which they were originally designed for was rather above normal, and consisted of new adaptations of the passenger accommodations and freight spaces, together with the substitution of oil-burning equipment for that of coal, to meet special service demands, the most spectacular of which was the all-water route between New York and Miami, Fla.

were building or under contract to build for private shipowners 186 steel vessels of 219,793 gross tons compared with 161 steel vessels of 177,166 gross tons on January 1, 1925. On January 1, 1926, 36 wood vessels of 11,756 gross tons were building or under contract to build for private shipowners, compared with 13 wood vessels of 6,303 gross tons on January 1, 1925. The totals above relate to vessels of 100 gross tons and over, the distribution of the work embracing some 30 plants of various capaci- for account of American ownership, ties-inland and coastwise-Atlantic, constitutes a circumstance by no Gulf, and Pacific.

The fact that during 1925 we did not build for foreign account, and that all new construction ordered was

a

means novel. Other things being Output. According to Lloyd's Reg- equal, American costs are high comister of Shipping, for the year ended paratively, and naturally when comDecember 31, 1925, there were petition is thrown open to the shiplaunched from American shipyards, builders of the world, we lose out. 20 steam propelled steel vessels of With the exception, however, of tank95,673 gross tons, 25 motor propelled ers, a number of which are in various steel vessels of 42,685 gross tons, 3 stages of construction in British and motor propelled wood vessels of 578 Continental yards, it would appear gross tons, 25 steel sailing vessels and that for other class and type vessel, barges of 25,086 gross tons, and 23 comparative costs have reached wood sailing vessels and barges of point where home builders may rea11,396 gross tons, making a grand sonably be favored. An interesting total for the twelve months' period feature of the position indicated was of 72 vessels of 156,248 gross tons. the decision of the Eastern Steamship These figures compare with 15 steam Lines (Coastal), following an investipropelled steel vessels of 67,594 gross gation of costs abroad by its Presi tons; 20 motor propelled steel vessels dent and Mr. Theodore E. Ferris, the of 39,383 gross tons; 2 motor pro- well-known naval architect of New pelled wood vessels of 550 gross tons; York City, to build its two new ves23 steel sailing vessels and barges of sels at home, the Wm. Cramp & Sons 22,086 gross tons, and 19 wood sailing Ship & Engine Building Co., Philavessels and barges of 10,450 gross delphia, securing the order. tons, or a grand total of 78 vessels of 140,063 gross tons for the year ended December 31, 1924. World launchings for the year ended December 31, 1925, totaled 1,025 vessels of 3,065,288 gross tons, compared with 924 vessels of 2,248,351 gross tons as of December 31, 1924.

The Liner "Malolo."-This firm also has under construction the big liner Malolo for the San FranciscoHonolulu Service of the Matson Navigation Co. Gibbs Brothers, naval architects and consulting marine engineers, are the designers of this vessel, which is expected to rank among Sources of the 1925 Activity.-As the finest of our home-built liner with shipbuilding, so with shiprepair- products when she goes into commising, the gratifying measure of pros- sion. Contract for her construction perity enjoyed has been wholly of a was approved by the United States domestic and national character. Of Shipping Board on December 16, 1924, course, and having in mind the large the cost to be $6,560,000. Approval number of foreign ships trading to of the Board was necessary under and from our ports, there have been Section 23 of the Jones Act, which the normal meaty pickings, arising provides the setting aside of from drydocking, scraping and paint- amount equivalent to excess and war ing, rough weather buffeting, strand- profits taxes for the purpose of buildings, collisions, etc. The recondition- ing in American shipyards, new vesing of vessels for services other than sels of a type and kind approved by

an

the Board, two-thirds of the cost of which vessels shall be paid out of ordinary funds or capital of the person having the vessel constructed.

