BOOK NOTICES. "The Principles of Scientific Management." By Frederick Winslow Taylor, New York: Harper & Brothers, $1.50. One of the live topics of the times is scientific management as applied to the industries of the nation. The little volume above mentioned is a classic in its field. Its author, who has now retired from the active work of introducing scientific management into manufacturing establishments, spent a large part of his life in developing his chosen subject at the Midvale Steel Works and the works of the Bethlehem Steel Company. A genius for the work combined with infinite patience and unremitting study brought forth the remarkable system which is now being studied and applied by engineers and managers throughout the land. The author states: "Scientific management fundamentally consists of certain broad general principles, a certain philosophy, which can be applied in many ways; and a description of what any one man or men may believe to be the best mechanism for applying these general principles should in no way be confused with the principles themselves." The illustrations given in the book are such as apply to manufacturing establishments; but the author points out that "the same principles can be applied with equal force to all social activities: to the management of our homes; the management of our farms; the management of the business of our tradesmen, large and small; of our churches, our philanthropic institutions; our universities, and our governmental departments." The author's Task-and-Bonus System, as devised by him for factories, involves the employment of the following elements: a planning department, accurate time study, standardization of methods and implements, a routing system, the training of functional foremen or teachers, and in many cases instruction cards, slide rules, etc. The Navy has not only heard of scientific management but has prac ticed it for years, as the improvements in gunnery and in steaming efficiency bear evidence. "The Principles of Scientific Management" is a fascinating subject, and the book is heartily commended to all who are interested in progress. T. W. KINKADE "Marine Cold Storage, Heating and Ventilating." By Sydney F Walker, R. N., N. I. E. E., M. I. M. E., N. C. S. I. A., M. Inst. M. E. There are a large number of books that take up the subjects treated it this book, but few of them with the idea of their particular application or shipboard. The author has dealt with "Cold Storage, Heating and Ventilating on Board Ship." He has written so clearly and in such a simple way that any who has had experience with the propelling apparatus of a ship can understand the principles explained and the machines described. Nearly one-half of the book treats of refrigeration, and the underlying principles of the various methods are set forth. The advantages and disadvantages of these methods are given. The subject of the design and care of the cold rooms is gone into very thoroughly; this should be of great interest to those who are responsible for cold storage plants aboard ship. Frequently a fault in the storage boxes is looked for in the machine. "About one-third of that part of the book which deals with cold storage is devoted to a discussion of faults' which may occur in the apparatus. Directions are given for hunting down various troubles and repairing them, and what is more important, explicit instructions are given for operating various types of plants so as to avoid breakdowns." It should be an easy matter after a study of this section of the book to tabulate the likely faults and their remedies, of any installation, under the following headings: "Faults," "How Discovered," "How Remedied," as is frequently done in case of electric plants aboard ship. Quoting from the book: "There is nothing in cold storage apparatus that the marine engineer who knows his work will not be able to master, if he puts his mind into it, and if he will remember the differences between the freezing apparatus and the steaming apparatus. There is a great similarity between the two in many respects, and on the other hand, there are some very wide and important differences that must be remembered, If the plant is to be kept going satisfactorily. A cold storage plant is very mach in the nature of a steam plant reversed. The cold store itself, or the brine tank, or the air-cooling apparatus, or whatever may receive 'cold' from the expansion coils, stands very much in the same relation to the whole plant as the boiler does to the steam plant." Wherever possible, contrasts are drawn between the steam and refrigerating plants, making this part of the book particularly interesting and valuable to those seagoing engineers who wish to familiarize themselves with marine refrigerating plants. The second and third sections take up the subjects of heating and ventilation respectively. The improvements from the stove and open fire up to steam and hot water and indirect heating have been followed by the same methods aboard ship. Electric