Chapter I: Preface

The great activity in shipbuilding and marine engineering during recent years, and the substantial progress, both in science and practice, which has marked the period, have often formed the subject of articles in the technical and daily press, and of papers read before professional institutions. So far as I am aware, however, no single work dealing historically with modern shipbuilding in a way at once trustworthy and popular, and in a form handy and accessible, has yet been published. The present work aims at supplying this want. In undertaking it originally, I felt encouraged by the acceptance which various articles, contributed to the columns of the _Glasgow Herald_, _The Engineer_, _The Steamship_, _Iron_, &c., had met with from many whose good opinion I had reason to value highly. With the kind permission of the proprietors of the above journals, I have made use to some extent of the articles in question—but largely amplified and corrected—in preparing the following pages.

The work is concerned exclusively with shipbuilding for the merchant marine, and no attempt is made to trace the progress connected with naval shipbuilding, although some of the many important influences which the one exerts upon the other have been indicated. Even as thus defined and restricted, the field of review is so vast that the limits which I had determined should bound the work with respect to price, and consequently with respect to size, have compelled me to treat briefly and in a general way many matters which it might have been of interest to enlarge upon. The list of authoritative papers and lectures to which readers can at first hand refer—given at the end of each chapter—may, it is hoped, compensate to some extent for these deficiencies.

The book being mainly historical, originality in the strict sense of the term cannot, of course, be urged for much of the contained matter; but efforts have been made throughout to present trustworthy statements of the very latest steps in advance. This is specially true of the chapter on scientific progress. My object, however, having been more to enlighten general readers than to seek to interest or inform professional ones, it is perhaps wanting in the scientific fulness needed to give it special value, viewed from the standpoint of the trained naval architect.

While the biographies and portraits given throughout the book may be considered fairly representative of those who as shipbuilders, shipowners, naval architects, or marine engineers have made their influence felt on the world’s mercantile marine during the period of review, the collection by no means includes all who are deserving of such notice. The subjects of portraiture are all in life, and actively engaged in their respective spheres of labour. The diffidence generally evinced by them in consenting that their likenesses and the note of their professional career should be given, has made my task one of difficulty. What may be called the over-diffidence of a few, originally selected for portraiture, has to some extent occasioned the incompleteness now commented upon.

As further accounting for the limitations of the present work, I think it fitting to add that the preparation of the whole book, including the task of seeing it through the press, has devolved upon me at a time when the ordinary intervals of respite from daily business have had to suffice for its accomplishment.

My best thanks are due to those firms and individuals to whom I had to appeal for statistics and other particulars, for their generally ready and courteous attention to my requests.

DAVID POLLOCK.

DUMBARTON, _November, 1884_.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

RECENT PROGRESS IN STEAMSHIP CONSTRUCTION.
PAGE
Growth in Dimensions of Steamships—America’s Place in Ocean Traffic—
Shipbuilding in America—Wood _versus_ Iron Shipbuilding—Introduction
of Mild Steel for Shipbuilding—Suitability of Mild Steel for
Shipbuilding—Economical Advantages of Steel Ships—Reduction in Cost
of Mild Steel—Pioneer Steel Steamships—Cellular Bottom Steamships—
Description of Cellular Bottom System—Adoption of Water Ballast—
Spread of Cellular Bottom System—Cellular Bottom Sailing Ships—Minor
Structural Modifications—Cast Steel Stern Frames, Rudders, &c.—
Advantages of Cast Steel Stern Frames, Rudders, &c.—Probable Future
of Steel Castings—List of Papers, &c., bearing on Ship Construction 1

CHAPTER II.

SPEED AND POWER OF MODERN STEAMSHIPS.

Early Atlantic Mail Steamers—Reduction of the Atlantic Passage-time—
Modern Transatlantic Steamships—Fast Atlantic Passages—The Future
of the Atlantic Service—Cape of Good Hope Mail Service—Employment of
Steamers on Long Voyages—Australian Direct Steam Service—New Zealand
Direct Steam Service—Increased Number of High-Speed Steamers—Economy
in Coal Consumption—Construction of Modern Marine Boilers—Improved
Boiler Fittings—Combustion by Forced Draught—Reduced Weight of
Machinery—Triple Expansion Engines—Designs for “Ships of the Future”—
The Future of Ship Propulsion—List of Papers bearing on Speed and
Power of Steamships 27

CHAPTER III.

SAFETY AND COMFORT OF MODERN STEAMSHIPS.

Water-tight Sub-division—Value of Proper Sub-division—Dangers of
Inefficient Sub-division—Merchant Steamers on Admiralty List—Safety
due to Double Bottoms—Safety due to Employment of Steel—Safety as
affected by Construction—Causes of Unseaworthiness—High Qualities of
Ship Construction—Safety due to Articles of Outfit—Improved Nautical
Instruments—Devices for Unsinkable Ships—Devices for Life-Saving—
Comfort on Board Modern Steamships—Comfort as affecting Ship Design—
Improved Saloon Accommodation—Electric Light on Board Ship—Electric
Ship Signal Lights—Ventilation on Board Ship—Improved Systems of
Ventilation—Hydraulic Appliances on Board Ship—The Bessemer Channel
Steamer—The Causes and Alleviation of Sea Sickness—Progress due to
Novelty in Design—List of Papers, &c., bearing on Safety and Comfort
of Ships 51