New Hydroplane Ship.

New York Times 100 years ago today, December 5, 1912:
Prof. Bell Announces Invention That May Break Cross-Ocean Record.
Special to The New York Times.
    HALIFAX, N.S., Dec. 4.— Prof. Alexander Graham Bell, who is on his way from Baddeck to his Winter home at Washington, announces a remarkable hydroplane invention that is likely to have a wide and important significance.
    The credit of the invention, he states, goes to Fred Baldwin, who has charge of the Bell laboratory.
    "We have evolved what we call a hydro-drome," said Prof. Bell. "I believe it will have a revolutionary effect on methods of water propulsion. The boat is driven by an aerial propeller, and rises only about one foot and a half above the water. It is supported by hydro surfaces like knife blades arranged in three ladder-like forms under the keel of the vessel. These hydro surfaces differ from the known hydro surfaces in the fact that they are not flat.
    "Driven by a 70 horse power engine, this boat has attained the speed of fifty miles an hour, while ordinary hydroplanes, with engines many times as powerful, can only travel, at their highest speed, at about thirty-five miles an hour. The boat weighs 1,300 pounds and carries two men. When it gets under way the boat rises out of the water, and, supported by the knife-like planes dipping into the sea, travels easily and swiftly.
    "This new boat of ours operates just as well in rough weather as in good. There is no motion and no spray. It is easy to imagine what changes will take place if this invention proves applicable to ocean travel.
    "We will be crossing the Atlantic in record time. The hydro-drome is christened 'Jonah,' and it has a remarkable future before it."