The republic., 1851-02-21
Naval Economy.

Naval Economy.
The attention of the scientific world has been d.
rected for several years to dcvising some mode o
supplying the boilers of going steamers with q
continuous supply Of frcsh water. IL 10 admitted
that the OF fresh water would effect great
saving; but there have becn hitherto mechanical
difficulties in the arrangements for furnishing il
which have been entirely overcome, it is believed
by Mr.. PIRssoN's condenser.
In addition to the mass Of testimony furnished
the naval committee at the last session of Con-
gress we have before the recent report of the
chief engineer of the steamship Osprey" and a
letter TO the builders from the commander of the
steamship Commodore Stockton, besides the report
Of the Board Of Examiners appointed by the Frank
lin Institute of Philadelphia, confirming the con-
dnuously successful working Of Prisons con-
denser, and furnishing some very remarkable
facts.
The chief engineer of the Osprey says: "The
boilers have undergone thorough exploration,
the result of which 10. found neither the iron
plates nor fiues in any part injured by corroson or
scales; and they are. TO all appearances, just as
good a. when they fret left the boilcr-shop. The
workmcn declared they had before seen 20
clean pair of boilers after being used; and this is
true; for, had we been using salt water, as we
should have done il it was not for PRISONS con-
denser, the boilers would have been badly scaled
and much worn by this time.
"We next examined the condenser, and the re-
suit was equally gratifying with that attending the
boilers. The pipes we found az perfect and in as
good condition when they were first put in.
Indeed, this somewhat astonished me, as had been
frequently told that the pipes would be found fur
red, or coated with deposit, which would prevent
the steam being condensed. But nothing Of de-
posit appeared and the best proof of their cleanl-
ness is, that we closed up the apparatus, leaving
the pipes in precisely the same condition that we
found them!
"The saving in coal and oil is very considerable.
Weuse now one barrel Of oil where we formerly used
three barrels, and large quantity of tallow be-
sides. The latter we have dispensed with alto
gether. That steamship il much safer with PRS
sons condenser than without it, have been fully
convinced by my last years experiences; and of
this no better evidence is required than the fact
that much greater volume Of steam can be pro-
duced by the same amount Of fuel. than when salt
water 10 used"
single months practical experience il worth =
lifetime of theoretical investigation; and the stern
facts presented by Mr.. Engineer Coffee ought to
claim immediate consideration. In addition, how
ever, to the declarations of the engineer is the
thority of the Journal Of the Fanklin Institute,
which contains the following: "The condenser of
Mr.. J. p. Pirsson, which was noticed in the Jour-
nal some time since as being in use on board the
steamship Osprey running between this portan
Charleston, has been examined within the last few
days. while the ship was being reftted for the COM
ing season, and found to be perfect when first
put in use. The tubes, both internally and exter-
nally, were found to be perfectly clean, and the
boilers free from SCALE" Again: "Pirsson's con-
denscrs in the steamship Osprey have just been
opened for the purpose Of inspection by Messrs.
Bartol & Smith, and found to be clean and in good
order after years constant use, and had given
much satisfaction TO the examiners"
Captain Baker, of the steamship Commodore
Stockton, now on her voyage to the Pacific, writes
thus to the constructors of her engines. Messrs.
Sutton & Co.: " The engines of the Commodore
Stockton perform as well any engines ofth
same power can do. The condenser works per-
fectly, and believe that it will perform all that
Mr.. Pirsson guarantees. We are now at the capes
Of the Delaware, and our boilers continuously
and amply supplied with fresh water. This con-
slider one of the most important improvements that
has ever been introduced on board sea steamer,
and it is generally known no steamer
will be built without it,
With such practical evidence Of the value of this
invention, we cannot doubt that it is destined to
answer an important purpose in the reduction Of
upon steam navigation.
The Insugators OF the Cuban Invasion.
We learn from the Picayune that. on the assem-
bling of the circuit court at New Orleans on the