ; here at once was a great 

 field, for a reduction in the coal bill, and there was consider- 

 able difficulty in resisting the temptation to discard tho old 

 machinery altogether, and rcplac(! it with othoi' on tho com- 

 pound principle, had not tho question of pounds, shillings, 

 and pence obtruded itself into the calculation. How much 

 more satisfactory to themselves it would be were engineers 

 allowed carte blanche in these matters ! 



As it was, at that time, although it was seriously undei- 

 consideration to fit the vessel with the compound machinery, 

 competition was not so keen as to warrant such a heavy out- 

 lay as the doing so would involve ; and although it was 



A 



