The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-02-21

ANY S=nom inal horse power.
"a being the diameter OF cylinder in inches-S the
length of stroke Ill feet
Second-"he square of the diameter of cylinder in
inches, multiplied by the velocity of piston in feet,
per minute, and divided by 5000, will give the no.
minal horse power. Thas:--
ABB S=nominal horse power.
5000
IA being the diameter of cylinder in inches the
number OF strokes per minute, s the length of
stroke in feet.
1t Is mistaken notion that the Cuaarit RS carry
but pounds Of steam to the square inch, while the
Americans carry rs or 30. The average pressure
OF The Cunarders IS about IL pounds, and the ave.
rage of the Collins steamers has been less than 10.
Ii is seen that the ASIA enginesexceed in power
those Of the Atlantic or Pacific 1t is also plain,
from the above statistics, that the immersed mid
ship section Of the Asia Is 76 square feet less tina
the Pacific or Baltic, and So square feet less than
the Atlantic, giving per square foot of immersed
mdshp section, 10 the Asia 81 l00th horse power,
Pacific H. Tooth, Atlantic Is l00th and the Bal
ucl2i lOOth horsepower, giving an important advan-
age In favor oil the Asia over either Under this view
Of the case, 1t may be asked, how the Collins
steamers expect 10 equal the speed of the Asia !!
The answer Is, by their superiority OF model, which
PROFESSIONALLY gives the Collins steamers great
advantages; and when they, like the ne Cunard-
ers, can command picked crew who have disin-
gulshed themselves by years of unremittng and
efficient service, they will equal and surpass their
rivals. Why DO the English enginee boasiingly
assert, "gve them the Collins steamers and they
will beat themselves dayl" They are admitted
good judges, and il may be fatterng to the friends
OF The Collins steamers, to know that The new Gu
nard ships, Arabia and Persia, now constructing to
compete with the Collins steamers, are copying
them both as regards increased length and sharp
ness of model and tubular boilers,
The truth is, the English cunningly underrat
the POWER Of their engines, giving the impres sion
that, with less capacity, their engines are more
perfect and more efficient; while the Americans
have foolishly overrated the power of theirs and
given the idea that, notwithstanding great engines,
great expenditure, and great effort their engines
are imperfect, and do not work up TO their power.
Hence has arisen the common oppression, "you
can build the ships but you must go TO England
for your engines" The misfortune is, the Ameri
cans themselves have done their steamers the
greatest injury, illustrating the philosophy Of the
SAYING, "save me from my friends" by over.
estimating and premature Boosting, thereby Great
log unreasonable anticpiiions, they have done
their steamers more serious damage than all TO-
reign competition combined for no sooner does
the actual performance fall short of the high
wrought and visionary expectations, than the very
vessels which foreigners i've csndidly PRONOUNCED
without equals in the world, are set down b. Anne.
rcans as failures and sucn "deeply interested
scientific individuals " Filopanti," Get to work
from erroneous data, obtained at a cheap PRINT es-
tablishmtnt-to demonstrate that they are failures.
and why they are failures. The steamers OF the
first American transatlantic line were materially
injured IN the same unre asonabc manner.
Why should there be- so much parualiy 10 favor
Of the English steamers Why such disposition
To wink al their delinquencies IL the englae OF a
Cunard steamer breaks side lever, throwing the
engine into perfect wreck, and the steamer comes
into port with one engine, and returns TO Europe
with one engine. nothing is said about it; II half a
dozen men are washed overheard, during single
passage, by the submarine excursions Of the ship,
nothing Is said about 1t II the steamer is sixteen
or eighteen day making the passage, nothing 10
sand about it; II is conceded that she must have
encountered an unusual boisterous passage. With
the Cunarders every thing Is night, and all is looked
upon as contingent accidents, that will happen
under the best of management
But how 10 u with the American steamers ! II one
|. longer than usual making q passage, ii is sup
posed che has met with an accident II the engine
cause, there is immediate alarm, and every pissen.
ger considers IL his privilege visit the engiae
room and inspect the condition OF the machinery,
and seems ambitious in being first TO write and
publish an exaggerated account OF the accidents
and detention" Of the passage, with criticisms
The maEcsnstruction Of the ship and machinery;
while on board of an English steamer the engine
room Is mace ssabe TO passengers only on praise
worthy occasions
IL should be borne in mind that the Atlantic and
Pacific were built to compete with the America,
Europa, Canada, &C., and not such steamers as the
Asia and Africa, WHICH nave been built since, or
the still more po~erfu steamers Arabia and Persia,
now constructing; and from the immense sums
which the Cunarders are now expend,ng for new
and more powerful steamers II s evident that they
consider the Collins steamers formidable rivals,
and that the Yankees have succeeded in frghten-
ing the Cunarders, If they do not eventually sur.
pass them.
To "Flopanti's" statement, that the Baltic cannot
consume less than II 900 pounds of coal per hour,
and must C. Try, to ensure a safe passage, l 800
tone, and from " indications privately obtained"
sets down the weight Of engines and boilers 800
more, making an aggregate weight for propeling
power alone of 600 tons will simply say, that the
engines and boilers weigh S25 tons. aud the bunk
have storage for 600 tons, which affords, in
ordinary weather, two to three days extra Goals.
" Fllopauti's" modest suggestion Of the SIMPLE
and easy improvements" necessary to the Collins
steamers-such as 600 foot paddle wheels, gradu.
atng pillow blocks, extension connecting rode, and
larger cy LADDERS may be !" simple and easy" for
his theory but MAYER for Practice.