The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1845-10-31

ment, municipal committees, be formed In all the
cities and chief Places secure as far possible
employment for the aboring poor, and to obtain the
means OF subsistence by charitable contributions
for such are not able TO procure employment, or
who, by bodily infirmity or age, cannot work The
Government appeals to the benevolent 20 come for
ward in this crisis with that charitable zeal which
has always characterized them.
The Governments of England and France re-
spectlvely have been noiselessy, but not the less
seriously and deadly d Getting their attention lately
TO the adoption CT such measures as may, IN the
event OF war occurring In any part OF the world, en-
able them to turn the art OF steam navigation to the
best accountant while the results other researches
and experiments demonstrate how much IS still to
be learned in this department OF the arts, many i'm
portanr facts, and some valuable principles, have
been developed and established. As this subject is
which present features OF profound interest
to every well informed American, shall offer no
apology for entering somewhat fully upon it here,
and enabling you to lay before your readers some
Of the most important practical conclusions to
which these extensive enquiries have led
The question whether great maritime power
ought to be provided with steam squadron has
ceased to be debated. 1t is universally conceded
The first point after this to be settled IS the proper
ton IN which the force OF national navy should be
divided How much ought to consist of sailing YES.
sells, and how much OF steamersl and above all, to
determine the means whereby the peculiar powers
OF each OF these classes may be most fully developed
without impairing those OF the other 1t is also to
be determined how the steam marine NAV be
best managed as to render it available on the one
hand in naval engagements, and on the other. to
adapt IT for the rapid transmission OF troops and
munitions IN war Of invasion. A commission, of
which the Prince de Jonville was president. after
an elaborate investigation laid down the following
principles which they maintained might be assumed
as data: LIST. That i'll the tactics of a steam marine
the general object being to fight Zen pointe) from
stem and stern, IT is necessary to concentrate al
these points the most powerful means of attack and
defence End. That the limited space at these
points, compared with that afforded by the sides of
an ordinary vessel OF wal, mot permitting numerous
artillery, it is necessary, (whatevsr otherwise be
the arm employed,) to compensate by magnitude Of
calibre for deficiency of number. 1t was, therefore,
recommended IN steamers of two hundred and
twenty horse power to use two howitzers of eight
inch calibre, and two long guns of twelve inch cali.
bre, two being placed at the stern and two at the
bow. II was further maintained, that as one of the
most important uses OF steamer in maritime war
would be to facilitate and expedite the dsembark
men OF troops in the of INVASION it was indls
pensable to provide in such vessels as large space
as possible tor the accommodation Of troops 1t was
recommended to modify the rigging by the suppress
sion ofthe mizen mast. by diminishing to the extent
OF above two and half feei the bowsprit, putting
back the foremast, by eight feet ard the maln-mast
by eighteen feet and augmenting the latter by three
and half feet.
La considering the best method of arming steam
ships these vesselswere reduced TO different classes
according to their power and tonnage Steamers Of
100 horse power being destined generally for the
transport of dispatches were to be armed in the
ilghtest manner so as to interfere little as posi-
BILE with their speed. Steamers of 200 horse power
being the smallest commonly used for warlike expe-
dtisns, were to be armed with pivot gun at the
bow and another at the stern, each 80 centlmetres
calibrc, and gun of 80 centimetres at each side
Steamers OF 300 horse power with two guns at the
bow, each 80 centimetres cabre, and pivot gun at
the stern OF the same callbre To complete her
means of attack and defence it was recommended
that tour guns OF 30 centlmetres calibre should be
distributed at the sides. Steamers of 400 horse pow.
er were to be armed with three Paixhan guns of 80
centlmetres callbre, one mounted on pivot on the
deck, and the other two on ordinary carriages:
these TO be placed at the bow and like number OF
similar guns similarly mounted at the stern, with
four guns OF 80 centimetres callbre ut each side
Finally, in the larger class of steamships, of 500
horse power. 1t was recommended to supply the
same stern guns as IN the last mentioned class Of
steamers, and to have upon the deck each side two
guns OF 90 centlmetres caibre each, playing through
an angle OF 40 deg. Sucn was the proportion OF
arms pronounced by the commission to be the best
tor steam squadron.
In another series of researches, the committee d.
rected their attention to the classification of steam
transports as distinguished from armed vessels,
which involved the whole consideration Of the prob
lem of improved propellers, including subaqueous
propulsion in general
OF all the improvements hitherto introduced into
the steam marine, it is admitted by the committee
that by tar the most important, is that which aims
at the attainment OF the power to use at will the
steam propeller, or to suspend it and resort to sails
without however allowing either of these methods,
when thus suspended, to impair the efficacy of the
other. notice this conclusion, which consider to
be principle. OF the very highest importance, and
is one which has again and again been pressed on
the public in America, by Dr. Lardner, both in his
published writings and in his oral discourses II is
also TO this problem that Capt. Ericsson has for so
many years consecrated his labors Various contri-
vances have been resorted to on both sides of the
Atlantic tor the attainment OF this important object
Ia France the principle of the screw is considered
as that which has most nearly approached to its prac
teal solution. 1.-The trial OF the screw" says the
report of the French Commissioners, ION board the
Napoleon, has established its practical efficiency as
submerged propeller, and its superiority over the
common paddle wheels The advantages of the
su Emerged propeller are more especially evident in
transatlantic steam navigation This navigation can
be permanently established only on the condition
that means can be devised to employ alternately the
sails and the steam power, by which a saving Of IS
per cent OF fuel can be effected. Not only is suba-
queous propulsion economical, as respects fuel, but
II Will give to the transatlantic voyages exraord-
nary rapldlty: As practical example of this, it
may be mentioned that the English frigate Vernon,
in the service OF the East India Company supplied
with an auxiliary engine of thirty horse power act
ing on light wheels easily unshipped, performed the
voyage from Calcutta to London, by the Cape, in
81 days, making the passage from the Cape in 4S
days, and consequently in ID days less than the time
taken for the same voyage by steamers OF four hun
dred or live hundred horse power, working with
steam alone, and at an enormous expense" The
commissioners, however, admit that further expert
HcCcsSdIy " tnlb principle 10 perIeC-
lection. Much will be known on this interesting point
when the performances OF the vessels now In pro-
gress In the harbors OF America, and particularly the
packet ship Massachusetts, shall have npraccaly
tested. But the subject which the commissioners
most energetically insist, and which they urge with
more than common eainestness on the government
and the public, Is the absolute necessity OF COM
pete reorganization OF the personnel OF steam YES
sells OF every class. On this, more than any other
reform or Improvement OF the existing system, will
as they think, depend the efficiency OF steam ma
rlne, whether conducted with the view OF the ex-
tension OF the objects Of commerce IN peace or the
national defence in war The body of men en-
poyed IN working and directing the machinery Of
steamers, act part OF much too high Importance to
justify the position, which, is at present assigned to
them either In respect to their rank or their qua
cations The state and commerce owe it to them
selves to adopt such an organization OF this class of
employees, as may render their rank consideration
and pay correspondent to the vast importance OF the
duties which devolve upon them. Il is necessary
carefully to distinguish those who work at the fur
k.1tln ..nI r. Il