Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 260, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 October 1919 — Page 2

W »NCLE Snn.’s superdrendnaughf New ■ I Mexico is very much in the yes of ■ the world, these days for the special .'reason that this battleship is the first of any nation to be propelled by yTfr fqaJf elect riety. Moreover, electric drive ATT has been to successful and its flght- - w Ing advantages have become so gen--5 erally recognized that the navy de- | partinent htTsMecrdetT'ho equip nil of JU Us new capital ships with electric propulsion apparatus. The New Mexico is a most impressive fighting machine. She was built at the Brook* Jyn navy yard and launched in the sunliner of 1917. jKhe Is G 24 feet over alt; She AVeTghs (displaces) - 32,000 tons. She draws 30 feet of water. She has !97 -feet 4*4 inches be;du at the Waterline;- At- full (speed she can make, slightly In - 4nn hour, propulsion. Her crew numbers nearly 1,200 men. 2She burns oil instead of coal as ftier and has a total fuel capacity of about 1,000,000 gallons. It's not an easy thing nowadays to get permtsfcion to examine a bat tleship from stem to. stern and to take photographs of her interior.? But representatives of one of the big concerns which had a‘hand in making the New Mexico what she ts was recently allowed the privileges—which has been exceedingly rare since the beginning of the Igreat war. The following- account of an inspection of the superdread naught at drydock in the navy yard is the result. Lieut. Com. P. L. Carroll, chief engineer, turns ns over to one of the junior engineers We start •with the navigating bridge and examine the variious pieces of apparatus for transmitting signals ko the engine room for the control of tpe vessel, and to half a dozen other parts of the ship, each of which has a particular and important function to perform. Next we begin a systematic survey of the ship, and-to begin as far down intp <the vitals of the vessel as possible we are led through circuitous routes, down steep hatchways, through narrow alleys, and down-mote ladders, — (through deck after <k»ek until we have lost all knowledge of time and space.

We find ourselves nt last tm the vepr bottom of the strip, directly behind the rudder. A complicated mass of machinery, pistons, rods, valves, dials and electric motors, combine to make up the steering gear engine. This machinery is operated and controlled directly from the navigating bridge by a control device. This is only one of five different methods of steering the ship. In a water-tight compartment directly aft is what* is known as the auxiliary steering gear. And here see four large wheels connected to a shaft *vhich when occasion demands, can be used to ’piove the rudder by hand —which takes eight men. 14ut this shaift is. also connected- to an . electric,. " jnotoryrrid by the simpleUrrTiot d switch” can be" ; operated electrically. electrical uhit£_ control and if all steering methods fail, a “jury” rudder may be rlgged-off-the stern. Going forward along the bottom of the ship we come presently to the propeller shafts—four in number —each operating an immense propeller. ’These shafts extend from the motors which operate them back through the ship and out at the stern, through what are known respectively as the starboard outboard shaft alley, starboard inboard, port inboard and port outboard alleys. Following forward along the inboard shaft we go through several more water-tight compartments. drop '•down a hatchway and find ourselves in the propelling motor room. This is the section of the ehip which actually drives the propellers; The tremendous motor which meets our gaze “eierv This motor stands 12 feet high from the floor innd is 12 feet wide. It generates 7,000 horsepower. Like the rest, it is inclosed in a water-tight compartment, protected by bulkheads, and if anything isbould happen to It, the current may be cut off mt once and directed to rhe operation of the other three propellers. To see how the motor is controlled, reversed, started, stopped, etc., we follow the wire cables further forward, still almost on the bottom of theship until we come to what the engineers call the icenter engine room. Here spread out before us Hies a switchboard containing levers, dials, telephones, indicators, and instruments for measuring electrical currents. It is the main control station of the ship containing the arteries through which courses the life blood of the ves- , «el. the electrical current In fact, it is often icalled the heart of the vessel. Here in'this compartment the electrical current Hm received, measured i» nd passed on to the motors which we have just left. From this station the propellers may be made to reverse, or to go at •full speed ahead; two''? repellers may be reversed while the other two are driven ahead. Here also any combination of control may be made up. The ‘flexibility of control made possible by this central control station constitutes one of the advantages of the system of Electric drive. The captain <of the ship communicates directly to this station •and gives instructions concerning the control of the vessel. Having seen bow the ship is propelled, and controlled, we are naturally curious to see the spuree from which «he tremendous energy comes. The cables from the switchboard lead us forward Into

