The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-09-27


| Important and successful Experiment.
| The experiments which are now making IN the
naval affairs OF our country calculated to show The
bold and adventurous. and enteprsng temper OF our
countrymen in this advancing age. The following a'u
Gle from the New York Herald shows what new ana
important experiment is now making in New YORK oy
Mr. Ericsson under the auspices of the Secretary Oh 'e
Treasury
TrE UNITED STATES STEAMER LEeARE-we meu',oneo
yesterday that this beautiful craft was cruising apo w.
bay Thursday, for the purpose OF testing an aPP'
constructed by Capt Ericsson 10 furnish constant supply
fresh water her boilers We omitted to state ha' ms
important has been prosecuted under the espe
ca direction of Secretary Walkers and that the honor
in the event of success will belong him of having solved
what all must admit be the most important unsolved
problem in navigation. Among the gentlemen
associated with Charles H. Haswe esq, engneer-ln-chie
of the United States in conducting the experiment.
were Thomas b. Stillman John H. Towne, George L.
SCHUYLER Professor Mapes, James Mcfarland, Lewis
laws Captain Frazer, of the revenue marine, William
Sewel IT, and w. w. Wood, of the United States navy
and VIM A. Lghthal Several gentlemen interested IN
steam navigation were present invited guests among
whom Samuel nj. Fox T.. X. Collins, William hen-
ble and ID. Van Buren, esqs. The report of this com
mission, from the great interest involved, Is looked Tor
with great anxiety
The official reports not yet made to Washington
The New York papers are also stating the results OF
some striking experiments, now making IN that port
with the Balance Dock and the Sectional Dock. The
New York Tribune has interesting article upon H.
which we may lay before our readers hereafter
Under the auspices of the Secretary OF the Navy, an
important experiment has just been made IN norfolk.
We have seen the results in the Norfolk papers we
copy the following from the Norfolk Beacon OF last
Saturday:
Some two or three months snce the frigate Raritan
fcf nuyifh
large number of them officers, having died on the
passage, with what believed to be the yellow fever
She ordered off by the board of health and has since
been anchored off Caney island dismanted and unnhabt
ed Such the dread of the fatal disease that though
every open and her valuable of provis
ons &c. exposed dared board her, some hands
from the Vandalia whose duty it trim the wind
SAILS that set with hope of purifying her Sailors
who ventured below be seized with violent
sickness-ive of who board having been
Frustrated by the foul stencil that arose from her hold 1t
suggested by many scue hers but this objected
to, would loss of between fifty and sixty thou
sand dollars worth of provisions powder, etc., which could
be removed while she remained infected Some
three SINCE Professor Robert Grant received permits
sion of Commodore Skinner, Chief of the Bureau of Con-
struction, Equipment, and Repair, experiment the
frigate with his newly-nvented dsinfecting gas. Such
his confidence in his ability and the efficacy of his
invention, that all the warnings of his tmd friends
could dssuade him from undertaking which seemed
death. daring He went board with his apparatus
Tuesday lastweek and, alter aborng day and night
of the time " solitary and alone in week he reported
the ship Captain Stribng of the Pennsylvania, perfectly
healthy, and sweet NUT The result of his expe
riment was, contrary to the expectation of many,
pete triumph and proof of his confidence in her pu
rty he will forthwith take up his lodgings board, sleep
in her Cockpit and keep command of one of our nobles
rgaes, if the will only commission him. and
furnish . q bold brave crew.
Captain Sbling and the medical gentlemen detailed by
order government have inspected the Raran in every
part and will doubtless report avoraby.
We have been favored by the Navy Department with
the official papers, which very interesting and
elusive Of the success OF Mr. Grants ingenious process
Mr. Grants report is addressed on the Esd instant to
" Commodore Charles w Skinner, Chief of Bureau Of
Construction Equipment &c." and fills eleven pages of
manuscript fer which we cannot find room this evening
in the Union We therefore compelled to limit our
selves to the three following letters upon the subject
U. s. SHIr PENNSYLVANIA,
Norfolk 25h Sept, I847.
SIR: now have the honor to forward the reports of Mr.
Grant, and the officers directed by You superntend Mr.
Grants disnfectng on board The u s. ship Rari
TAM.
thing from the Raritan" excepthe tanks; they i'm
bedded in decomposcd vegetable matter that matter
prudence, would recommend their being disturbed
| until winter has fully set in.
! The last day on board the "Raritan" exam
ned every part Of the ship The exposed condition of the
stores of which there is considerable quantity on board
induces me to suggest the prope of their being removed
as soon as possible As soon cool weather in
may expect that efforts will be made rob the ship of
stores and do think this be prevented by any
watch that can be kept on board another vessel
am sir very respectfully, your obedient servant
G. X STRIBLING,
Com. and Senior Officer present.
Com. CHARLES w. SKINNER
Chief Of the Bureau Of Constructon Equipment, and
Repair, Washington, ID. C.
UNITED STATES sLoop VANpAIIA
Norfolk, (near Craney 1sland) Sept %, 1917.
SIR In reply your note of this date asking my opinion
Of the OF the Rartan previous