The republic., 1851-01-29
The supply OF Fuel to tho Collins Line OF
Steamers.

The supply OF Fuel to tho Collins Line OF
Steamers.
Owing to the concurrence of two of the
steamers Of the COLLINS line recently running
short of coal, and the painful anxiety which is
felt respecting the absence of third, rumors
prejudicial to the owners and managers Of the
line have crept into circulation. We find in the
New York Herald communication from an en-
gineer, which corrects some Of these erroneous
reports, and furnishes some explanation of the
reasons which caused The Baltic and Arctic TO
put into Provincelown and Halifax to replenish
their fuel. We presume that every American
feels propeoprde in the reputation which our
steamers have acquired for speed, and solici-
tude that their management should also be un-
excelled. Renewed efforts were necessary to
win us the palm for the one, and untiring en-
ergy and diligence will assuredly never be
wanting to secure us the need for the other.
1t is only those who fail TO profit by expert
ence who are justly censurable for neglect
None Of the COLLINS line Of steamers, we are in
formed, have ever put to sea without all abund-
ant supply of coal; but that supply has proved
insufficient in two instances, from misappre-
hension which could only be corrected by long
observation and scientific inquiry. This mis-
apprehension was in largely increasing the fuel
on encountering gale, the reverse of which,
it appears, is the proper practice, and that
which is pursued by the British steamers Sir
EDWARD BELCHER, of the British Royal navy,
has communicated the fact that, when steamers
are heading gale, it is necessary to check the
draft in order to preserve or increase the heat,
because experience, he says, has demonstrated
that the immense volume Of cold air which is
poured into the furnaces at such time with an
open draft, though it increases the combustion
of the coal, yet chills the gases and prevents the
generation Of an amount of heat which could be
obtained from more moderate fire with the
draft partially cut off. Moreover. it is ascer
tanned that in certain cases even an increased
physical momentum of the vessel is positive
disadvantage, inasmnch as by it the vessel is
driven with such force when descending wave
into the recurring wave that her average speed
is greatly diminished. We have no doubt the
COLLINS line will be prompt to avail itself of
these and other valuable suggestions which are
derived from experience while, at the same
time, it is plain that the owner and directors
should be exculpated from all criminal intent
or indifference in the matter referred to. We
subjoin the communication Of the Herald:
"THS Collins LINE OF SrsAMEas.-Th late
passages Of these steamers being such as to induce
with the public at large, impressions unfavorablc
to the capacities Of these vessels for western pas
sages in the winter season, it is but justice to Mr
Collins, to the directors Of this line, and to the
American public, who have manifested so much
interest and satisfaction in the hitherto perform
Of the pioneers of this line that they should
be set Alright to the cause which has led to the
late interruptions in the homeward trips of IL
Baltic and "Arctic.'
'All Of the vessels Of this line consume fuel pro
rata for the power of their engines, in less guam
tity than any marine steamers yet constructed in
any country, and they also have capacity for the
stowage off commensurate with their consump-
tion, in proportion greater than has yet been
attained allotted to steamer for like length of
route Their deficiency then has not arisen from
the causes that have compelled other Liverpool
or European steamers western passages to put
into Halifax, viz: undue consumption and insuffi
cent capacity; but it has arisen from an undue es
innate of the severity and difficulties of western
passages at this season, and too much preference
being given to freight, added to which there was
an error in the manner Of working the furnaces of
the Baltic, which not discovered until the con
sumption of coal had been such to compel her to
put in for a supply. Probably the same error has
been fallen into with the management of the boilers
Of the Arctic.
''There is another difficulty that these steamers,
in common with all American steamers, are SUBJ
jected to, and that s, the nexperience of their fire.
men, The Importance Of this point is one that can
not be appreciated by the public; but it is ono
pregnant with more loss of time, and waste of fuel
than dare venture TO assert with any confidence
Of its general credit. 1t has been said, and with
truth, too, by those connected with the Cunard
line, Give us your vessels and we will beat you
days and they might have added, and save ton
tons of coal per day.
"Of the capacities of these vessels am as cog
pizant an intimate knowledge Of the mechanical
details Of all Of them, and witness of the perform-
ance at sea (and in heavy weather, too) Of one
of them, can make me, and have the fullest con-
victon Of their unsurpassed qualities in speed and
endurance. The recurrence of the error which
has led to the Baltic and Arctic running short of
fuel, has already been guarded against and they
will assume and maintain that the position they
have the elements for, and which is one that will
meet the fullest wishes Of the country which has
produced them,
"Ofthc Atlantic, knowledge of her capacities
as sea boat, and of her endurance a structure,
induces the opinion that, having become short of
fuel, or her engines, probably her wheels. having
failed her, she ha been compelled to put back
when near to this coast, and had not arrived in
son to communicate with the Arctic. prior to the
sailing of this vessel the llth instant. IT, how
ever, neither Of these causes have led to her non
arrival here, the failure ia not from weakness or
insufficient sea going qualities, but is one arising
from causes not confined TO this line, American
steam navigation. ENGJNEER.r
Mr.. Geo, vandenhor's Evenings with
Sheridan.
Every one recollects Mr. VAEDENHoFF's
readings of Shakespeare last winter, the fash