The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-12-19
From ihs Philadelphia Inquirsr.
STEAM NAVIGATION.
THE NAvIEs OF GREAT BNITAiN, FRANCE
AND THE UNITED STATES.

NaVigaon il mas since been puDiisheu IN oetaii III
the Commercial Advertiser, and We proceed TO notice
few OF It's prominent facts and suggestions. The
Doctor states that about the commencement OF The
nineteenth century, the idea OF applying steam power
TO the propulsion OF ships burst upon the mind. The
first steamboat constructed Europe, and applied to
any permanent practical purpose, was the Comet, oil
25 tons and three horse power, built Scotland IN
1912 TO ply upon the Clyde, between Glasgow and
Greenoch, distance of about 81 miles The Comet
was followed by the second steamboat the Elizabeth,
also built in Scotland, in 1913, OF about 50 tons and
ten horse power and run in opposition to the Comet
upon the Clyde.
In ten years-from 1914 to l824-the steamboats,
OF Great Britain increased in number from to 10
during the succeeding ten years. from 1924 TO 1884,
the number increased to 462-and from 1888 to 1914
TO 1000 53S steamboats, were added TO the mercan-
tile steam marine of Great Britain during the last ten
years.
Abiding to the extension Of mechanical power IN
Great Britain, DIR. s. states, that " in 1892 the me-
chanIcal power of that country was estimated TO
equal the labor of l0,O00O00 Of subjects. In 1927,
equal the power of 2oO,000,00O, and in 1889, oil
400 0O0OO
Nothing says DR.. S. 7" can more fully illustrate
the imbecility Of the human mind in pushing its way
through unrodden solitudes than the history OF
steam Navigation. Although the problem that a
vessel might be safely and expcdilousiy navgated
by steam power from port to port IN The coasting
trade, was fully demonstrated, II was generally
same means. The Savannah, designed for the Rus
sian Government, and called steamship, arrived in
Liverpool IN 1919. Happening 10 be IN Liverpool at
the time of her arrival he visited and examined the
ship, machinery, sc. She was completely ship
rugged, and made no pretenson to have Davigated
the by steam, and sailed all the passage, car
rylng her steam engine with her any other ship
might do. Al any rate it she used her engine at ALL
it was too little to be OF any account She was not
designed to navigate the ocean, but to coast in The
| A.. r
navigating the Atlantic Ocean by steam power was
seriously brought forward, and after years of vigor
Gus and Perseverng labor, finally carried into sue
cessful operation"
| The first steamboat that piled between Havre and
| Hon-feur, built and worked by an American,
and now all the great continental rivers navga-
| ted by steam.
Great Britain did not possess steamship of war
until 1882, and the first built only OF l60 horse
power. The prejudice of the Government against
the new system was at first very greatand even the
Duke of Wellington took ground against it. 1t
not, says DR.. s., Z" until the recent war 10 China
that The full effect and vast advantages of steam ships
OF war we're clearly seen and appreciated 1t was
| found lmpracticable to work the sailing men OF war,
such, up the Chinese at ALL to place them in
positions to play upon the immense Notifications
which extended along the banks and protect them
selves from the fire of the enemy when occasion re-
CURED without the aid of steam ships. 1t was steam
|
OF attack It was steam power that gave them ef-
| iect It was steam power that threw the shield of
protection around them IN the hour Of peril. In
short, all the sailing men of war practically
converted into steamers, and gained easy victory,
because they had no antagonist force of similar
character TO contend with. From that time the Bril-
tish Admiralty clearly that hereafter steam ships
must hight the battles of the country, and that the
force and strength of the navy would depend upon
the number and size OF those ships. About 1922,
Great Britain constructed the first steam ship of war
of lG0 horse power. Every succeeding year saw an
increase IN the size and number. The onward move
ment was, however at first slow and hesitatng. In
1884, the Government Of Great Britain had but 80
steam vessels, including the home mail packets and
coasters IN commission. In lS43, she had l0S ships
Of uar, and about oO IN commission armed equipped,
manned, and IN active service. Nearly half the Bril-
tsh navy commission are Steamship so that at the
present moment Great Britain IS more powerful at
sea than she ever was at any former period and more
powerful than any nation Of which history transmits
o. he se ih SS g1s Of Europe
and paying up the expenses of being conquered saw
clearly and seized with avdity an nstrumen t by the
aid OF which she hoped to satisfy the ancient
giudge" she owed 70 England, and to vindicate her
national honor
Three years ago, DIR. s. visited the NAVY Yard at
Cherbaurg, IN Normandy, stretching along The north
ern coast of France. 1t is naval station Of the
hrs magnitude, upon which Napoleon in the DAYS of
his glory spent 81 600 000 and created demand for
the expenditure OF as much more by his successors
in completing the works The extent of the work.
shops the masses of timber collected; the excaya-
ton OF the docks from solid rocks which ortify the
coast of northern Normandy the vast breakwater
stretching across the mouth of the harbor all show
The grandeur OF the design and the fruits Of the ex-
| pndture.
DR.. 5. says that the French Naval Establishment.
were on grand and msgn fcent scale bot he speaks
dlparagingiy OF the departments for the manufacture
OF tools and machinery. Since lS4I the French
Government have established a marine steam en-.
gne mandatory in the vicinity OF Brest. Marine
engines haye been imported from the most celebratec
manufacturers IN Great Britain sent to the new es-
Enlistment near Brest taken into parts, drawings
made, AMI the most experienced engineers of
France collected TO form a nsyal school Tor in
strucion In an art essential 10 the defence and Sc
curly OF The Empire. No doubt the plan will
succeed
The Navy OF France at the present time consist.
oil $50 ships Of all classes against 6S in Great Brit
ain and % IN the United States OF the whole num-
per OF French ships Of war 81 steamers, Of the
following classes:
Frigstes-450 to $40 horse power, :
Correttes-22O 10 800 horse power, II
Smaller vessels-6O TO l60 horse power, 40
or this large and formidable steam feet,
there are
In commission 40
IN construction "a
Disarmed
"a
The number of steam ships Of war now building in
France IS an important feature
From the most recent official returns Of the British
navy, 1t appears that the whole number Of sh,ps of
war 10 commission ordinary and building is 65I Of
winch 90 are now In construction, namely Of sailing
ships Of war
OF 100 guns,
40 do
30 do =
"a do
so do y
FIlgates and ships Of war les ihan 20 o,In. AZ