The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-10-20
THE NEW MAIL STEAMER.

We have seen a communication from the agent
of the General Post Office, in New York, who is SUI
the building of the first steamboat
which is designed for the transportation of the mail
to Europe The letter states the general progress
in the construction of both ship and engines, which
are advancing fast can be expected with work
of such magnitude. The builders give their whole
attention to the subject, feeling the importance of
completing her by the time specified in the contract,
which they give shall be done. The ship lie
n frame They are putting in her nelson's, of which
she has screen. They will, in few days. commence
panking and putting in her beams; and the engines
are also progressing rapidly it is possible for
them in their present stage, it being the stage when
all their proportions, location, &c, are to be consid-
cred and decided The boilers, Grants cylinders,
engine frames, and bed plates-the heaviest of the
work--are all in hand, and are hurried forward as
fast as possible" The agent promises to send on
drawing, as well as description of the sizes of all
the timbers, fastenings, copper and iron, &c. He
pledges himself to the department that his "whole
time devoted to close examination of all that is
doing, and urging them forward to the completion
of the whole work by the time specified; and to
nave IL uOno III SUCH inuHueT as 10 10 circuit 10
concerned;" and adds, 81 think it will be- surprising
any steamer hitherto put afoaL" The agent (Mr. T.
Brownell, lieutenant, United States navy) then pro-
ceeds:
"Thinking that anything, at this time, relating to
sea steamers will be interesting to the head of the
department, will add that, since my last the Brit
ish steamer Great Western has arrived; and from
the published accounts which you must have noticed
you, like many here, world think there could not be
much of her left for sea service. This was not so.
She had had hard passage, and experienced Sc
we're gale, but the damage done to the ship was
triaing-nothing like the amount of fright expert
enced by those on board. The whole damage done
was to one wheel and guard. felt that it was our
duty to examine her We did so--the master
builder, the engine builders, and Mr.. Mills and my
SELF On going on board, our object was made known
to the captain, who afforded us every facility for the
accomplishment of our VISIT and now submit Ia
the head Of the department some Of my observa-
tons, with some comparisons between her and the
ship we building. To say the least of her, she
s slightly built for ship where much is expect
ed and required. say slightly, compared with ours
and still she has stood several gales among the Sc.
verest that are record She is 212 feet long, Is
feet beam, % feet hold, and has but one tier OF
beams. Although she has two entire decks and one
half her length, her lower deck is laid in hve-inch
plank. She is not sealed up to her bilge. She has
three nelson's. She has diagonal fastenInes of iron
and wood. These constitute her greatest strength
and have thus far enabled her to perform what she
has Now, ship is $50 feet over oil, 80 feet beam
2i,6 or 316 feet hold, with double the number OF
cubic feet Of timber in her that the Great Western
has; she will have three tier Of beams, seven KEEL
sons fore and aft, from feet to 4.S thick, of solid
wood, bolted through and through floors and keel
As to the engines, boilers, &c. there will be equally
as great difference favor Of our ship. The Great
Western has one engine Of 500 horsepower, never
working more than eight inches Of steam, ard sell
dom more than three, with a cykader III incnes,