The Malolo, which is expected to go into service early in 1927, will be 582 ft. long, will displace 22,050 tons, and will develop 25,000 shaft horse power through steam turbine driven twin screws, the latter enabling a schedule speed of 21 knots being maintained on the run and something substantial to spare. She will have capacity for 680 first class passengers and will make two round trips a month. The Malolo will establish a new standard-the big trans-Atlantic liner standard-in comfort and luxury in Pacific Ocean travel. A cruiser stern, two pole masts and two short but imposing stacks, well raked, will give the vessel at once a dignified and powerful appearance.

speed of 18 knots, derived from a machinery installation of 18,000 horsepower developed through steam turbines coupled to General Electric Co. generators, operating twin screws. Oil fired, water-tube boilers, twelve in number, will supply steam to the turbines. This type of propelling machinery, although well tested through installation in many vessels of the United States Navy, is somewhat of a novelty in merchant ships.

Smartness of appearance and a suggestion of tropical service will be accentuated by a white painted hull and superstructure. The new ship will have eight decks, a cruiser stern, a single stack, be 600 ft. in length, 80 ft. beam and 52 ft. depth. There will be 147 staterooms in the first class and 110 in the tourist class. The public rooms will be finished in American walnut and white, in period styles. Big Panama-Pacific Liners.-The Staterooms will all be of the outside third and fourth quarters of 1925 type in both classes, while deck spaces showed a good deal more activity on for promenading and sports will be the part of steamship owners in the equally spacious as on the big transmatter of fleet additions and there- Atlantic liners. Novel features in fore in the placing of orders with the vessel's construction will embrace shipbuilders. The most noteworthy large side ports through which auorder placed was that for a new liner tomobiles carried by passengers as by the Panama-Pacific Service of the baggage can be driven on board. DeInternational Mercantile Marine Co. livery from the hands of the builders Announcement of the placing of a con- is expected in the Fall of 1927. tract with the Newport News Ship- Additional Orders for Coastwise building & Dry Dock Co., for the first Vessels.-Notwithstanding the conof a fleet of three intercoastal pas- siderable number of new vessels senger liners was made during the placed in coastwise service during the last week in October, thereby sig-past two years, all of which were, of nalising the first move in a construction program which will involve the expenditure of $21,000,000.

course, built in American yards, orders still continue to be placed for more, the Clyde Line being conspicuIn general design, as well as in de- ous in this direction. Replacement tails of layout and construction, the of some of its vessels, unfortunately new liner will differ from all other destroyed by fire, has been promptly vessels now employed in American undertaken, contracts having just recoastal or intercoastal trade. Her cently been awarded the Newport design is based on the new "Minne" News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co., class of the Atlantic Transport Line from whose yard the trio of palatial -the Minnewaska and the Minne-liners-Cherokee, Seminole and Motonka, plying between New York and hawk-were also turned out and London, but elaborated as to deck placed in commission during 1925. plans and cabin arrangements to meet Government Encouragement.-Adthe exacting requirements of service vantage is being taken in more genin both tropical and temperate cli-erous measure by private shipowners mates at all seasons of the year. The of the Government Construction Loan specifications call for a passenger Fund and, as time goes on, with the liner of 22,000 tons gross register, a period of its availability extended, as loaded displacement of 31,000 tons, a it should be, the value of such a fund

