Engineering Wonders of the World
Volume I

320 ENGINEERING WONDERS OF THE WORLD. DIAGRAM SHOWING INCREASE IN THE HORSE-POWER OF THE CUNARD LINERS’ ENGINES DURING THE PERIOD 1840-1907. result of commercial considerations, as to maintain a higher speed than 25 knots over an ocean voyage would involve enormous outlay, owing to the great size of vessel and the heavy consumption of fuel required. On the other hand, such considerations do not- at all events not to the same extent—affect warships, and it is likely that the speed of the smaller units of the world’s fighting fleets (torpedo-boat destroyers, etc.), and possibly also of battleships and armoured cruisers, will be appreciably increased during the next few years. On the equally important question of ships of larger dimensions, it may be remarked that the tendency to increase in size has, for some years past, been strong and continuous. The world has not ceased to marvel at the huge proportions of the two latest Cunarders ; but already two vessels of greater size, although of much less speed, are under construction at Belfast for the White Star Line. These two liners will each be well over 800 feet in length, and their tonnage will approach 43,000. There are really no structural difficulties which could not be surmounted in building steamers 1,000 feet long, and many of the great shipbuilding firms have laid out building berths capable of dealing with ships of that size. Experience proves that the power required to drive a ton of ship’s displacement (ship and cargo) at a given speed diminishes, and the working ex- penses per ton become less all round, with increase of size. Naturally, docking and har- bour facilities will be an important factor in the shipbuilding programme of the future. There are at present very few dry docks in existence capable of accommodating vessels like the Lusitania and Mauretania, and it is well known that before these two great ships could enter New York harbour extensive dredg- ing had to be undertaken in order to deepen the channel. Finally, the size of the ships of the future will be determined, as heretofore, by the demands of trade ; and if the ship- owner can find cargoes in large enough quan- tities, or passengers sufficiently numerous, to employ profitably larger vessels than are now afloat or under construction, he will have no difficulty in finding a shipbuilder able and willing to meet his requirements. Judging from past developments, it is not unreasonable to prophesy that the next few years will see the launch of transatlantic leviathans 1,000 feet long, and with a displacement proportion- ately increased. A COMPARISON THAT SPEAKS FOR ITSELF.