While it has been proved that the present system of subdivision into a number of water-tight compartments, which has been adopted by all the large Steamship lines, is a great step towards security, there are occasional instances where large vessels have been sunk notwithstanding this precaution. Absolute buoyancy can only be attained by cellulose protection, and, in the near future, all passenger steamers will be obliged to follow the path adopted by our men-of-war in that direction.
If, by means of a wall or belt of cellulose, protection is insured against the devastating effect of an explosive projectile passing entirely through the belt, how much stronger may be our faith that this same protection will be efficient, when, instead of such an engine of destruction, we have only to withstand the shock of wreckage, or rocks, or icebergs which smash, crack or break, but do not pass entirely through ?
There are navigation laws requiring vessels to provide themselves with signals, fog horns, and the most powerful steering gear, to reduce speed and to follow the rules of the road in fog and storm. But, whether or not they conform to these requirements, the steamers provided with cellulose (in virtue of their absolute unsinkability) will have nothing to fear from the blows received from other vessels, from reefs forgotten by the chart-makers, or from icebergs so prevalent at certain seaso~s of the year.
Our government has adopted the cellulose system on all its latest warships, and it is said to be the intention of the Navy Department to coffer-dam all the warships with cellulose in the near future.
Abstract of a paper read at the stated meeting of the Institute, February 20, I895.