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The Ships of the Future
Appendix
Appendix.
| (1.) | The establishment of the "Ships of the future" would increase the importance of all first-rate harbours, that is those with room to manceuvre in, and good breadth of entrance channels, though very great depth would not be required, as their draught would he scarcely equal to that of some of the vessels of the present time. I believe though that such ships might, with a flowing tide, be safely allowed to ground on ocean beaches (those with a shore deepening suddenly and free from rocks) when the wind was off the land, and receive cargo there by means of suspension bridges, rigged quickly from plant carried on the vessel. |
| (2.) |
In the case of canals such as the Suez, and Panama to be, there would be a difficulty with these broad vessels. But perhaps the possibility, if not probability, will be that by and by, in place of canals at these places (perhaps at Nicaragua in preference to the latter-named one), or supplementary thereto, there will be railways of over one thousand feet in breadth, made with a hundred or more parallel rails, on which these flat bottomed ships could ride from one ocean to another. These railways, though of such great breadth, would perhaps not cost much more than canals of the ordinary widlh. One weak point seems to be that when going before the wind, wave power would be reduced. In going against the wind it would be increased. It would follow from this that the at present adopted principle of choosing ocean routes between such places as England and Australasia should be reversed; going southwards by the Horn and returning northwards by the Cape. |
| (3.) | It is very possible that the result I have brought out as to amount of horsepower may be proved by experts to be fallacious. Still even if it were so, as to the large amount quoted, prima, facie, there must be a good amount of auxiliary power, at least, to be got from the method proposed; and even if the whole thing as to utilising the said power were a delusion practically—though delayed thereby, the establishment of the class of vessels proposed would be certain sooner or later to be accomplished. Of course strong steam power, in any case, would require to be always available, when wanted for smooth water and harbour service, unless there was surplus wave power which could be stored for the purpose of using at such times. |
| (4.) | I would state that since finishing the composition and fair copy of this paper, I have read the Times' leading article of May 2 last (1889.) on "Imperial Defence" with greatly satisfactory appreciation, and think it more than makes up for all the defaults of that of the 11th of April preceding alluded to. There appears not a point in it to be taken exception to, but on the contrary it is a most concise and lucid statement of the true conditions of the subject, comprising everything to be considered in dealing with it. |
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