Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 39, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 January 1907 — A Solid Floating Foundation. [ARTICLE]

A Solid Floating Foundation.

A writer in the Technical World Magazine tells of a new engineering device, invented by William E. Murray of Los Angeles, Cal., by means of which it is possible to build in the open sea st rue tures that usually require solid rock foundations, such as breakwaters, lighthouses, forts, bridges, etc. These will remain perfectly steady, no matter how turbulent the surface of the sea may be. This result is obtained by immersing the floating structures deep down in the still waters tn such a way that the surface vibration cannot affect them. The simplest form is a hollow upright cylinder of iron, with a broad projecting flange. This base will act as a lever to counteract any horizontal pressure at the top. In this way it is hoped that torpedo stations may be placed far out to sea, forming an impenetrable barrier to an attacking fleet. Again, it is proposed to thus erect floating wharves, which would rise and fall with the tide.