The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-12-17
From the London Nautical Standard.
Progress OF Steam Navigation.

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The comparison which we drew in our last num-
Der between paddle wheel and screw propelled
ships must satisfy our readers that new classih
cation is required, we'll for the Royal Navy as the
Mercantile Marine.
A model of a screw ship for the Cunard Company
is already in their offices at Liverpool and, il the
en- pines Tor her use instructed in London, she
will equal in speed the Asia, Africa, and the Anne
rican mail ships 10 boot
The French Transatlantic Company, in forma
ton Havre de Grace hesitating in the course
they should adopt. Albeit, with liberal allowance
from the Government for carriage OF mails, they
have scarcely passenger trade sufficient tor the
highhyers, which perhaps this country alone can
atlJrd. Engines and Goals not remunerative
freight we have shown; and ii Id ssential that
the second essay for an American line Of steam
packets should not be doomed to the same sad fail.
ure as the first. The chief builder az Havre, nj.
Norman, has European reputation; and, with
the assistance of Mr.. Penn, would turn out screw
mail packet of speed equal to the fastest paddle
afoat, fifty per cent. less costly to work,
and profitable in corresponding degree.
But if think that in the beginning prudence
should suggest moderation it is far from our in
tenton to throw doubt upon the policy of improv.
ing the mail and passenger communication by
steam. There must be separate service for sepa
rate requirements, and If we are to pay for the at
tempt at high speeds by sacrifice of stowage anc
an inordinate consumption OF fuel, let at leas
obtain the advantages we look for, and get the hes
return for our money. At present the commercial
profit of our best managed line, the North Amer
can, would be invisible If the Government subsidy
did step in like the Roman of old, to fill up the
gap; and imagine the propretors already
Considering in what foreign harbor and under wha
foreign flag their recent acquisitions in the way
of naval architecture, would be most advantage
ously seen. For TO this end il must come. Moth
ing but the CHEST speed piH be admitted for the
pcyance of first class Travellers aud letters. Nothing
but the piH be able to lice for the carriage Of
second class passengers and goods. And with this
additona. gain, that for long voyages such In
din and Australia, where the paddle wheel ship il
unable to stow the required quantity of fuel. the
advantages Of steam communication will be at the
service of all.
Government in spite of the clamor for economy
must add to the steam fleet of the Royal Navy
Admitting the necessity, we have only TO hope thai
a sound Judgment will preside at their construc-
ton, and though we cannot feel much confidence
that such will be the case, there is evidence of
better appreciation of the subject. Some screw
vessels ordered, and there are now eighty
gun ship, fifty gun frigate, and corvette 10 be
laid down, and 10 be fitted with the propeller
1t is pity that, in this first trial OF line Of. bat
tie ship, engines should not have been made ex-
pressiy TOR her use. Ii no answer to point TO the
machinery In store at w oolwich the real econ
ony is in the Obtaining the best adaptation of en-
ginep power for given purpose, and after the sig.
nal success OF the Arrogant, one would have hardly
expected any but similar means would be prefer
red. The result will probably be such that
which occurred to the man whose wrong tooth had
been extracted. {" Monsieur said the French
dentist when informed OF bis mistake, ''c'est
What we require is, model Of each class Of her
majestys ships fitted with the screw; have al
ready advanced some way TO obtain it, and if the
Agamemnon, now building at w oowich, affords 0
partial success, there will be more light thrown
upon the question.
Sir Charles Napier declares that what we want i.
more large paddle wheel steamers The gallant
officer is so wrapped up in the contamination O.
his own Sidon, that he may be pardoned for blind
ness towards the principle which is destined to su.
persede her Yet how Sir Charles on looking
at the Leopard, recently launched at Deptford, and
which Is stated to be without the Sidon and Odin
peculiar defects find cause to desire more ships
OF a like description wholly unable 10 say.
On the very point which forms the main feature OF
his ompaint the insufficient stowage Of Goals the
screw ofIrs him advantages which it is beyond the
power Of the paddle wheel TO confer.
Let him suppose new Sidon, constructed with
much stability as 10 consistent with the increased
depth of hold which he demands give her screw
engines Of power as great as those fitted to the
vessel bearing that name, and fill her with Goals for
the long voyage that can be selected. Does the
gallant admiral imagine that the performance oil
such ship would not be far superior the paddle
ship from the very first 10 the very last mile Of
vOyage' not TO mention that the sailing qualities
battery, and bcrthing of men would be as superior
az light Is to darkness.
Sir Charles is, however too much a Napier
which means too acute by half-not TO recognise
before long the truth of assertion that no more
paddle trh.tl steamships be built for purposes
and that fer sailing SHIPS II any oiass ,oiH BE- sent 10
sea tcithout engine potDo and the scTetc. IL this or
successive Admiralty Boards cannot initiate they
fret time take from the note. books Of private en-
terprse the ideas whose growth il, now az ever
stunted under the cold shade Of official dscoura ge-
ment.