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]
CHAPTER IV.
PROGRESS IN THE SCIENCE OF SHIPBUILDING.
The Lessons of Disaster—Sources of Scientific Knowledge—Government Schools of Naval Architecture—Greenwich Royal Naval College—The Transition from Sail to Steam and from Wood to Iron in Shipbuilding—Labours of Russell, Rankine, and Froude—Institution of Naval Architects—Recent Scientific Progress—Outlines of Fundamental Principles—Shortened Methods of Ship Design—Metacentric Stability—Atwood’s Stability Theorem—Improvements of Atwood’s Method—Stability at Light-Draught—Stability Curves at Different Draughts—Cross-Curves of Stability—Stability Curves by Experiment—Stowage as affecting Stability—Speed and Power of Steamships—Approximating to Power Required—Progressive Speed Trials—Curves of Speed and Power, &c.—Speed Experiments with Models—Froude’s Law of Comparison—Relative Efficiency of Hull, Engines, and Propellers—Investigations of Strength of Iron Vessels—Reed’s and John’s Investigations—Strength Investigations as Affecting Registry Rules—Agencies for Scientific Education—University Chairs of Naval Architecture—List of Papers on the Science of Shipbuilding[84]
CHAPTER V.
PROGRESS IN METHODS OF SHIPYARD WORK.
Piece-work System in Shipyards—Increased Use of Machinery—Powerful Punching Machines—Hydraulic Power Machines—Portable Hydraulic Riveters—Machine Riveting of Shell Plating—Hydraulic Riveting of Deck Work—Hydraulic Riveting of Beams and Frames—Hydraulic Riveting of Cellular Bottom Work—Hydraulic Riveting of Keels—Improved Wood-Working Machinery—Awards to Workmen for Improvements—Lifting Appliances for Heavy Weights—Improved Means of Transport in Shipyards—List of Papers bearing on Modern Shipyard Machine Tools, Appliances, and Methods of Work[129]
CHAPTER VI.
DESCRIPTIONS OF SOME NOTABLE SHIPYARDS.
Messrs J. Elder & Co.’s Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering Works—Messrs Denny & Bros.’ Shipbuilding Works—Messrs J. & G. Thomson’s Shipbuilding and Engineering Works—Palmer Shipbuilding and Iron Company’s Works—Sir W. G. Armstrong, Mitchell & Co.’s Works—Mr Laing’s Deptford Shipbuilding Works—The Works of the Barrow Shipbuilding Company—Relative Output of Tonnage by the largest Firms[150]
CHAPTER VII.
OUTPUT OF TONNAGE IN THE PRINCIPAL DISTRICTS.
Inaccuracy of Tonnage Statistics—Curves of Tonnage Output—Output in the Clyde District—Output in the Tyne District—Output in the Wear District—Relative Output in Principal Districts—Statistics of Steel Tonnage[184]
CHAPTER VIII.
THE PRODUCTION OF LARGE STEAMSHIPS.
List of Vessels over 4000 Tons Presently or at one time Afloat—The Years in which the Production of Large Steamships have been Greatest—The Individual Share of the several Districts in Producing Large Steamships[198]
APPENDIX.
CALCULATING INSTRUMENTS.
Fuller’s Spiral Slide rule—Amsler’s Polar Fixed-scale Planimeter—Amsler’s Proportional or Variable-scale Planimeter—Amsler’s Mechanical Integrator[207]

PORTRAITS AND BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES.

John Burns,facingPage[2]
Nathaniel Dunlop,””[12]
Thomas Henderson,””[20]
William Pearce,””[30]
James Anderson,””[36]
Alexander C. Kirk,””[44]
Benjamin Martell,””[60]
William H. White,””[86]
John Inglis, Jun.,””[106]
Sir Edward J. Reed,””[108]
Prof. Francis Elgar,””[114]
William Denny,””[118]
William John,””[124]
Charles Mark Palmer,””[172]
James Laing,””[178]

VIEWS OF NOTABLE STEAMSHIPS.

S.S. “City of Rome,”Anchor Line,[Frontispiece.]
S.S. “Umbria,”Cunard Line,facing Page[6]
S.S. “Austral,”Anchor Line,” ”[36]

ERRATA.

[Page 11.]—Thirteenth line from top: for 1883 read 1884.
[Page 81.]—Fourth line from top: for “a single trial” read “one or two trials.”
[Page 163.]—Fourth line from top: for 1884 read 1845.
[Page 187.]—Third line from top: for “fluctuations” read “fluctuation.”
[Page 200.]—Dimensions of “City of Rome”: for 546 by 52 by 58¾ read 546 by 52 by 38¾.