U.S.S. NEW MEXICO: First Electrified Battleship

another compartment where we view.the machine which genera tes the electrical current which turns Aho propellers.- ——- ——- This is the turbo-generator section. There are two turbo-generators consisting of a steam turbine direct, connected to a powerful generator. This generator is operated by the steam turbine and produces the current we have been seeking. Each of the turbo-generators produces 14.000 horsepower. In technical language this spot within the shlp is known as the power plant. The turbine is an essential part of this plant. Tt Illustrates another advantage of the electric drive. A steam turbine to operate at its maximum efficiency must revolve at a relatively high speed, say 2,000 revolutions per minute. On the other . hand, the propeller to be most efficient, must revolve with comparative slowness, say 200 revolutions per minute. This is because if the propellers revolved at high speed they would merely churn up the water and fail to drive the vessel ahead. Now electricity acts as a connecting link between this highspeed .urbine.and the low-speed motor which drives the propellers. Mechanical gears, which in the turbine driven vessel have been used to reduce the turbine speed down to a suitable propeller speed, are entirely eliminated, -and =thenecessary^retluctlcm-ace^npHshed pie electrical means. .Moreover the operating urate'wntvf tight’ compartments; Inirddirronthe" machinery is grouped very close to the center of ~tlie~Shlp us lar as possible away from- the oideg. ‘The possibility of sd grouping the machinery,” says an officer, ‘‘means a greater protection of the apparatus from shell fire, grounding and collision. We might say that this feature, plus the flexibility of control and the ability to cut off defective or damaged apparatus, constitutes one of the essential superiorities of electric drive.” To follow the power route to its source, we must go still -further- forward to a point- amidships. Here are nine huge steuin boilers, arranged’ three in a compartment. They store up the steam under a pressure of 250 pounds to the square inch and deliver it to the turbines. The New Mexico burns oil Instead of coal. New Mexico niffy -be briefly summarized as follows : Nine steam boilers deliver steam to two turbines. The two turbines operate two generators. The two generators produce electricar current. The electrical current is led through popper cables to a control station where it is distributed and passed on to four big motors. Each of the four motors turns a propeller and thus the ship is driven through the water. The current which the two turbo-generators produce is used entirely in the actual propulsion of the vessel. The New Mexico must have additional electrical energy with which to operate scores of auxiliary apparatus. For instance, electric motors operate the 12Iheh and 14-inch guns, blowers which supply the ventilation of the ship, electric fans, telephones, heaters, pumps, refrigeratiag machinery, wireless apparatus, kitchen appliances, laundry equipment, etc., to say nothing of the lighting system. Mo(or-driven machinery also operates the boat cranes and the-anchor windlass. There are'scores of storage batteries which stand ready to keep the electric lights going should the main lighting system fail. It has been estimated that there are aboard the New Mexico no less than 50 Electric motors. “Where does the current come from to operate them?” we ask. It comes from six auxiliary turbo-generator sets and we find two Of them well up toward the -bow of the vessel. stiH on the same level as the boiler room from which we have Just emerged. This turbo-generator, and the others similar to it, are responsible for the wonderful applications of electricity which we will make the acquaintance of as we go upward through the New Mexico. There are four separate decks

THE EVENING REPUBLICAN, RENSSELAER, IND.

