The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-04-27

with any people the face of The earth; but they
BY the protection Of the English government They may
contend with them for short time, but the stubborn
endurance OF John Bull will break down the enterprise
OF Yankee unless he also 10 supported by his own gov
ernmen Therefore, say, throwing aside the matter OF
dollars and censwhether il costs us thousand dollars,
more or less-here are national considerations which
should induce to sustain this line. There other
considerations BY the contract these ships 10 be
made steamers; and Atend to show they
steamershe best OF the kind in the world for certain
purposes of and that they at small EXPENSE be
used as such IN any emergency have here letter OF
Commodore Perry on this subject, dated February IS.
1882 and addressed TO the Secretary OF the Navy Speak
ing OF these shps--the Collins lne--he says:
According to my calculations the of the conver
sion Of either The before mentioned vessels exclusive OF
ought no, e cost for each steamer over and i
could readily be done for this at Of our nayyyards
i've armaments clearly OF the opinion that the first
class steamers already named could easily carry from TO-
hs weight Of hoss IN tho and ton sneh P.is
han shs sdss and this ss annt ~Ssd not IN
commode the vessels and the weight less than the ice,
which isnsuay forty tons and slowed away in one mess
Commodore Perry continues, that
"In the general operations of maritime war; they could
oSd s1a Is As is for IL.
transportation Of troops, always capable Of attack and de-
sa ans sss % sna 81 a
built Inspected and received by the Navy Department
Commodore Perry adds this letter mote. and says,
that an ocean steamer o. 1000 tons Is OF the maximum
commercial purposes
At the time OF the construction Of these ships every
attention was given to their form, strength and models
by the contractors, under the special direction Of the
Navy Department To show that, will merely refer
TO the communications upon the subject They are as
follows
E. K Collnss letter to the Secretary OF the Navy in
relation TO the sdver engine, with the Secretary OF the
| f. K Colns's letter TO the Secretary Of the Navy,
asking for consent TO modify specifications, with answer
OF the Secretary OF the Navy that Commodore Skinner
the Bureau OF Construction had approved OF the alter
b. X Conss letter to the Secretary of the Navy ask
ing for the appointment of naval constructor and super
inenden with Secretary of the Navys answer, appoint
ing Capt S. Skiddy naval constructor
Secretary of the Navy's answer to f. X. Collins ac
ceping the Arctic with report OF Commodore Perry and
Commander Bell to Secretary OF the Navy, in refer
to the capacity and usefulness Of the Arctic for war
| purposes
UNITED STATES NAvY-YAsD.
| Philadelphia, April IA, 1852
SIR In answer your, OF the 18th, have state,
chief naval constructor the specifications for building
the Collins line OF steamers were submitted to me- and
as IN '''''dan'' win the act Of Sd q
They can be converted into carry bat
the necessary alterations be made to receive such bat
iey viii exceed cost OF $4,000 each.
/ am, sir, with great respect your obedent servant
| FRANCIS GRIER.
! To the Hon. WIN Nj. GwIs,
/ United States Senate, Washington.
| II appears by these letters, which file in the
Navy Department, that the vessels have been consuc
with special reference for war service that naval o1-
of high character and great experience were not
only consulted in their construction but superinended
their building who all say that they capable OF being
used in case of war. at the small expense OF about
900 each.
submit to the Senate whether this is not consdera.
ton which should induce 10 sustain these ships and
TO keep them under the control OF the government, 10 be
| used n The case OF war; No who has these
shps-no who has heard these evdences-can doubt
for moment but that they would be, at this very hour,
if should break out, the most effective steamships
now under our control They may not be as strong as
steamers especially constructed for the purpose.
They may not be powerful many ships constructed
by the English government; but their great utility would
be their speed and their power OF action II can, by
expenditure OF $4,000, put these splendid ships into
the war service that OF itself is sufficient consideration
for TO appropriate this money, in order to keep them
afoat. We cannot maintain or keep up war steamers OF
equal power at anything like cheap rate as can
With regard to the capacity of these ships and their
funess war; my honorable colleague, who has had
great experience upon this subject will have no doubt
sustain me in the opinion have expressed, that these
ships will be OF great service to the country in time OF
war These steamers supass in speed any weasel which
has yet been constructed by The government with all the
advantages and experience OF the navy in the consruc
noticed that the United States steamship San yacin,o
arrived at Cadz on the 25lh Of March having left Nor
ing only thry-fve hundred miles, or one hundred and
tfy, ,n'Ss STISdls NILES sIPeN Per day ~. ,,g ,;..
i MIR MILLER I intended to compare her speed with
the Collins lne and to state that at this rate OF steam
ing IL would ure nineteen days for the passage from
New York TO Liverpool, instead OF nine and half days
My colleague states, however, that that ship built
upon entirely different principle and therefore there
cannot be any fair comparison between them.
have called the attention OF the Senate to the speed
the models and the capacity of these vessels for another
puposethai is, TO show that this company have ex.
ecuting this enterprise made experiments, secured in
formation, and given models OF steamships with Their
engines OF great practical value 10 the public. II we
never received cent OF postage should be fully
pensated for the money have paid by the increased
knowledge have received with regard 10 the building
OF ocean steamers. Collins Co have, at immsnse
expense OF time and money, rendered all these services
10 the country and have reaped all the advantage OF
their enterprise They have sustained all the loss.
say, therefore, that these considerations ought to
into the minds OF senators when they vote on this propo-
stion. ...49 .a.a
| Again the building and running OF these ships have
produced TO the country class OF practical engineers that
il would not have had without this undertaking. II has
been school for our young engineers These vessels
are now every year training up engineers who are TO
take charge oil steamships OF to be employed
in the commercial marine Thus the country s acquir
ing knowledge at the expense OF the owners OF the Col
Inns line This also, ought TO be taken into considera
ton, SO great has been the cost and 30 perfect the
skill in the construction OF these ships and OF their ma
chinery. that accident OF any moment has happened TO
them.
Mr. HALE The Atlantic broke her shaft
Mr.. MILLER. True; but II was one which was made
in England
In advocating the policy OF government sustaining
these steamers wish to call the attention OF the Senate
and the country 10 what Great Britain doing upon this
biect OF mail only with regard to
the Cunard line, but in regard to many other lines She