Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1843-05-18
The new and splendid Steamer Massachusetts

The new and splendid Steamer Massachusetts
\ A most advantageous and compIet
revolution has been wrough, in this nobl
steamer by her enterprising proprietoIs S
The following description will demon
s'rate that her before unrivalled repuia
ton for security and comfort must deriv,
additional lustre from the change.
"The extreme length Of the Massa
chusetis on deck is 275 feet, and in or
der to add Ga feet To hci keel and Is or
deck, aud obtain the required lines io
beauty and regularity Of model, ant
esse niial increase Of speed, 30 have
been cut from her former hull forward
and 40 feet aft, thus rendering it neces
sary to build anew 1876 feet, composed
of the same well seasoned and subst an
iial materials as her former frame, and
done in the most thorough and wo,kman-
like manner by her ori ginal builders
Brown q Bell, whose repuilion as nava
constructors and architects requires nc
eul"gy. After thus lenglhening, the re-.
nainder Of her hull was carefully and
thoroughly examined throughout, and
found perfectly sound, the enii,e copper
stripped of, rccaulked throughout and
coppered anew.
In addition to her original main and
bllge kcelsons intervening parable! keel
sons of heavy timber were laid fore and
aft and copper fastened and butt bol,cd
through her frame iimbers, and planking
and besides ceilings of hard pine
throughout, double diagonal ceilings,
and braces secured on the principle Of
Towns patent for bridges, were placed
upon her sides, through which the iren-
ais and crewbots penetrate from the
exterior planking, through her iuttocks
and top tinbers TO the inside surface,
these in fact rendering her stronger than
she was with all the solidiy and compact
ness OF her original frame ; all her deck
limbers are secured to the top timbers
and clamps by strong oak knees, and
her bilge streaks are of oak 6 inches
square.
The improvements in her motive pow
er have been on corresponding scale
New gall"ws, or engine frames, have
been put in, and additional solidi,y and
iastenings given to her engine beds the
shafts raised 10 inches, and the connec-
tons Of her engines, which were built
l,l
proved, heightened to correspond, aud
many parts OF them rendered entirely
new-wItlI new expansive steam valves
Of different pa,cn,s. Barber's being NJ
iached to one engine, and Scicklc's to-
the olher-ihe whole of her machinery
having been put in superior order and
To render the engines capable, if neces-
sary, Of being worked up to their nominal
power IA matter sometimes of vital i'm /
porance in the boisterous navigation Of
Long Island Sonnd) new aud powerful
boilers of the hes, Pennsy ylvan,a iron
have been placed in hc,, prepared ex-
pressly for the use Of anthracite coal,
and built to combine all recent improve.
nenIs, by u. +. Secor & Co.-ihus
furnishing the essential elements of great
y increased speed, by combining aG-
ltional power with perfect symmetry
md beauty Of model. /
To these powerful boilers Raub's pa
ent safety valve has been applied, to
i've immediate warning in case Of de-
lclency of water, GENERALLY the proxI-
nate cause of explosions) besides the
rdinary guage cocks, whose ndicaiions
ave sometimes deceived the most ex.
erienced engineers, thus creating a
ouble security. Her general capacity
nd accommodations for both passengers
nd freight have been largely increased
nd extended. Besides a range Of spa
ious state rooms on the promenade deck
ne cabin appropriated to ladies' contains
3 permanent and commodious berths,
nd is perhaps superior in dime nsions to
lat Of any steamer ahoat. Below, the
entlemen's cabin extends without inter n
upton, and is open from stem to stern,
obtaining about one hundred and eighty
ornament berths, besides additional
er,hs IN private rooms on her guards. +,
'hus with her temporary fixtures she
an easily and comfortably berth 500
assengers. The general convenience
passengers has been much enhanced
y the distribution for various purposes
the great additional room her atera.
oDs have afforded.
She is furnished throughout with strict
gard to neatness aud comfort, to pro.
oie which, in fact, aud the convenience
nd security oftravellers, all her arrange
ents are adopted. While we predic,
nhanced popularity and success for this
agniiceni boat we will be- commanded
Y Captain Joseph Comsiock, aud will
Ike her place in the line this afternoon
8 o'clock, from the North side OF Pier I,
Battery place.
IMPORTANT To WHALrMES-ybm.--The h