The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-03-16
United States steamer s'Robert j. Walker"
To the Editor of the Union :

To the Editor of the Union;
Sir: have been somewhat surprised that no notice
has yet been taken, in your columns, OF this admirable
conquest of science and art especially after the repeated
and expensive failures which have been made to drain
the treasury for the last several years in building
iron revenue vessels only to be used hobbies on
which, and in which, miserable experiments have been
tried in deviation from correct rules of architecture, and
engines adopted which were 90 use the words of very
distinguished many an absurdy in practice, and fala
cy in physics" For the truth Of this, need only
name the vessels built by order of Congress at the
pense of the treasury. list Of them may serve "to
point moral and adorn tale" 1t is as follows: The
Spencer the Legare. the McLane, the George M Bbb =,
all Of which are laid up as monuments of folly and
travagance, for which nobodyis accountable.
enue bureau Capt A. v Fraze assumed its duties he
arrested the progress of this career and determined that
common sense should govern In the construction and
the Robert Walker; and he selected sku practical
engineer to build the engines for those vessels How
that work has been accomplished, may be read in
ed everything yet built in the naval marine of this
country or Europe The engines employed in the two
last vessels exactly of the same model and power
but, from circumstances wholly disconnected with the
moving power the just expectations of the head of the
bureau and the engineer have not yet been reazed still
there is ne doubt BIT that p With som alterations tito BY
every respect which It'll hoped will be forthwith commit
ted to his charge, to undergo the necessary improvements
1t 49, in my opinion but an act of sheer justice to that
All, doubt recollect the fable OF Midas, who pos
sessed the power OF turning everything into gold that he
touched. So everything connected with, in any way
relating to- the distinguished Secretary OF the Treasury,
emnently successful; and while he has triumphed over
every obstacle his official capacity, and placed the
credit OF his country in proud and commanding position,
it is pleasing "reminiscences that his aquatic namesake
has been the only successful work out OF vessels
dered by the whg Congress of lsa12 and only
cessu but superior to every vessel of her class that has
the "Walker 1875 feet length of keel 1876 feet length
deck 20 feet breadth OF beam; feet depth of hold
a5s tonnage. She is worked by two of Lghthas hori-
Zontal half beam engines, having 36nch cylinders
eject stroke, each possessing a 7o-horse power,
The whole space occupied by the engines boilers and
coal bunkers is only 80 feet The consumption of fuel
per mile while her speed is very great having frequently
accomplished II miles per hour between Ptsburg, where
she was built, and New Oreans this being her first trip
and, OF consequence, her engines and machinery all
and stiff She passed everything on the Mississippi; and
after trial of speed for 100 miles with the steame!
"Genera Lafayette, the swes craft that river. left
her behind and out of sight Since she has been turned
over to the coast survey, we learn that she has had
trial of speed with the celebrated steamer "Jsmes L.
Day" and fairly beaten her on the salt water
Not however, 10 occupy too much space in your paper
written by Captain Richard Evans, Of the revenue ser.
vice. dated February s. lsls who had the best oppor
OF Der nm habys Mnb
says: 81 never saw so perfect pair OF engines in my
lfe they worked like charm, gave great speed to the
vessel: with small consumption Of fuel while all the
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thereby giving the haf-beam engine great advantage
over the perpendicular Tor service OF this had
ample opportunity OF Judging, having been caught out in
strong gale of wind with heavy sea, the passage
from the Baze to this bay, the whole time the engines
worked beautifully, and were regulated 80 accurately
give just the speed necessary to make her easy and
safe All the arrangements of the walker, consider
TO be first rate for ea-servcehe wheel appears to be
the right size, and has the proper dip for sea steamer
and everything about her engine is complete for in the
passage from Cincinnati to this port-a distance of neal
1000 miles, never was obliged to stop once on account
| of the engines"
Speaking of desire expressed by many persons in
New Orleans to test the speed of the W alker (which
Capt Evans could not crafty, owing to orders to pro-
coed to sea-, he says although the Walker has proud
reputation in that city, having ourun every steamer sht
came in contest with on the passage down the river and
one OF them the brag- boat-viZ: the Gen. Lafayette
STILL had they her performance, it would have beer
| better"
Such the character and merits of the walker > and
she is buried in the service of the coast survey when she
should be brought into active service mail steamer
where her light would shine before the world
WATT