The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-06-13

Wnlcns ~ ~ may use tne, Term, was. lalo yes
terdsy This vessel, when completed, will be
one ofthe most perfect specimens of ocean steam
ships in the world. She will have two marine
engines, Of eleven hundred and twenty-five horse
power each, the cost of which, with the machl-
merry, will be one hunded and fifteen thousand
dollars. The diameter of the cylinders of these
engines is eighty inches with nine feet stroke.
She will have four wrought iron boilers with
iron shafts and cranks as well as iron water
wheels-all Of which will be furnished by the
firm Of I. F. Secor & Co.
We had the pleasure yesterday OF witnessing
the casting of the bed plate for this new steamer,
and were both astonished and interested in the
process For two months past, Messrs Secor
g. Co. have been making preparations for the
work, and when we inform our readers that It
was the largest and heaviest work Of the kind
that was ever performed in the United States,
weighing forty-three thousand pounds of metal,
they can form a conception of its magnitude,
and the extreme nice care, caution, and skill
that was required in every step that was taken
in the moulding and casting
For several hours previous to the time appoint
ed for the casting of this ponderous piece of
work, all the hands connected with the casting
department of this extensive establishment
were engaged in preparing the metal, and getting
matters in readiness. The capacious iron buck
cts were raised by windlass soon as they
were successfully filled, and their contents OF
molten iron, reduced to the fludity of oil by the
force of the fire, emptied into the reservoirs,
which were placed at the extreme ends of the
mould which was destined to shape the great
body of metal. AT ten minutes past four, all
things being in readiness, every man was d.
rected to take his proper station, and at quarter
past four precisely the sluices of the two reser-
voirs were opened by levers, and the metal
escaped from its confinement and rushed into
the cavity prepared for its reception. In
three minutes exactly the cavity was filled, as
the superintendent metal flowing from the vent
prepared for its escape, plainly announced The
whole affair was conducted in admirable
manner. Although some fifty or sixty workmen
were engaged in it, no one interfered or was in
another's way. Every man knew his place and
his duty. and kept in the one and attended to the
other.
During the three minutes that elapsed from
the opening of the sluices to the escape of the
waste metal the spectacle was brilliant and IN
teresting. The moment the metal was freed
ITOH us commandment, TIC HuHlclouo VSHto 9"os |
forth streams of flame that reached nearly as
high as the ceiling-some fifty feet-and the
busy hum of the admiring spectators, with
the anxiety for success in the undertake
ing which was pictured on the counte-
nances of the proprietors, who were deeply In
terested in its success, added increased interest
to it. Every person present we are confident felt
gratified when it was announced by Mr. Secor
that more successful casting was never made.
This great work is worthy of being considered
the CONNIE cement of new era in the history
of our country A few years since the accom-
pishment of such great undertaking was out
of the question, but now it is done with compa-
rative ease.
We congratulate Messrs. Secor & Co., and the
country at large, on the success which attended
the casting of the engine beds of the steamship
United States yesterday.