are
already beginning to fail in many parts of the world, or to the same
effect, are mined and brought to market at such increasing cost, and
applied to so many new purposes day by day, that in a few years the
price will place them entirely beyond the reach of commercial purposes
upon the ocean. It is contended, however, that the science of
engineering is also rapidly advancing, and that we shall soon have
some discovery by which we can have heat without fuel, and power
without heat. But I have heard of those imaginary engineering hopes so
long that I begin to believe them vague, and that we shall yet for a
few generations measure the power applied by the number of pounds of
coal consumed. From past experiences and present indications we can
predicate nothing with more certainty of fuel than that it will
indefinitely increase in price. I am satisfied, therefore, that with
all of the capabilities of steam it can never be applied to general
ocean transportation; first, because undesirable; and second, because
impossible even if desirable. But to show more clearly that it is
impossible, I will now make some inquiries concerning the cost of
ocean steam, which is the cardinal point of interest in marine
propulsion.

SECTION IV.

COST OF STEAM: OCEAN MAIL SPEED.

MISAPPREHENSION OF THE HIGH COST OF STEAM MARINE PROPULSION: VIEWS
OF THE NON-PROFESSIONAL: HIGH SPEED NECESSARY FOR THE DISTANCES IN
OUR COUNTRY: WHAT IS THE COST OF HIGH ADEQUATE MAIL SPEED: FAST
STEAMERS REQUIRE STRONGER PARTS IN EVERY THING: GREATER OUTLAY IN
PRIME COST: MORE FREQUENT AND COSTLY REPAIRS: MORE WATCHFULNESS
AND MEN: MORE COSTLY FUEL, ENGINEERS, FIREMEN, AND COAL-PASSERS:
GREAT STRENGTH OF HULL REQUIRED: ALSO IN ENGINES, BOILERS, AND
PARTS: WHY THE PRIME COST INCREASES: THEORY OF REPAIRS: FRICTION
AND BREAKAGES: BOILERS AND FURNACES BURNING OUT: REPAIRS TWELVE TO
EIGHTEEN PER CENT: DEPRECIATION: SEVERAL LINES CITED; USES FOR
MORE MEN: EXTRA FUEL, AND LESS FREIGHT-ROOM: BRITISH TRADE AND
COAL CONSUMPTION:

THE NATURAL LAWS OF RESISTANCE, POWER, AND SPEED, WITH TABLE: THE
RESISTANCE VARIES AS IS THE SQUARE OF THE VELOCITY: THE POWER, OR
FUEL, VARIES AS THE CUBE OF THE VELOCITY: THE RATIONALE:
AUTHORITIES CITED IN PROOF OF THE LAW: EXAMPLES, AND THE FORMULAE:
COAL-TABLE; NO. I.: QUANTITY OF FUEL FOR DIFFERENT SPEEDS AND
DISPLACEMENTS: DEDUCTIONS FROM THE TABLE: RATES AT