32 GENERAL ARRANGEMENTS OF ENGINES.

CHAPTER II.

GENERAL ARRANGEMENTS OP ENGINES.

It is difficult to point out any portion of tiregeneral duties of an engineer of more import-ance than the classification of the machineryrequisite for the hull of a vessel; indeed, itcan be truthfully maintained that a morearduous task cannot be set before the profes-sional faculty. Yet, with this as a certainty,how little is the appreciation universal! Howseldom is considered what is due to those, who,with untiring energy, consume health, time,and money, to attain a given effect of me-chanism !

The general spectators, gazing on the com-plicated arrangement of the component partsof a pair of marine engines, are merelymechanical observers. The position of a givenlever or shaft—right or wrong is all thesame to them; doubtless, the thought rarely,if ever, arises that skill and fertility of thebrain must have been well tested to producethe subject before them. Singular enough,this is the case with all crafts and professions :that portion seeming the least effective to thenon-conversant has often been the mostdifficult to attain by the producer.

For example :—“ the expansion gear of amarine engine to the outside world it lookspretty, but as to the care and thought ithas often cost, that is the last matter con-

sidered. This coldness of observation ismainly due to ignorance; because the effect,that should be, passes away harmless, unseen,unfelt, and, therefore, unknown, to the un-conscious spectator. As with engineering, sowith chemistry, mathematics, and other of thehigher branches of science. The engineer,however, has this advantage over most pro-fessional representatives : all science must beat his command more or less, according to therequisitions; and thus a general knowledge isacquired.

John Fowler, Esq., M.I.C.E. (late presidentof the Institution of Civil Engineers ), in hiswell-digested inaugural address to the mem-bers, January 9th, 1866, duly acknowledgesthe advantages of a practical knowledge :—

“ The mechanical engineer deals with the most varied“ and numerous subjects of all the branches of engineering.

* * The mechanical engineer, generally, also

“ executes the designs of the gas engineer. * *

“ Allied with the mechanical engineer is the naval archi-“ tect; and only a mechanical engineer could have con-“ structed the vast steam ships of modem days.”

How often it is the case that the advantagesobtainable in science are neglected becausethose who are ignorant of its value are evendoubtful and thus timid to undertake the re-sponsibility offered. Again, to exemplify, toooccasional is the contrary fact, that many per-

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