USE OF ELECTRICITY ON GERMAN VESSELS. The incomparable development of the German shipbuilding industry during the past twenty years has called forth all the ingenuity of the technical engineer. That Germany to-day possesses the fastest vessels which cross the Atlantic is a triumph due chiefly to the skill of the trained machinist. In no merchant marine is electricity used in connection with all the latest inventions to a greater extent than on German vessels. Its application to the comfort and safety of ocean travel presents one of the brightest chapters in the history of modern shipbuilding. The Kronprinz Wilhelm, the latest express steamer afloat, furnishes the best example of the use of electricity at sea. All the cabins have not only electric lights and call bells, but are fitted up with telephones as well. The first-class cabins on the promenade deck and the dining room are heated by 104 electric ovens. Electricity is applied to 40 small and 19 large motors, as well as to many cranes and ventilators. The power for the motors from which the electricity is derived for lighting and other purposes is generated by four independent dynamos. Connected with the dynamos are four compound steam engines. Three dynamos are situated behind the engine room between the two huge propelling screws. They are protected by water-tight bulkheads and are separated from the engine room and piston rod by solid partition doors. The fourth dynamo (fig. 1) is located in a large niche in the engine room, above the water line and on a level with the main deck. An interesting feature of the application of electricity on shipboard is the so-called Schotten telegraph, or bulkhead telegraphy. In the moment of danger caused by a collision, this telegraph enables the captain on the bridge to see whether all the water-tight doors are closed or not. On board the Kronprinz Wilhelm, there are 40 such doors, 21 of which are electric trap contrivances, which fall into place at a moment's notice. There is a water-tight apparatus joined to each one of these doors, which is connected by wire with a tableau on the commanding bridge. This tableau shows the captain a complete plan of all the decks, and every time a trapdoor falls into place he is apprised of the fact by the lighting of an electric lamp. These lamps are brought into position exactly behind the holes on the bulkhead (fig. 2) or plan of the decks, so that a glance is sufficient to know if the doors are closed or not. In case of danger, the ship's crew receives the alarm by means of 36 electric bells, which are distributed throughout the vessel. These bells are divided into two electric-current circles. The 12 bells of the first division are located in the boiler, machine, dynamo, and steerage rooms-that is, in every place where a water-tight trapdoor is situated. The 24 bells of the second division are located throughout the entire ship and serve to summon the whole crew when necessary. The alarm apparatus is fed with 100 volts directly from the engine room. The whole outfit was constructed especially for the Kronprinz Wilhelm, and is entirely waterproof in every respect. The fire-alarm signals are similar to those above described. The moment a fire breaks out, it is exactly located on a chart in the pilot room by means of an electric lamp. There are 13 electric fire alarms distributed throughout the ship. The entire electric outfit on board the Kronprinz Wilhelm was put in by the Union Elektricitäts Gesellschaft, in Berlin. It took 70 men six months to complete the work. Figure 3 shows powerful electric cranes in use on the Kronprinz Wilhelm. EIBENSTOCK, January 24, 1903. ERNEST L. HARRIS, |