in building up a substantial privately one in saying that the output has owned American Merchant Marine been somewhat ahead of normal and and maintaining it at the highest the ownerships involved about equally pitch of efficiency, not only in coast- distributed between private enterwise trade but in international trade prise, municipalities and railroads. as well, will become decidedly more On the Great Lakes, it may be said marked in achieving the objective for that new construction and repairs which it was instituted. Section II have kept the various yards reasonof the Merchant Marine Act of 1920 ably well employed, especially when as amended by the new law approved one considers that no great deJune 6, 1924, provided "That during viation is noticeable in the output or a period of five years from the en- its nature and variety from year to actment of the Merchant Marine Act, year. 1920, the Shipping Board may an- The many developments taking nually set aside out of the revenues place in the spheres of shipbuilding from sales and operations a sum not and shiprepairing, together with the exceeding $25,000,000, to be known as advances being recorded in ship proits Construction Loan Fund.” This pulsion mediums, ship equipment, $25,000,000 a year, while available for and freight handling apparatus, have private shipowners, "citizens of the been responsible for much of the new United States," authorized, through construction relating to harbor craft, Section II of the new law, the Ship- this being generously apparent in ping Board also to utilize the fund Diesel engined tugboats, Diesel-elecfor the reconditioning of its own ves-tric tug and ferry boats, with and sels and equipment with "the most without auxiliary steam apparatus, modern, the most efficient and most water-tube boiler installations with economical" types of internal combus-oil burning provision, increased and tion engines. A start has been made improved service efficiency being the in this direction. inevitable outcome. A development Therefore, while the Construction of the past year in our midst was Loan Fund, with its many advan- the decision of the Marine Departtages, had been available in modified ment of the New York Central Lines form for several years, comparatively to have ten barges built on the Ellis few steamship owners had made use Channel System, a number of which of it. Aside from some light draft are already in commission and giving, craft for the Great Lakes, the only we understand, complete satisfaction. vessels built and in commission, build- Low first cost, strength, and economy ing or contemplated, were the George of material are among claims made Washington and Robert E. Lee for the on behalf of the system. Old Dominion Line, the Coamo for Sale to a Foreign Concern.-Conthe New York & Porto Rico Steam-cluding this brief review, it may be ship Co., and the Cherokee, Seminole said that the transfer of the plant of and Mohawk, for the Clyde Line, all the New York Shipbuilding Corporaof them combination passenger and tion, at Camden, N. J., was an event cargo carriers, and all placed with of rather more than passing interest, the Newport News Shipbuilding & indicating as it did that the new ownDry Dock Co. ers-Brown, Boveri Co. of SwitzerOther New Construction Features. land-see great possibilities here for -New construction for coastwise ac- enlarging their diversified and far count while filling a large place has flung activities. Ships are more or been otherwise aided in making the less always needed for special serv1925 record so favorable and the im- ices, besides, in this day of new type mediate future outlook equally so. hulls, new systems of constructional Harbor craft, consisting of tugs, detail, new propulsion mediums, etc., barges and ferryboats have been or- changes are taking place oftener and dered, built and completed, for duty generally more suddenly than heretoin the territorial waters of many of fore, all of which implies that existour principal seaports, the number ing vessels get rapidly out of date and variety being such as to warrant and must be replaced by their owners

if they would hope to continue in "grist to the mill" of the shipbuilder, business. An earnest and praise- the shiprepairer and the marine enworthy attempt is being made to still gineer. The New Year, 1926, is alfurther develop our inland waterways, ready tinged with optimism, born of a consummation in its intermediate a confidence based on sound reasonstages which will certainly bringing, careful analysis and much fact.

INVENTIONS AND PATENTS

BY WM. A. KINNAN

FIRST ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER OF PATENTS

Output of Patents. Our people ob- |ther, perfections in the transmission tain far more patents than any other from long-distance telephone wires to people on earth. During the year widely separated broadcasting sta1925 over 80,000 applications were tions have been made so that the filed in the Patent Oflice at Washington, and over 45,000 patents were granted. This very nearly broke the record as to applications and did break it as to the number of patents granted.

music or a speech from a single point may be simultaneously transmitted by wire over considerable and dif ferent distances to a larger number of broadcasting stations located in as many different places or cities. Since These patents relate to the produc- there are now only about eighty-nine tion of almost everything man makes paths, or channels or wave lengths, and uses. Reading, through them, the which are available for use without story of the progress of the year, prohibitive interference, and some 600 they show that the great trend has public-serving broadcasting_stations, been toward refinements and perfec-a remedy must be found. Increased tions, rather than toward anything startlingly or fundamentally new. The cotton gin, the sewing machine, the telephone, are fundamental inventions, which affected and changed the entire economic and domestic habits and modes of life the world over; and the making of each was followed by a vast number of auxiliary or dependent inventions in the nature of improvements, refinements and perfections. The past year has produced no invention of this fundamental nature, but those which have been made are, collectively, of very great importance. Patents have been granted during the year 1925 relating to all the matters hereinafter noted, although the inventions in some instances were made and the applications filed prior to this year.

