OUR RIVER BANKS.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 931, 11 June 1878, Page 2

OUR RIVER BANKS.

Sir,— As there is' no , doubt that ihe steamers are daily washing away banks .of the Waikato and "VYaipa risers, the enclosed extract from the ' Baltimore Gazette ' may be of interest to many of your readers ; — " About .three years ago, an intelligent mechanic began' to put into shape' some ideas he had concerning water as a propelling power for vessels. The Alpha is a Baltimore built boat, constructed; on . the tugboat model, and as neat a thing of the kind as there is afloat. She is 43ft. m length, and has lOhit. of beam. She is . furnished with" one" 16 horse-power horizontal tubular boiler, and a No. 7 KnowleV pump: From the pump to the ; stern[arb two lines of pipe, which strike the water about three feet beneath the surface. Two similar lines run to the bow. The pump drives through each pipe' a 2 Jiii. stream, : which enters the water through a' : 7'Bin.< nozzle. With 601bs of steam,- the pump makes 180 strokes to the minute,, each stroke driving a stream into the body of water. The Alpha made ten knots an hour under GOlbs pressure. There was not a ripple astern, and no perceptible displacement of the water except tho little made by the cutting of the bow. She was backed and turned with perfect ease. To back the boat, the stream is driven through the bow nozzles, and the craft obeys on the infetani. If the -boat were to spring a leak, the pump would draw its supply from the hold and gj on with its work. It is claimed that a vossel provided with this applian.ee could not sink under ordinary leakage.- In case of fire on board, a line of hose is attached to the pump, and m a second there is a floating steam engine. The inventor claims that the idea is suitable for any vessel, but it is mostly intended for canal service -to save tho banks".— l am, etc., Tnos. Wilson.