heating is now used a great deal on shore because of its handiness, notwithstanding the fact that it is more expensive. The cost should be less aboard ship and undoubtedly this method will replace those now in use. The thermotank system as used on the S. S. Lusitania is somewhat complicated. The feature of it that combines the ventilating and heating or cooling of the various compartments is ideal. The author has given a complete description of this system. He has also worked out a design for an electric heating plant for a large passenger steamer (Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse), including the cost of operating under various conditions. Types of electric heaters, steam and hot-water radiators, their advantages and disadvantages for ships' use are discussed from a practical viewpoint. Sketches and diagrams show details of the various apparatus. The well-known principle of ventilation is, that there shall be a circulation of air from a fresh-air inlet, through the spaces to be ventilated, to a foul-air outlet at a low enough velocity to prevent drafts. The inlet and outlet should be large enough to allow frequent changes of air. This subject is treated by the author in the same general way, setting forth the principles of ventilation, describing the apparatus used and the method of running it. The book as a whole is not only valuable to those who operate plants, but to the man who has to improve existing installations or design new ones. 8vo. 269 pages. 71 illustrations. Cloth binding. Price, $2.00 net. The D. Van Nostrand Company. W. B. WELLS. LIST OF PRIZE ESSAYS. 1879. Naval Education. Prize Essay, 1879. By Lieut.-Com. A. D. Brown, U. S. N. NAVAL EDUCATION. First Honorable Mention. By Lieut.-Com. C. F. Goodrich, U. S. N. NAVAL EDUCATION. Second Honorable Mention. By Commander A. T. Mahan, U. S. N. 1880. The Naval Policy of the United States." Prize Essay, 1880. By Lieutenant Charles Belknap, U. S. N. 1881. The Type of (I) Armored Vessel, (II) Cruiser best suited to the Present Needs of the United States. Prize Essay, 1881. By Lieutenant E. W. Very, U. S. N. SECOND PRIZE ESSAY, 1881. By Lieutenant Seaton Schroeder, U. S. N. 1882. Our Merchant Marine: The Causes of its Decline and the Means to be taken for its Revival. "Nil clarius aquis." Prize Essay, 1882. By Lieutenant J. D. J. Kelley, U. S. N. "MAIS IL FAUT CULTIVER NOTRE JARDIN." Honorable Mention. By Master C. G. Calkins, U. S. N. "SPERO MELIORA." Honorable Mention. By Lieut.-Com. F. F. Chadwick, U.S. N. "CAUSA LATET: VIS EST NOTISSIMA." Honorable Mention. By Lieutenant R. Wainwright, U. S. N. 1883. How may the Sphere of Usefulness of Naval Officers be extended in Time of Peace with Advantage to the Country and the Naval Service? 66 'Pour encourager les Autres." Prize Essay, 1883. By Lieutenant Carlos G. Calkins, U. S. N. SEMPER PARATUS." First Honorable Mention. By Commander N. H. Farquhar, U. S. N. CULIBET IN ARTE SUA CREDENDUM EST." Second Honorable Mention. By Captain A. P. Cooke, U. S. N. 1884. The Reconstruction and Increase of the Navy. Prize Essay, 1884. By Ensign W. I. Chambers, U. S. N. 1885. Inducements for Retaining Trained Seamen in the Navy, and Best System of Rewards for Long and Faithful Service. Prize Essay, 1885. By Coinmander N. H. Farquhar, U. S. N. 1886. What Changes in Organization and Drill are Necessary to Sail and Fight 1887. The Naval Brigade: its Organization, Equipment and Tactics. "In hoc signo vinces." Prize Essay, 1887. By Lieutenant C. T. Hutchins. 1888. Torpedoes. Prize Essay, 1888. By Lieut.-Com. W. W. Reisinger, U. S. N. 1891. The Enlistment, Training and Organization of Crews for our Ships of War. Prize Essay, 1891. By Ensign A. P. Niblack, U. S. N. DISPOSITION AND EMPLOYMENT OF THE FLEET: SHIP AND SQUADRON DRILL Honorable Mention, 1891. By Lieutenant R. C. Smith, U. S. N. 1892. Torpedo-boats: their Organization and Conduct. Prize Essay, 1892. By Wm. Laird Clowes. 1894. The U.S.S. Vesuvius, with Special Reference to her Pneumatic Battery. 1895. Tactical Problems in Naval Warfare. Prize Essay, 1895. By Lieut.-Com. Richard Wainwright, U. S. N. By A SUMMARY OF THE SITUATION AND OUTLOOK IN EUROPE. An Introduction to the Study of Coming War. Honorable Mention, 1895. Richmond Pearson Hobson, Assistant Naval Constructor, U. S. N. SUGGESTIONS FOR INCREASING THE EFFICIENCY OF OUR NEW SHIPS. Honorable Mention, 1895. By Naval Constructor Wm. J. Baxter, U. S. N. THE BATTLE OF THE YAlu. Honorable Mention, 1895. By Ensign Frank Marble, U. S. N. 1896. The Tactics of Ships in the Line of Battle. Prize Essay, 1896. By Lieutenant A. P. Niblack, U. S. N. THE ORGANIZATION, TRAINING AND DISCIPLINE OF THE NAVY PERSONNEL AS VIEWED FROM THE SHIP. Honorable Mention, 1896. By Lieutenant Wm. F. Fullam, U. S. N. NAVAL APPRENTICES, INDUCEMENTS, ENLISTING AND TRAINING. The Seaman Branch of the Navy. Honorable Mention, 1896. By Ensign Ryland D. Tisdale, U. S. N. THE COMPOSITION OF THE FLEET. Honorable Mention, 1896. By Lieutenant John M. Ellicott, U. S. N. |