Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-07-11
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The Canal Iron Steamboat
CORRESPONDENT calls our attention 70 LUG i -
Cleaner and oiyes us the following results OF Tue
second experiment which has been mace upon oui
canal II s unnecessary for us to state ina, we oy
na,hize with him in the interest when ~ .s h.s ~ ~.
en,erpriz- and are watching it's results win Tue uo''
;n,ense attention, The problem is now approaching
.;d soIn,;on-tor we notice from the advertisement
or "Charles Dimmock & Co., that this rev ne wiii
oor usnce running about the ooh July-through
from Richmond TO Lynchburg, l47 miles, IN "a hours
tr weekly
THE CANAL IRON STEAMBOAT.
ne era has commenced with our Guy. "sa, no
longer TO progress in our march 10 ostlhcuoh WIN tue
.n,,Is mace which has heretofore characterized our
steps. The introduction of steam navigation on our
Canal will enlarge and extend our commerce, TIL Rich
mond will be as Familiarity known 10 the people OF the
Ohio valley and all the great West asIt 10 the nna
btanis along own James have watched win
great anxiety this important enterprise, OF navigating
our canal bv steam power; and | confess had great
apprehension about the result. saw the numerous
difficulties which its ector had to encounter; AND
whilst had great confidence in his energy, hTmness OF
purpose and ability to conquer, where others less hed
for such work would suffer defeat, yet could but
fear for him and for the good cause These Tears had
their origin in M knowledge OF he TACT mat all s'm-
lar attempts had failed heretofore but rejoice to say,
that was unnecessarily apprehensive ior our enter
prsinr townsman The genius OF Ericsson, ana the
energy Of Mr. Deans have triumpheo ana u IS que 10
the countrv 10 know TO whom is indebted for all the
great blessings under Providence that are TO emanate
from the accomplishment of their designs.
l witnessed from the bank of the Canal the hfst
trial of the "Governor Mcdowell" the name gwen
by Mr. Deane to his Iron Canal steamer') WIN "n'o"
was greatly pleased learn from several hgniy res
pectable gentlemen who so Fortunate as 10 oe on
board at the tme that she made mile IN III mlnnes;s
lecting the trial ground The second mile between 'ne
basin and the fret locks. am also informed, oy eqnai
" creditable authority, that the st ns Il wlsh IL
had been on the glorious Fourth of Juy when the Sc
cond trial was made she carried coal barge with DO
tons on board the rate Of four and halt miles an
hour taking her in tow, at Myers factory IN we" OF
large concourse of citizens. When the coal osrse
was set adri the steamer progressed up the canal 10
the third level passing through the locks with as much
ease az any boat the canal In returning, she was
timed by Mr.. Lancaster and MIR. Baxter for miles,
which she made in thirty minutes. One fact was de-
veloped in these experimental trials which 70 OF the
utmost Importance; it is this, that whilst making s1
miles the hour with the boat in the middle of the Gu.
nal no wave of consequence produced; thereby re
moving all the fears entertained TO the injury winch
the canal might sustain from steamers moving at high
speed.
Mr.. Lancaster who on board and observed every
thing with great care, says, that when the boat was
running six miles to the hour her engine only made 80
strokes 10 the minute though could be safely worked
up seventy eighty All these facts taken together,
completely satisfy my mind that fully eight miles an
hour practicable for passenger barges and from four
to FIVE miles for freight boats Al this speed the pro
ducts of the Ohio country would be transported from
the mouth of the Kanawha river to Richmond, ID Ito
hours the distance being 1853 miles; and passengers
would come through in So hours TO you, gentlemen,
must yield the pleasure Of depicting TO your country
men, and especially to your fellow-citizens oil Rich
n,ond, the wonderful results which must follow the
introduction of steam power on our canal. One thing
is certain it the completion Of our great cen.
trail line Of communication with The mighty West J
predict that in enc year from this time, there will moi
be found in the land demagogue, hardy enough to
decaim against the canal but the people of the East
and the West will decree with united voice. that the
work shall 90 forward to the Ohio river and be con
nected with the tide at Richmond. cannot conclude
this hasty notice of the Iron Steamer, which we all
take such deep interest, without noticing some facts
which thiak highly creditsbe to MIR. Deane and ms
associates, (whom | understand to be Col Charles
| Dimmock Of Portsmouth, Va, and Dr.. VIM. Spark oil
Southampton, vn.) TIE "Governor Mcdowell II ]
may speak, is in truth, of Richmond produshon,
The plate of which she is made, Manufactured
by Messrs John K. Trplett Il Sons at the Belle Isle
works; the brace and rvet iron at the redegar Roll
ing Mill; and all was fashioned into form and shape
BY Richmond mechanics, working under the direction
of young gentleman by the name Of Risley, from =
York; no mere by Captain Ericsson for that
purpose. This young gentleman am Informed oy
Mr. Deane only 81 years old in June last, and IS
native of New York He has surely given evidence
by the superior style in which he has had the "Go
vernon Mcdowell built, that he possesses for one sc
Young, rare qualifications for the highly honorable ane
professo he has selected and for his success
he has the very sincere good wishes OF the people
l- "