between the bottom of the’ ship and the main deck. . —— AU the baking is done electrically—electric motors the dough mixers, and dough kneaders, while the loaves are baked in electrically heated ovens. Next we vjsit the electric laundry with its many ingenious machines electrically 'driven. Electricity also plays its part in other places, such T as the crew’s library, reading room and recreation quarters; the barber shop; the sick bay, with its up-to-date operating room; Capt. A. L. Willard's quarters, the officers’ wardrooms, etc. The New Mexico has 12 14-Inch guns and many of smaller caliber. Including a battery of anti-aircraft guns. The larger caliber guns, three ~in each of four turrets, are operated by electricity. The turrets are revolved and the guns elevated by ejectric motors. Ammunition hoists run electrically and there are electricNgun loaders, while even the big guns are fired by electrical means, but the smaller caliber guns are generally oprated by hand. In examining into the control of these great batteries of destruction, we come to one of the most interesting spots on the ship—the conning tower. Navy regulations designed to withhold .important matters of military .dfesijgy forbid ua from obtaining a picture of the conning tower. -But it. Is permlssib l e fn tt briefly The conn Ing tower is a well-shaped’ shaft extending perpendicularly through the ship from top to bottom with bidders running un and down the sides and convenient methods of transmitting instructions by means of indicators and telephones. During an action the vessel’s commanding officer usually stations himself in this tower which is also known as one of several fire-control stations and transmits instructions. • Up on one of the masts we encounter one of the big “eyes” of the ship—an electrical eye which can see for miles in inky darkness, The current for the operation of the searchlight comes from one of the turbo-generators heretofore described. Is the electrical propulsion- of marine vessels opening up an entirely new era of scientific ad-vancement-and will the day come when the seven onr own navy is concerned. Secretary Daniels expressed the essence of the idea when he said: “I think this country has cause to be proud of this achievement in engineering, not alone because of the pronounced success in this particular instance (referring to the New Mexico), but because of the assurance it gives us of the superiority of, our capital ships to those of foreign countries.” “The New Mexico is the first and only dreadnaught of any nation to have electrically operated propelling machinery,” continued Secretary Daniels. “On this account she has been an object of surpassing interest to the officers of our own navy and to those-of foreign navies as well, and to electrical engineers in general. “The result was satisfactory from every point of view and corifirmed the judgment of all-who were in any way concerned in its design and adoption. There was not the slightest mishap with any part of It, everything worked to perfection, arid the crew Was as enthusiastic over the performance of the machinery as is the department proud in the possession of such an efficient dreadnaught. “When we entered into contract for the ma- ‘ chinery we stipulated that, In addition to being capable of developing the maximum power, she should also give an economy at cruising speed very much superior to that with the turbine installations previously used. This stringent requirement was also met. As a matter of dactl the New Mexico will steam at ten knots on less fuel Than the best turbine-driven ship that preceded her” Anyway, electrical engineers are now turning their attention to the adoption of similar principles to the driving of merchant ships and to large passenger vessels.

In Princess Gown

Favored Frock Not Affected by Downfall of Royalty. Women Cling to Some Version of This Type of Dress—New Evening Style. The general downfall of royalty seems" to have affected not one whit, the princess frock. Always there are WnwFffngWTWho cling to Some version of this type of dress. This ye&r there are quite a few New York

White Taffeta Evening Gown.

designers who are adopting the princess frock, states a fashion writer. Of course, the princess of this year is a very different affair from that tightly molded dress which policed the figure some years ago. Very often the distinctive touch is confined to one side and draping is arrangedso skillfully that the line is becoming to both slim and not so. A new evening frock is of white taffeta embroidered in silver and combined with silver lace, which gives an echo of the princess mode on one side only. Like so many of the evening frocks at present, an ostrich plume is employed as the climax of trimming. Both are as familiar in dress scenery as they are in desert scenery.

LONGER AND WIDER SKIRTS

Conservative Styles Are Predicted by the Fashion Art Leaflue at Chicago Convention. ■ .i •» , —Feminine styles the coming fall are to be much different from those now Skirts will be longer—much wider — more conservative. And in this connection there is a war just starting —a war by American women to make the style more conservative. This was the news coming from within the Fashion Art league, in convention recently in Chicago. The doughboy is at the bottom of the whole thing. In France the Parisenne beauties wear extreme styles. When the doughboy struck that country he was dazzled. Styles became more and. home he was full of new ideas of styles, but the American girls rebelled —they went on a fashion strike, demanding new stales., The correct skirt length, according to Madame- AllA‘.Ripley 4 president of the ’ league, should be six to eight inches above the ground. Of course, the width will be built around the person, but generosity will be plentiful among the designers, it was pointed out. Forty-seven inches was agreed on as the average tvidth fof'the slender person.

