New-York daily tribune., 1845-05-23
Propellers rs Paddle wheels.
AMERICAN INSTITUTE, April 20, ls45.

JOHN D. WARD, Esq.
Chairman Of the Committee on Jiaaufaetures:
DEAR SIR: You having made two communications
10 the Treasury Department OF the United States,
on the subject Of subr rged Propelers for steamers
some time since. while that subject was under pub
lie discussion il will be favor conferred upon US
il you wall furnish US copies OF those comnunca-
tions In addition 10 many inquiries on this sub
jcct, it is within knowledge that the ShIpwreck
Society has been and is now considering the ques-
ZION OF Steam Tug OF sufficient power TO rrmaln
at sea off this hdrbor IN gales Of wind, 10 relieve
vessels IN distress, dnd the model oi such lug has
has been lately presented 10 ihr S"cl.ty by Foster
Rhodes, ESQ. having the Paddle U'hes!S instead Of
ProyeHerS
The subject is important, and we desire 10 have
rh- benz fiji of your long experience this SUBJECT,
on record III the institute
7. B. WAKEMAN, Cor Secretary.
New YORK 25,h April lsi3.
Hon. JOIN c. SPENCER. Secretary cf The Treasury
SIR-In cnnversa satOn last evening with NJ T. Is sti-
man Of the house of Stiman Co. Of ihs city, learned
that the cnur Iron Steamers built for the Treasury
Department are be fitted with Propelsg machinery
upon The plan proposed by Lieut. Huuter or with Erics
son prup.l!ers Asa citizen Of The Republic feel anxious
the Of every proper measure which the Govern
ment undertakes and native American engineer feel
considerable socude for the reputation or the profession
anroad Ard both the of tie undertaking and
the reputation OF AR.ricsn Engineering will be jeopsrded
by adopting either Of the p ans mentioned beg leave to
request you have decided IN favor of both, or either
of them that you will review decision. you will do
this and can facts end opinions from men whose
pursuits and requirements enable them TO Judge correctly
aud who.e not i'll some way or other mixed
up with these plans, feel sured that you will find sub
,,aual re ,sons changing the opinions which am
informed have adopted respecting them. Win regard
10 the plans lhense have to remark that they are
both Od-that like many other imaginary Improvements
they reappear periodically generally in varied form but
lNsf1 fia
in the course of very few years The experiments on
board H. NJ Steamer BEE ought to set the question oi
Spiral Propellers II the c that hey are In
fcror To Paddle Wheels could be demonstrated miha-
macay The barge Clnrn TOO of his port, was htted
with Propelier and have the opinion of MI Davld
Brown. the house of Brown Bell snip oulersl VINO
IN nde M massage in the vessel from Havana to New York,
after the machinery ard that her average pas
sagcs Won Id accomplished in shorter time without the
machinery ihsn with it, that is that her average speed
would be increased by removing the machinery IRON the
vessel.
The pan OF M Hunter much inferior 10 that Of Ericc
son with Hunters wheels only moderate velocity
can ever he attained and the low speed which cav be
reached mus, be expense Of fuel equal 10 or - times
what would be required TO popcl the vessel al the same
rate with common marine engine and paddle wheels
have the liberty 10 press my Opinions 10 YOU
and do so with an Of their correctness pro-
duced by m ~ years practical experience ad irin co
vlcon that if the plans OF either Ericsson OF nlel are
don od disprAcci failure will be the inevitable result
n Of hs four similar vessels which are 10 he bult one
h,ud be fit with spiral propeller and one with HUNT
| Sh
which should he conclusive how those pl ns compare
with the paddle Wheels there might be excuse for the
.xpend,ure which would he required On no other ground
In nv opinion can expenditure OF money on tho plans
DO defended have nieresAt present. iT any establish
ment for the manufacture Of machinery connection
with or Interest IN any plan old; ami what may
pcrhaps Re considered singular wish to he engaged III
The rvcc of the If you wish 10 know any
thing farther of the inquire OF Samuel Ste
vens Esq., Of this citv. Rev. E. Aott, ID d Of Union
College l am, respectfully. your ob't serv't.
IcorY.l JERSEY CITY. oath April, lsi5.
H'n Il j. WALKER. Secretary OF The Treasury:
SIR Having seen it stated the new papers OF tie day
that the iron steamer John T. Spencer built for Rev
enc cutter was Philadelphia 10 have her proe
ling machinery altered from Hunters TO Lopers plan,
take the liberty address you respecting the matter
do so at this partly because before III building OF the
cutters was commeDced. which the Spencer Is one,
wrote TO Hon John c. Spencer then Secretary OF the
Treasury predicting the evi able failure of The vessels
they received kind Of propiag machinery which ne
hSd decided upon Wit Erccsons Spiral ProPeers and
Hunters Submerged Wheels. - -.
II y, will my loter of the 18th April 1888
which ought be c In your department you will nd
that the results which have followed the adoption OF The
plans mentioned were distinctly .Oreoid All have to
adj is thar the change in progress will result in like
complete faurc-Lopers plan Is net whit better than
Hunters and both perfectly useless for the purpose OF
propelng steam and the sooner the Government
xiyes up both and the old long tried aud efec
tive paddle wheels, thu lc.s money will be wasted
am respectfully, your obt. serv't.