The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1847-01-05
TREAsuRr DEpARrMrnr.

y
the condition Of that service the number Of ves-
sells. Office rs, and crews and the manner in which
they have been and are at present employed, aud
estimates OF the probable expenditure for the ensu
ing year. Likewise. the number and condition
ot the revenue boats, and the number Of boatmen
employed under the immediate direction of the
different collectors of the customs. and the es,.
mated yearly expenditure upon this branch of the
establishment.
la my last report, stated that several of the
revenue vessels were old. in decayed condition,
and unworthy of further repairs Two Of these,
the Woodbury. and Van Buren,, have been eX
ahmed by the Surveyors of the underwriters, and
their condition ascer,ainpd Ia be such require,
IT repaired, an expenditure amounting To three
murhs of the cost of new vessels II is therefore
recommended that they he condemned.
The :" Norris" which was satoned upon the
Florida reef. was driven, during the hurricane
which occurred at Key Yves, on the | l,h of Oc,o-
her last, upon bank. where the receding water
left her nearly dry, and in such a situation to
preclude the hope of getting her off
The .l"ss of the above vessels 10 the service.
has reduced the number so as TO leave very
large and very important portion of the coast IN
protected and would respectfully recommend
that the auihnriiy Of Congress be asked to supply
their places, nv building three sailing vessels of
from so To $50 tons, of such draught of water as
shall be adapted TO the harburs upon The southern
coast
The steamer " Bibb.'' originally furnished with
Hunters submerged wheels, has been supplied
with low pressure marine engine, with side.
wheels. is completed. and is now lying a, Cincin-
natl awaiting a rise in the river. No change has
been made in the form Of the hull.
The Dallas" employed upon lake Erie,
which was likewise constructed upon the plan
and under the direction of Lieut.. Hunter has
been altered by filling up the hollow Sides The
original engines have been placed such an angle
as 10 take n direct hold Of the shaft, and side
wheels applied.
She has made several trips since completed, ,
and the reports of her commander represent as
much speed as could be reasonably expected from
snch engines, (having but three feet stroke
when exerted to propeT model so objectionable
The Spencer" another one originally pro-
PEELED by Hunters submerged wheels, and which
was altered by APPLYING the original engines to
two Of Loper's propellers. is now lying at Phila-
delphia. The boiler is burned out aud on shore
Neither the hull nor engines were adapted to the
propeller and lis application has not afforded
fair test of its merits, resulted in advantage to
the government.
A survey has heen held, and it is recommended
to fill out the hollow sides and Apply two low
pressure engines, with side wheels; and am
convinced that either this should he DONE or the
vessel abandoned.
The McLane." also, originally upon Lieu
tenant Hunters plan, was, at the recommendation
of Captain Howard and the constructors, altered
by applying Hunters engines to side. wheels
The position of the engines was not disturbed,
and the motion was acquired by cog wheel gear
ing.
This vessel is. perhaps, The greatest failure of
the Withdrawing neither speed, stability nor
capacity for carrying fuel.
n Il.
of Captain Howard. who superintendent The con-
sirucion of the whole land he, as we'll as his off
GERS. have suffered the greatest modification and
disappointment in having heen unable to par,ici-
pate, as they were ready and anxious to do, in
the operations at Alvarado and Tobasco
1t is due 10 Captain Howard to state, that after
the construction of the vessel was determined
upon, his snperlntehdence was merely general and
that over the form Of the hull and arrangement of
the machinery he mad no control
The Jefferson" employed upon the waters
of lake Ontario, constructed upon the plan of
Captain Ericsson, and originally furnished with
one OF his propellers, has been actively employed
during the past season. The original propeller
having broken, Of Loper's as applied with
out disturbing any of The machinery. The re-
ports of her commander speak in terms of appro-
ballon OF her performances.
The Legare." constructed after the same
plans, and under the same superniendence, has
been the most servceabe vessel of the whole
number. Captain Erricsson's propeller is still on
board, and the vessel has been actively employed
during the past two years lstterly. in the Gulf
| OF Mexico. The boiler having burned out she
has been ordered to Richmond, Va, for examina
| ton
Experience has fully shown the inutility of
using high pressure engines in ocean navigation ;
and, il is recommended that, should new boiler
be ordered. condenser be applied The cost
would be triding. compared with the economy
which would result from its application.
| Such is the condition Of the six steamers built
| nv Captain Ericsson and Lieutenant Hunter -
or the " jefferson" and " Legare," it is but JUS
tce TO say, that the models as steamers are poud !:
the only objection being The want of sufficient
beam 10 perform, as was anticipated under can
vass alone
| For The great outlay which has been The result
OF these III advised experiments. the present adj
nlnIsralon is in Use responsible, as all the
expenditure since March, 1915, has been created
by the iuIhlment Of contracts previously entered
INTO, and which it was compelled to carry into
execution Nor is the revene marine, upon which
much OF The odium of these wrelched failures has
unJusuy iailen, in The slightest degree accounta-
Die Tor Their projection execution lis officers
win one exception, were not consulted and that
one mas had Sufficient opportunity TO test, pracl-
cany, The utter failure Of The plans, and the last
ing INJURY which not only the service of which he
is member, hut The cause of steam navigation
Tor naval purposes, in this country, has sustained,
through The hasty and i'll advised measures which
he advocated.
The Secretary, under whose administration
ihey were constructed, with desire to increase
lhe ehclency of the service, and TO provide yes
seis which would enable the officers, under all
circumstances of wind and weather, not only to
Keep watchful eye over the interests of the
revenue bnt during the severity Of winter afford
eincienl relief TO distressed merchant vessels. de-
/ cIded upon Introducing steam into the service, as
an auxiliary motive power alone.
l. he various journals Of the day represented the
Union" as possessing all the requisite sailing