2 
POPULAR SCIENCE REVIEW. 
more or less triangular or wedge-shaped ends to the square 
middle portion of the ship. 
Fig. 1 . — Rudimentary Plan of Ship. 
Such^ then^ was the rudimentary idea of the modern steam- 
ship — wedge-shaped bows to cleave the water ; wedge-shaped 
stern to allow the recoil waters free run to the rudder for 
good steering. Various modifications were from time to time 
introduced^ and retained or abandoned, according to their ob- 
servable success or failure, or their suitability to particular pur- 
poses. Fig. 2 shows the simplest and earliest form of midship 
section, which is most nearly that of a square. Fig. 3 is an 
Fig. 2.— Primary Square Midship Section. 
Fig. 3. — Ordinary Midship Section. 
ordinary midship section of a modern carrying vessel. Both 
presenting considerable superficial area if driven bluffly 
through the sea. With the improvements in steamers im- 
provements were attempted in sailing-vessels, and many 
fanciful notions of hulls were tried and experimented on. 
The most important of these were the cylindrical and the 
wedge-shaped. The value of the last was singularly at variance 
with the preconceived ideas of making a sailing-ship carrying* 
a great press of sail deep in the water and heavily ballasted, 
by proving that the main resistance to the capsizing leverage 
of the masts was in the breadth of the upper part or deck — in 
‘^‘’beam.’’-’ But the most remarkable sailing-vessel was the yacht 
Americoj, in form something like this (fig. 4). About 100 feet in 
length ; her bow was nearly 
two-thirds, or considerably 
more than 50 feet. 
To return, however, to 
steamers. When the water 
is driveii aside by a moving 
object it forms a wave, as we 
daily see along the bows of om* river boats ; and the form of 
