Return Passage Research Articles

Inter-Island Transport in Indonesia

Indonesia as an insular state faces a series of problems of inter-island transport of products, covering sometimes distances of several thousands of kilometers. The state measures 5.110 km from West to East, and 1.888 km from North to South. This situation and the fact that the present tonnage or carrying capacity of ships is relatively small, it calls for a most effective inter-island transport. On consulting the map of transport routes, the question arises whether the transport directions of certain products (e. g. rice, cement, fish, copra) are the most advantageous or if it were possible to determine such a plan of transport as to decrease the total costs as much as possible. The present paper attempts at a methodical approach to certain economic-geographical problems by means of calculations of linear programming. We do not know, of course, the detailed inner classification of transported products, e. g. no closer dates on rice are known (whether transported in the from of seed or as a foodstuff). We do not know the total structure of the inter-island transport, the tonnage which is at the disposal in the docks at a certain time, the possibilities of making use of a free cargo space for return passages, etc. Therefore we have rather simplified the main problem in considering the product without its further classification according to quality. We have been speaking of "export" and "import" ports in the inter-island transport, and have considered the transport as a centrally controlled institution, etc. We have avoided, for instance, the transport of goods from manufacturing areas to "export" ports, and from "import" ports to areas of consumption, and a series of further details which -if summed up - can influence the results considerably. In the solution of this problem the so-called modified stepping stone method has been applied. A simple model simulates the transport of homogenous product from supplier D1, D2 ... Dm to consumers S1, S2 ... Sn. Each supplier has a certain capacity, e. g. a1, a2 ... am; b1, b2 ... bn. In our case, suppliers are the "export" ports, consumers are the "import" ports. For the up of the model it becomes necessary do determine certain criteria according to which advantages or disadvantages of the transport should be appreciated. The simplest criterion known is the length of the transport. Distances will be marked with general symbols c11, c12 ... cmn. Before the application of the optimalization method, we have to find the so-called basic solution which is usually quite simple. We can use, for instance the "northwest corner method". In most cases the basic solution is not optimal. Consequently, after the initial basic solution we apply the methods of approximation the simplest of which is the indexing method. To finish the solution of the problem, the method of distribution is applied, which tests the optimum, determines the variety at exit and is concerned with the transformation of the solution. The above example is a simplified model of reality. Nevertheless the results of the calculations are of interest for the economic geographer, as shown in the enclosed maps and table.

Henry Asbjorn Larsen (1899-1964)

Henry Asbjørn Larsen, retired Superintendent of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, died in Vancouver, B.C., on 29 October 1964, after a brief illness. He was buried in the R.C.M.P. cemetery at Regina, Saskatchewan. Superintendent Larsen was born on 30 September 1899 at Fredrikstad on the east coast of Oslo Fjord in Norway, not far from the birth place of Roald Amundsen, the first to bring a ship through the Northwest Passage, and the leader of the first expedition to reach the South Pole. It is uncertain if Larsen ever knew Amundsen personally, but when he was an adolescent the tradition of Norwegian arctic exploration was at its height and the brilliant exploits of Nansen, Sverdrup and Amundsen undoubtedly fired his imagination and inspired a strong desire to follow the sea in search of arctic adventure and exploration. It is not surprising, therefore, that young Henry should choose to do his compulsory military service in the Norwegian Navy. Later he learnt practical seamanship in merchant ships and entered navigation school from which he graduated with a mate's certificate. After some years spent in Norwegian ships, including a stint as Chief Officer in a trans-atlantic liner, he was at last to realize his cherished ambition for arctic service when offered the berth as navigator in the veteran arctic trading schooner Old Maid of Seattle, bound for the Western Canadian Arctic. The arctic experience gained during two voyages in the Old Maid qualified Larsen for command of the R.C.M.P. patrol vessel St. Roch, specially designed for arctic navigation, built and commissioned in Vancouver, in 1928. In April of that year Larsen had joined the Force as a Constable; he was promoted to Corporal on April 1, 1929, six months later was made a Sergeant and on November 1, 1942 a Staff Sergeant. Between 1928 and 1939 the St. Roch with Larsen in command spent 12 summers and 7 winters patrolling the Western Canadian Arctic, supplying northern detachments and, in general, serving as a floating detachment; but the two voyages for which the St. Roch and its captain became famous were the west to east trip through the Northwest Passage in 1940-42 and the east to west return passage, completed in one season, in 1942. On the first Larsen followed Amundsen's route in the Gjøa, 1903-06 but on the return voyage he sailed the St. Roch through Lancaster and Viscount Wellington Sounds and south through Prince of Wales Strait to Beaufort Sea, the first ship to have completed this passage. The official report of the two historic voyages is recorded in a R.C.M.P. "Blue Book" published in 1945. To those familiar with arctic exploration and its long history of privation, hunger and cold, the terse daily entries copied from the St. Roch's log seem as undramatic and commonplace as if each voyage had been entirely routine. ... In his northern work, whether on the bridge of his sturdy little ship or heading a winter patrol, Henry Larsen proved himself an experienced traveller and an eminently successful navigator and leader of men. By his sympathetic understanding, patience and quiet sense of humour he completely won the confidence and lasting friendship of the Eskimo who in him have lost a staunch friend and understanding advocate. Henry Larsen was commissioned Sub-Inspector in the Force in September 1944, promoted to Inspector in 1946, and to Superintendent in 1953. ... Superintendent Larsen was a graduate of the Canadian Police College. From 1949 until his retirement on February 7, 1961 he was stationed at Ottawa as Officer Commanding the "G" Division of the R.C.M.P. whose work deals with the Northwest Territories and Yukon. ...

