Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1840-10-06
had fallen in the American war-it was
said, in the battle of Bunker Hill.

The Archinaedes Steamshsp.-In the In
verness Courier, of July l, we find an in
terestlng account Of this steamer, which
| has been recently built on a new princi-
pleof propulsion. The Archmedean screw
gave the hint of the plan and the vessel
has been named accordingly.
The Archimedes is rugged as a smart
three masted schooner, with her masts ra-
king; her length is 125 feet, average draft
oil water, 10 feet, capacity $40 tons, po-
wer of engines so horses. We take from
the Courier the following description:
"Thc mode Of propulsion may be said
TO be by portion Of the Archimedean
screw. Whom the vessel was frst tried,
full turn of that species Of screw (like a
patent cork screw on central straight
splndle) was employed. The inventor af-
forwards, for the sake of compactness, in
troduced the double-threaded screw, with
half turn of each thread, as more appli-
cable to this vessel, although he rather pre-
fers the other. This is of iron, and is fixed
IN an opening on the run Of the vessel,
above the keel, and about ten feet forward
from the rudder. The screw works trans
versly with the keel, radating the water
all round, as it turns with a backward
movement. Its diameter is five feet nine
inches, aud the length fore and aft about
five feet 1t almost appears inc credible,
that SO small a portion of machinery could
propel vessel of such length, but the hold
it takes of the water, and the velocity with
which it turns, are the clements of It's po-
wer. 1t is quite under the surface, and is
therefore invisible to spectators, either on
board or on shore. 1t is worked by a
spindle, forming its axle, which runs fore
| and aft, and is connected with the steam
engine, the velocity being acquired by
combination Of spur wheels and pinions.
Each revolution OF the larger wheel turned
by the cranks of the engine, gives by the
multiplied power, five and one third revo-
lutlons of the screw, which, consequently,
revoves at the rate Of from 1870 to $50
turns in minute, according to the speed
of the engine. In consequence Of the po-
werful stream thus propelled against the
rudder, the ship is actually found to obey
the helm much moro readily, and to be
| therefore more under command in steer
ing, than either common steam or sailing
vessel, SO that she can easily turn round
in Ii or l ] Of her own length, while it is
we'll known that an ordinary steamer cam
not do so with the paddles in less than six
times her length. The shafts of the steam
engine work fore and aft, the cranks turn
ing transversly, so as to communicate the
| power directly, by cog wheels, to the screw;
| and there is one considerable advantage
arising from this arrangement of The ma
chinory, namely, that the cylinders, and
in fact the whole weight of the engine
rest Immediately over the keel, where the
vessel is least liable to straining or twist
ing from the effects Of undue PRESSURE
The larger wheel is toothed or coggcd
with horn-beam," (timbcr)
The operation of the screw is different
from the operation of ''scuIing," in this
particular that in sculling there are but two
motions, the chief force being derived from
the lateral; whereas the screw cXerts an
equal degree of power from every part of
its surface towards the periphery in the di-
rection Of the radii. The successive col
umns of water as fast as presented is
forced away by the act Of rotation pretty
much as the earth is turned away by the
mould board of a plough. The action Of
the screw may be said TO bear the same re-
lation to " sculling" which the use of the
| paddle wheels does to the ordinary mode
Of propulsion by oars.
The Archlmcdes has made several trips
and works we'll. Her speed is not quite
so great as that Of first rate steamboats, in
calm weather. But it is believed to result
from the fact that her engines were made
by an inexperienced engineer, and being
on new principle, the full power Of the
boat is not developed. The nominal po-
wer of the engines, is eighty horse power,
but in reality they do not work up to more
than sixty.
One of the greatest advantages to this
| invention, as applicable 10 all descriptions
of shipping, is the circumstance that the
vessel may be thrown out Of gear in two
minutes, and the vessel be put under sail
alone. The screw is then turned by the
motion OF the vessel; but the drag is not
moro than half mile in ten-even the
drag itself admits Of being removed, as
provision is made for unshipping the screw
and bringing it upon deck.
The advantages of the screw over pad
die wheels in ocean steamers, it will be
readily seen, must be very great. The
leaning over of the ship, often throws one
of the paddle wheels under water and inn
merses the other too deeply. The screw
is always in the water. The saving of flu
| ell will be considerable as the fires may be
extinguished on board ship propelled by
the screw, and the vessel used as sailing
| ship when the wind is full and fair. AS