THAT NEW SUIT FOR WINTER

Advantages and Disadvantages In Having It Ready-Made or Made ' to Order. There are - possible advantages, in going t'o a tailor and having your suit mn de to order and just as many possible advantageanin buying it retdy made. With ffife ready-made suit there is always this: You can see the finished garment. Theite Is never the possiblity that you won't like it after it is finished, for it is finished to begin with. Moreover, if you are a person whose time is precious, the ready-made suit has advantages in that way. Even if it needs rather elaborate alterations you will need far less fitting than if you are having it made entirely to order. And

of course, the ready-made suit, if you buy a good one from a smart shop, has probably been made according to the design of a_very skilled and highly paid person, whereas your tailor may or may not have the eye of a real designer and he may or may not follow skillfully the lines of the design you select for him. However, if you are blessed with a good figure the tailor will reveal the faet as the ready-made suit cannot possibly do, even if it is altered, f orl ready-mades according to designs that do not as a rule play up the figure. They must be built for the average figure and built according to lines that require the least possible fitting. If you do go to the tailor bear this in mind: That for this winter suits made of heavy men’s suit fabrics 4tre going to be extremely smart. Select such a fabric that shows a decided stripe—one that would probably not be the one you would choose for your husband or son, because the stripes should be quite far apart and quite noticeable. A suiting .ofj dark slate gray with a lighter gray stripe is a splendid selection. Now have the bodice pieces of the pattern cut lengthwise of the stripe with a tunic on the jacket cut the other way of the material. Or in some such way as jthis make use of the striping to give the suit its only trimming.

DRESSES NOW MADE OF KID

Whole Sport Outfits Made of the Material and Some Have Leather Ornamentation. The increasing use of kid and other soft leathers for the making and trimming of Women’s garments is bringing up the question here as to what effect it will have on other lines. Latest fashion reports from Deauville say .that whole sport dresses made of colored kid were worn at the recent races there, * and the Paris cables tell of leather dewdabs on many of the new frocks, says the New, York Times. In view of the reported general scarcity of kid, which there is no reason to doubt, the question has arisen as to just what effect this vogue will have on the supply available for the glove and shoe trades. It is also asked if the use of colored outer garments of kid will bring about a revival of the vari-colored kid shoes that were so much in vogue here a few years ago, and also serve to increase the color ranges of kid glove offerings in the near future.

TO MAKE NEWSPAPER HOLDER

Remnant of Narrow Stair Carpet May Be Easily Made Into Decora- x tive Article. The sketch shows a gooduSe to which a remnant of narrow stair-car-pet may he put, in the way of making a newspaper holder with it for hanging upon the wall. If possible, the carpet should be selected of a color to match or harmonize with the wallpaper upon which it is to hang. The edges* where the carpet has been, cut are bound with colored braid,

An Easily-Made Newspaper Holder.

and at each corner a ring is sewn on in the manner shown in sketch B. Then nails are driven into the wall at a distance apart Corresponding with the width of the carpet, and they should slant slightly upwards in the way illustrated in-diagram A. f | nn il.q so that the carpet hangs downwards and forms a large loop, into which the. papers may be slipped from either side. All tidy housewives like a place to papers in, so that they do not litter the room, and this is just the thing needed, as it is strong and practical. i

FASHION BREVITIES

Irish crochet blouses are new for fall. A little bag of fine gold-plated mesh is always smart. Blouse coats are really becoming only to small women. ’ An imported overblouse of gold colored georgette has monkey fur about the sleeves and skirt hem. . - { The gowns that combine pink and blue are decidedly French-' The bigger and • more crushabie a sash is the morq stylish it is. Purple chiffon over red velvet in a negligee is almost exotic in its beauty. Cadet plaits are the means employed to acquire the popular ripple effect in a coat suit. Yellow is Introduced on navy blue serge frocks-for the growing girl by means of Wool embroidery or pipings*

To Prevent Crocking.

Before wearing black stockings or black cotton gloves, scald them in salt and water and they will not crock.