A double-wall noise control enclosure for an impulsive sound source.

Abstract The design of a group of double-wall noise control enclosures on the upper floor of an existing building is described and some noise reduction measurements are reported. A design objective for these enclosures was to achieve more effective noise reduction than that provided by existing heavy, on-grade, double-wall, reverberant enclosures, but with reduced weight. This objective was achieved by a combination of a light weight inner skin, a moderately large air space, a masonry exterior, isolation of the inner room floor slab, and the use of sound absorbing materials. Other noise control measures included sound retarding doors and windows, mufflers in the air supply and return passages, and flexible service connections to the rooms. Peak and octave band noise levels taken inside and outside the old and new enclosures are reported.

A Double Wall Noise Control Enclosure for an Impulsive Sound Source

The design of a group of double wall noise control enclosures on the upper floor of an existing building is described and some noise reduction measurements are reported. A design objective for these enclosures was to achieve more effective noise reduction than that provided by existing heavy, on grade, double wall, reverberant enclosures, but with reduced weight. This objective was achieved by a combination of a lightweight inner skin, a moderately large air space, a masonry exterior, isolation of the inner room floor slab, and the use of sound absorbing materials. Other noise control measures included sound retarding doors and windows, mufflers in the air supply and return passages, and flexible service connections to the rooms. Peak and octave band noise levels taken inside and outside the old and new enclosures are reported.

Important Railroad Information

The Chairman of the Central Passenger Association on September 9, 1931, wrote as follows: “We have pleasure in advising that Central Passenger Association carriers have reduced the minimum number of certificates required under the Certificate Plan regulations from 150 to 100, that is, if there is a total of 100 authorized certificates presented at your meeting, they will be validated by the Railway Special Agent. “No change has been made in the last date on which validated certificates must be presented to ticket agents for purchase of return tickets at one-half fare, namely, December 8, 1931. “Tickets so purchased, however, will be good for return passage to reach original starting point within 30 days in addition to date of sale of going ticket—via same route as used on the going journey.” This is a definite gain in time for the trip to our St. Louis meeting, besides a reduction in number of certificates necessary to secure the reduced rate.

A trichromatic colorimeter with spectral primaries

The paper describes a trichromatic colorimeter that has been specially designed in order to make an accurate re-determination of the locus of the spectral colours in the colour triangle for as many observers as possible. A spectrometer system is used in which two spectra are formed from the same source. From one of these, three portions to act as primaries are reflected back through a lower part of the dispersing system, so that the mixing of the three radiations is effected by neutralising the prismatic dispersion by which the colours were first separated. From the other spectrum the test colour and a desaturating colour are selected and mixed in a similar manner, and the composite beams are then brought into the two halves of a simple bipartite field. In the process of being mixed with the other colours, each spectral colour is filtered by its return passage through the dispersing system and the instrument thus becomes very effective in removing stray light. Another device has enabled the Maxwellian method of observing the field of view to be adopted without the introduction of rotating parts into the system. The intensities of the three primaries are controlled with photometer wedges.

A New Graving Dock at Nagasaki, Japan

Dock No. 3 of the Mitsu Bishi Company's shipyard at Nagasaki has lately been completed. The giant steamer, Minnesota, 22 000 tons, was docked there just before her return passage to America.