True American. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1835-18??, 1838-11-15
coMmrNIcATED |
STEAM SHIPS


MIR. Editor-Before proceeding with the subject of
Steam SHIPS, permit me to correct which crep
into my letter yesterday, through mistake in your
presI.
This inaccuracy, hy slight confusion in words, may
impress the reader with wrong idea ofthe mode adopt
ed to at the power of the Great Westarns
which, to avoid any further mis- AXE is this:
Taxi 6 the height Of the racuum guage, the pres.
sure Of steam the boilers, and the revolutions per
minute giuen in the engineers log as the state 9th
engines ehen ,corking nell; and dipiaiag the result
by the american estimate Of horse poer ,chica is
$4,000 lbs. friction &c. deducted-the engines of the
british steamer appear to be Of AS horse poocr
This is the method of coming at the comparative pow
er OF the two steamers. The estimate regarding the
Fulton the power and weight Of her engines, and the
difference between her and the Western have quo
ted from the Army and Navy Chronicle.
will now proceed to show how vessel of 1900 tons
can be rendered quite large enough 10 carry sufficient
fuel for her european voyage and yet have space for
6Oo or 70O tons Of msrchandzt and any required
Der OF passengers. The principal points being to adopt
the plan of the Fuons engiues rs less cumbruus with
more power: to substitute for the pre.ent style of boil
er, sopper ones, similar to those in locomotives
which have been proved by the Messrs Stevens of New
York, to take les, fuel less weight of WATER and less
| space On this principle the following would be the
estimate of weight
Four engines, of powor would only be $50 tons
ho@oHoIiNh pouerSJ 30
Water in boilers, 40
Halls condensng apparatus, 20
$50
OF the grea' advantages to be gained from tn Sc
boilers, there remains doubt for they have been
abundnnlv tested by The Sovevs's in two nf ;h~ir
Amb0y boats; and so sntifed are they of their
superiority, that they are resolved on supplying
al Their bonts with them, the present boilers
| tall INTO d'suse: their superiority in economy of
fuel, and in weight both of metal and water, has
exceeded all expectations! These two engines of
500 horse power, thus constructed, would reouire
only one ton offucl per hour! which is diminu,ion
| OF "ne-hfth consumption, with one-eghh power
added.
| The distance from the Mississippi to the Lands
end, allowing for the of the Gulf stream is
only 1878 miles, agreeabIy TO the estimate Of an
| experienced navigator: hut making all proper
allowances, boat could reach Portsmouth in $50,
miles. Taking into consideration the natural adj
vantages OF smooth seas, the stream, and the
| trades. l believe steam ship could command l2
knots an hour; but allowing her only an average
OF ", tins distance Could be completed in IL days.
with lar less probability of failure, than that to
| New York can be accomplished in 49, Even if
Obliged TO carry her entire supply of coal 500 tons
would allow lou tor contingencies, over her reaui.
site consumption; but if depos were established
at 81 Michael's or Terceira, in the Azores-at
Bermuda, and in Havana, the necessity for large
quantity would cease. But at the worst 755
tons is all The ght she need carry, rega rds her
motive power, the engines, SC, being 255 tons,
and the coal 500. The estimate here made of the
weight Of engines is extremely large, being double
that OF the Fnlton's, and yet it would leave one
half the capacity of 500 ton ship, for any other
required purposes.
| OF the great profit which must accrue from thu
under'a king cave others to speak, and Judge, fol
il the above plain statement of facts tends in sny
way to promote the important object of Ocen n
Steam Navigation, my sole purpose is answered.
Yours, II.
! PS. From what have seen of the northern shin
| builders, think steam vessels could be as well
and eligbly constructed in New York as in a INV
place in the world: and if to the exec lence of the
manufactures there, be added the vital importance
OF having the engine, and boat, built near to ca oh
| o,her, II appears to me that no better place than
New York could be found for making both.
IT