not doubt that this system of towage might with suitable modifications be
advantageously employed on the large rivers in America and elsewhere for
the slow transport of large quantities of raw materials and other bulky
merchandise, a low speed being, as is well known, much more economical
than a high speed, as many of the resistances increase as the square and
even higher powers of the velocity.

* * * * *




STEAMBOAT EQUIPMENT OF WAR VESSELS.


The larger ships in the navy, and some of the more recent small ones, such
as the new cruisers of the Phaeton class, are fitted with powerful steam
winches of a type made by Messrs. Belliss and Co. These are used for
lifting the pinnaces and torpedo boats.

We give an illustration of one of these winches. The cylinders are 6 in.
in diameter and 10 in. stroke. The barrel is grooved for wire rope, and is
safe to raise the second class steel torpedo boats, weighing nearly 12
tons as lifted. The worm gearing is very carefully cut, so that the work
can be done quietly and safely. With machinery of this kind a boat is soon
put into the water, and as an arrangement is fitted for filling the boat's
boilers with hot water from the ship's boilers, the small craft can be
under way in a very short time from the order being given.

Mr. White is fitting compound engines with outside condensers to boats as