The Locomotive - Lighthouse Survival Blog

1893.] THE LOCOMOTIVE. 185
On Saturday, OctoluT 28tli, the Campania passed the Saudy Hook lightsliip at i):00 a.
M., on her outward trij), and slie reached Daunt's Kock, off (Jueenstown, at 1 : 45
a. m.,
on Friday, Novoiiil)er 3d. H we allow 4 hours and 35 minutes for the diflcrcnce ir*
time due to the change in longitude, her record becomes 5 days, 12 liours, and 10 min-
utes, which is one hour and twenty minutes better than the best previous eastward
record, and one hour and thirteen minutes better than the best previous westward one.
Wr desire to acknowledge the first volume of Prof. Alexander Ziwet's excellent
Elementary Treatke on Thcuretical Mechanics, a copy of which he has kindly sent us.
Most of the better elementiU'y treatises on this subject are intended for students who
have not yet entered upon* the study of the calculus. Prof. Ziwet rightly considers that
in this country, where calculus is commonly studied first, there is no reason why it
sliould not be used in the study of theoretical mechanics. In our own opinion, there
arc two advantages in using it for this purpose. For the theorems of mechanics are es-
tablished much more readily and simply by it, and the student also becomes better ac-
quainted with the uses of the calculus itself, which is a very distinct advantage; for too
many college young men regard this branch of mathematics as a mere system of consist-
ent intellectual gymnastics. Prof. Ziwet's book brings out the importance of the cal-
culus, as an instrument of investigation, very clearly. He is thoroughly acquainted with
his subject, and his treatment of it is everywhere clear and elegant. We believe that
this is the first extended work he has published in this country; but he is well and fa-
vorably known in the mathematical world for his translation, from Russian into German,
of Somoff's Theoretische MecJianilc. The present volume treats of Kinematics, and the
two forthcoming ones, which we look forward to with considerable interest, will treat of
statics and kinetics, respectively.
In the August issue of The Locomotive we mentioned an explosion on the
steamer Frank Silva. (See No. 161 in our regular monthly list.) The data from which
our account was made out were in newspaper clippings. Capt. W. A. Phillips, United
States local inspector of steam vessels at San Francisco, requests us to publish the
following item, which gives more exact particulars of the Siha's accident :
"Capt. W. A. Phillips,
U. S. Inspector of Boilers, San Francisco, Cal.,
On board the steamer Frank Silva, on July 30th, a circulating pipe,
Deak Sih : —
1| inches in diameter, split for a distance of from 1| to 2 inches. When the accident
happened we were abreast of Goat Island. I kept the boat under way until we reached
the mouth of the creek, when we dropped anchor. I then proceeded to repair damages.
In the meantime steamer Rosalie took off our passengers. There was nothing to indicate
that anything unusual had happened,— no explosion whatever. The boat simply kept
slowing down until she stopped altogether. It was simply impossible to keep steam
with the water spraying over the grate surface. Very respectfully,
C. H. Terry,
—
Late Chief Engineer, steamer Frank Silva.
Subscribed before me, W. A. Phillips, U. S. Local Inspector, San Francisco, Cal.,
this first day of November, 1893."