selectivity and band range of receiv ing sets or conjoint simultaneous op eration as a unit of a large number of broadcasting stations from a common source and on a common wave length would seem about the only solution if more broadcasting stations are to be permitted. Efforts of inventors have been directed along both these lines. Transmission and reception from moving vehicles have been pretty well worked out. The radio receiving set has come in for a good deal of attention. The socalled neutrodyne receiver has been improved in the matter of its amplification of received energy; some attempts at providing a calling system for a receiving set have been made, and also for the better reception of continuous waves without the use of Broadcasting. The broadcasting the heterodyne principle. Efforts station has come in for some sug- have been made to prevent local ingested improvements in regulating its terference between transmitting and oscillator frequency by means of the receiving systems of duplex type. piezo-electric crystal; also efforts Means have been devised for supplyhave been directed to the adaptation ing the radio tubes with current from of the antenna, so it will more effi- the lighting or other power circuits ciently radiate a band of such width available in homes. Attempts to as to accommodate telephony. Fur-leliminate static, strays, and the phe

nomenon of "fading," especially with | posure on the same film. In stereoshort wave lengths, have been made. scopic cinematography A very "hard" or "high" vacuum tube has been recently patented.

X-Rays. In the X-ray art, better regulation has been obtained whereby better photographic effects are secured. Apparatus for determining the composition of minerals through diffraction of X-rays and securing photographic records thereof and arrangements looking to the elimination of objectional corona effects have been made.

steps have been taken to avoid the use of the synchronized shutter or anaglyphic viewing device by each observer and this avoids the cumbersome, expensive installation formerly found necessary. The quick "framing" of motion pictures has contributed to improved registration.

Automobiles. In automobiles the advances have been in reliability, longer life and better use of power. Inventors have given heed to keepAircraft. In connection with air- ing the lubricating oil in the crankcraft, advances have been made in case free of grit, dirt, metal-dust and variable camber wing planes. In other bearing-injuring impurities; creased strength, lighter construction, the carbureter and its auxiliary decreased liability of fire and greater charge-forming devices have taken on flying range have been secured by the some further refinements, particumore complete adoption of all-made larly to prevent the carrying of liquid structures having internally trussed or unvaporized gasoline into the enbox-girder wing planes with wing engine cylinders and providing for preclosed power plant and load space. heating the charge mixture. In pasThere has been a reduction in the senger automobiles, safety and comnecessary run or take off in launch-fort to the occupants and longer life ing. Progress has been made in the to the car have been sought by prohelicopter type of aircraft and the viding against headlight glare and overcoming of some of its stabiliz- securing clearer vision in closed ing and steering problems, and hydroairplanes have been much improved. Some advance has been made in airplane gun mounts and in the provision for central, stabilized, electric, gun fire control. Smoke screen producers have received some attention, as have mooring masts for the huge, gas-inflated type of air vessel.

cars, by the design of steering gears suitable for balloon tires, and by so mounting the engine and transmission as to reduce vibration. The patent for the balloon tire was issued in 1925, although the invention was made, the application filed and the tires widely used long before. Further refinements have been made in

Moving Pictures.-Regarding im- the disk wheels. In vehicles having provements in and relating to the six or eight wheels, as in heavy fascinating procedure of making mov-busses and trucks, means for flexiing pictures, efforts have been di- bly and yieldingly mounting, conrected to producing moving picture necting together and driving the two machines which will reduce the cost rear axles, as well as steering gear of making the pictures; to overcom- for both front and rear axles have ing defects in the continuously mov- been provided. The arrangements ing film type of machine; to obtaining whereby tractors both draw and steer better stereoscopic effects in cinema- trailers have been improved and the tography; to projecting color motion range of utility of the tractor has picture films at a speed nearer that been increased. Quite a number of of the black and white pictures; and inventions have been directed to the to the saving of film by stopping it prevention, by giving some sort of while projecting titles. Pictures are notice or warning, of the very enormore cheaply produced by improve- mous waste incident to carelessness ments in combining the natural with or forgetfulness of car users whereby the artificial, by the use of painted tires are used when under-inflated, glass foregrounds, miniatures, models, and cars not given attention as to and by optically blending scenes and oil, grease, battery-filling, water in masking off areas for subsequent ex-radiator, etc.