The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-07-06


STA: With the appreciation OF the honorable Sec.
rotary Of the Treasury, have addressed 10 Captain
Ericsson reply to his structures upon my reports,
Of which the enclosed "a copy. As the subject is
one OF some importance at this time, have to re-
quest that publicity be given 10 IL through the
columns Of the Union.
lam, sir, very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
ALEX. V. FRASER,
Capt. u. s. Revenue Marine
REyEAUE BUREAU,
Treasury Department, June Is, 1886
SIR: | perceive that to House document 6sl OF
the present session, being report OF the Hon.
Thos. Butler klns, from the Naval Committee,
upon war steamers, there Is appended letter ad-
dressed by you 10 the honorable Secretary Of the
Treasury, dated in February last, in which my re.
ports upon the trials Of the revenue steamers are
erlucized with much severity. The first intmaton
of the existence Of this letter received by me was
upon discovering It appended to the document al
lpded to; and as it has no relation to the subject
matter OF the report, presume that the single OBJ
isct in giving il publicity in this shape place
az before the public in an official form.
As some OF the passages in my report are mis-
quoted, or quoted only in part, changing very ma
tsrially their original intended purport, i am in
duced by sense of justice to myself, well as to
the service Of which 1 am member, to apply the
proper corrections, and to place myself in such
simple reasons why | arrived at the conclusions
and expressed the opinion relative to the value OF
the two prspellers that Of Captain Lopez and your
own,
In treating this matter | shall not attempt any
tAeoretiea reasoning upon the subject OF steam
With one Of your acknowledged abilities an engl-
neer, for the simple reason, as have heretofore
pressed, that make no pretensions to a scientific
acquaintance with the subject. But will merely take
up the quotations which you have made from my
report present them in their original form, and offer
simple but forcible reasons for the conclusions at
which arrived. and for the opinions which have
expressed.
You may recoect, that with view TO impair
al investigation Of the subject, timely notice was
given TO Capt. Lopez and yourself of the time the
TRIALS were to be made, and the invitation was ex-
tended to you both, by the honorable Secretary Of
the Treasury, to be present Capt Lopez was on
board Of the Legare and circumstances not permit
ting you to attend, you sent your agent, Mr. Risley
with these gentlemen my notes compared FREE
quenty, and objections offered respecting the
manner in which the trial was made, and no differ
ence discovered in separate notes.
At the trial Of the Jefferson, upon Lake Ontario,
neither were present; but you expressed to your
entire confidence in the impartial manner in which
il would be made and in my report upon that trial,
which was intended test the relative value Of the
two propeers, do not offer an opinion, but con-
fine myself to simple statement OF facts, which are
IL
ested in the subject to make their own calculations
and draw their own conclusions.
In my report, however dated May Goth, lS45, of
the trial Of Lopers propeller on board Of the Spen-
Ger, in which vessel the mode OF propulsion had
been changed from Hunters submerged wheel,
make the following remarks:
al am satisfied by my own observations, as well
as the assurances Of individuals interested in steam
navigation that the Lopez propeller is far superior
to any other in every point Of vew-partcularly in
strength, and consequently in durability"
This is what you pleased to call .hasty con-
A desire at that time to avoid giving Of
fence, deferred me from being explicit, from
presenting my reasons-but now, In order to con-
vince you that my opinion founded upon con-
elusive evidence--evidence which, to ordinary
minds it must be admitted quite reliable as any
theoretical reasonings which be advanced to the
contrary-I will state the simple facts which gov
erned me. Your propeller had broken in ordinary
weather, on board the Legare twice, and once on
board the Jefferson; and at Philadelphia, New
York, and Buffalo, saw numbers on shore which
had been taken out, and their places supplied by
Loper's. individuals, in the investment Of their
money, are generally disposed to apply satisfactory
tests to experiments; and 1t was from such sources
that l learned the advantages which resulted from
the change
MY opinion has subsequently been pretty well
sustained by the accidents which have befallen the
Massachusetts, and others, while that of Lopez has
stood severe test during the past year, particular
~ upon the coast during the winter months In
making these remarks, do not wish to be under
stood as advocating at the present time any sub
merged wheel or propeller, but am willing to hazard
myself in the position which you have very justly
assigned to me in your letter, advocate of the
ordinary side or paddle wheel, ana leave time to de-
termine whether ! am correct l have witnessed
the regularity with which the transatlantic steamers,
particularly the Great Western, have for years
made their passages over the most boisterous nav-
CATION in the world, reducing the times of
arrival and departure almost TO the certainty
Of an ordinary ferry twenty years since, and
at the same time l have before me the partial
or entire failure of every other plan which
has been attempted for ocean navigation. The
Great Britain, Massachusetts, Jefferson, Legare,
and believe the Princeton, have broken their pro-
pelers. The latter vessel, as well as the Jefferson
and Legare, have been disabled for a time by haw-
sers and other articles becoming entangled; and
when accidents of any magnitude do occur the
services of dry-dock or railway are indispensable
to the repairs.
Again, you make the following quotation from my
report "A difference in the number of revolutions,
under the pressure OF steam, VIII be perceived.
This NAV be in consequence of different angle IN
the blades, but | am under the impression that Is
attributable to that portion Of Captain Ericsson
propeller embraced between the shaft and outer
rim, requiring considerable effort to turn it, without
having any propelng power" This was merely
an impression made upon my mind, without any
positive conviction but as you attach some import
ance to the subject, may as well remark that sub
sequent reflection has strengthened that opinion,
However, think proposed either to yourself or
to Mr.. Risley very simple mode of determining
the TRUTH by taking the vessel into quiet water after
removing the blades, and making the experiment,
whether any propelling power, and If any how
much, existed within the rim. The trial is easily
made, and the result would be much more satisfac-
tory to simple minds than the most ell 'borate rea,
soning. Ordinary minds will readily comprehend
results which are derived from actual experiment,
while fe are competent, and fever have sufficient
patience to wade through the labyrinth of age-
braicul expressions, with which engineers are APT
to mystify the most simple problems connected with
the subject Of steam.
Your fourth argument relative to friction, pass
over with no farther remark, than that in my sim
picty was induced to believe that IT depended not
only upon the weight OF the shaft but likewise upon
the amount of pressure required at the dhierent
bearings to confne it, and prevent vibration; but