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Modern shipbuilding and the men engaged in it

Chapter 3: PORTRAITS AND BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES.
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About This Book

The book reviews late nineteenth-century advances in merchant steamship design and construction, surveying the transition from wood to iron and mild steel, structural innovations such as cellular bottoms and cast-steel fittings, and evolving practices in ballast and hull subdivision. Chapters examine propulsion and machinery developments that increased speed and fuel economy, boiler and draught improvements, and reductions in engine weight. Safety and passenger comfort are treated through watertight subdivision, double bottoms, life-saving appliances, ventilation, and electric lighting. A chapter outlines scientific progress in naval architecture and design methods. Appendices provide descriptions of prominent shipyards, statistics of production, and portraits with biographical notes of influential figures in the industry.

CONTENTS.


CHAPTER I.
RECENT PROGRESS IN STEAMSHIP CONSTRUCTION.
PAGE
Growth in Dimensions of Steamships—America’s Place in Ocean Traffic—Shipbuilding in America—Wood versus Iron Shipbuilding—Introduction of Mild Steel for Shipbuilding—Suitability of Mild Steel for Shipbuilding—Economical Advantages of Steel Ships—Reduction in Cost of Mild Steel—Pioneer Steel Steamships—Cellular Bottom Steamships—Description of Cellular Bottom System—Adoption of Water Ballast—Spread of Cellular Bottom System—Cellular Bottom Sailing Ships—Minor Structural Modifications—Cast Steel Stern Frames, Rudders, &c.—Advantages of Cast Steel Stern Frames, Rudders, &c.—Probable Future of Steel Castings—List of Papers, &c., bearing on Ship Construction 1
CHAPTER II.
SPEED AND POWER OF MODERN STEAMSHIPS.
Early Atlantic Mail Steamers—Reduction of the Atlantic Passage-time—Modern Transatlantic Steamships—Fast Atlantic Passages—The Future of the Atlantic Service—Cape of Good Hope Mail Service—Employment of Steamers on Long Voyages—Australian Direct Steam Service—New Zealand Direct Steam Service—Increased Number of High-Speed Steamers—Economy in Coal Consumption—Construction of Modern Marine Boilers—Improved Boiler Fittings—Combustion by Forced Draught—Reduced Weight of Machinery—Triple Expansion Engines—Designs for “Ships of the Future”—The Future of Ship Propulsion—List of Papers bearing on Speed and Power of Steamships 27
CHAPTER III.
SAFETY AND COMFORT OF MODERN STEAMSHIPS.
Water-tight Sub-division—Value of Proper Sub-division—Dangers of Inefficient Sub-division—Merchant Steamers on Admiralty List—Safety due to Double Bottoms—Safety due to Employment of Steel—Safety as affected by Construction—Causes of Unseaworthiness—High Qualities of Ship Construction—Safety due to Articles of Outfit—Improved Nautical Instruments—Devices for Unsinkable Ships—Devices for Life-Saving—Comfort on Board Modern Steamships—Comfort as affecting Ship Design—Improved Saloon Accommodation—Electric Light on Board Ship—Electric Ship Signal Lights—Ventilation on Board Ship—Improved Systems of Ventilation—Hydraulic Appliances on Board Ship—The Bessemer Channel Steamer—The Causes and Alleviation of Sea Sickness—Progress due to Novelty in Design—List of Papers, &c., bearing on Safety and Comfort of Ships 51
CHAPTER IV.
PROGRESS IN THE SCIENCE OF SHIPBUILDING.
The Lessons of Disaster—Sources of Scientific Knowledge—Government Schools of Naval Architecture—Greenwich Royal Naval College—The Transition from Sail to Steam and from Wood to Iron in Shipbuilding—Labours of Russell, Rankine, and Froude—Institution of Naval Architects—Recent Scientific Progress—Outlines of Fundamental Principles—Shortened Methods of Ship Design—Metacentric Stability—Atwood’s Stability Theorem—Improvements of Atwood’s Method—Stability at Light-Draught—Stability Curves at Different Draughts—Cross-Curves of Stability—Stability Curves by Experiment—Stowage as affecting Stability—Speed and Power of Steamships—Approximating to Power Required—Progressive Speed Trials—Curves of Speed and Power, &c.—Speed Experiments with Models—Froude’s Law of Comparison—Relative Efficiency of Hull, Engines, and Propellers—Investigations of Strength of Iron Vessels—Reed’s and John’s Investigations—Strength Investigations as Affecting Registry Rules—Agencies for Scientific Education—University Chairs of Naval Architecture—List of Papers on the Science of Shipbuilding 84
CHAPTER V.
PROGRESS IN METHODS OF SHIPYARD WORK.
Piece-work System in Shipyards—Increased Use of Machinery—Powerful Punching Machines—Hydraulic Power Machines—Portable Hydraulic Riveters—Machine Riveting of Shell Plating—Hydraulic Riveting of Deck Work—Hydraulic Riveting of Beams and Frames—Hydraulic Riveting of Cellular Bottom Work—Hydraulic Riveting of Keels—Improved Wood-Working Machinery—Awards to Workmen for Improvements—Lifting Appliances for Heavy Weights—Improved Means of Transport in Shipyards—List of Papers bearing on Modern Shipyard Machine Tools, Appliances, and Methods of Work 129
CHAPTER VI.
DESCRIPTIONS OF SOME NOTABLE SHIPYARDS.
Messrs J. Elder & Co.’s Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering Works—Messrs Denny & Bros.’ Shipbuilding Works—Messrs J. & G. Thomson’s Shipbuilding and Engineering Works—Palmer Shipbuilding and Iron Company’s Works—Sir W. G. Armstrong, Mitchell & Co.’s Works—Mr Laing’s Deptford Shipbuilding Works—The Works of the Barrow Shipbuilding Company—Relative Output of Tonnage by the largest Firms 150
CHAPTER VII.
OUTPUT OF TONNAGE IN THE PRINCIPAL DISTRICTS.
Inaccuracy of Tonnage Statistics—Curves of Tonnage Output—Output in the Clyde District—Output in the Tyne District—Output in the Wear District—Relative Output in Principal Districts—Statistics of Steel Tonnage 184
CHAPTER VIII.
THE PRODUCTION OF LARGE STEAMSHIPS.
List of Vessels over 4000 Tons Presently or at one time Afloat—The Years in which the Production of Large Steamships have been Greatest—The Individual Share of the several Districts in Producing Large Steamships 198
APPENDIX.
CALCULATING INSTRUMENTS.
Fuller’s Spiral Slide rule—Amsler’s Polar Fixed-scale Planimeter—Amsler’s Proportional or Variable-scale Planimeter—Amsler’s Mechanical Integrator 207

PORTRAITS AND BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES.

John Burns, facing Page 2
Nathaniel Dunlop, 12
Thomas Henderson, 20
William Pearce, 30
James Anderson, 36
Alexander C. Kirk, 44
Benjamin Martell, 60
William H. White, 86
John Inglis, Jun., 106
Sir Edward J. Reed, 108
Prof. Francis Elgar, 114
William Denny, 118
William John, 124
Charles Mark Palmer, 172
James Laing, 178