The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-03-18

practical and accomplished engineer, Mr. f..
w. smith, discussing at some length the OBJ
Jeotons that have been urged against the New
York and Liverpool line of steamers. 1t is i'm
possible for any liberal or patriotic mind, it
seems to us, TO regard the enterprise to which
this article relates in an aspect merely com
mercal; and though we think that even i'm
this light alone the public interests would be
promoted by a substantial support of the Ameri-
can line of ocean steamers against the British,
we cannot but feel more deeply interested in it
as national undertaking.
THE COLLINS STEAMERS.
To The Editor Qfthe Union:
Sin have noticed an article in your columns
OF the 18th instant over the signature of " Fair
Play" which wears the garment of a sheep but
the tone ol the article betrays the wolf.
Taking up the points OF the article in succession
first notice the assertion that the " friends of the
Collins steamers are confined principally to New
York." by asking any man in doubt upon this
point TO read the expression OF the press from
ry part Of the Union during the constructions debut
anc subsequent unequallcd passages of the Collins
steamers; or let hlm go abroad, and see if he
Ind genuine American who has not felt an addi-
tioia national pride in consequence Of the splendid
achievements OF these noble steamers.
The next assertion, that the " steamers are not
easily converted into war steamers, and that if
capable Of being, they would cost the Government
at least y 100 0O0,'' will answer by saying that
an eminent United States naval constructor as
scrts that he can convert them into war steamers
Tor 100000
1t Is not denied that when the Collins steamers
were first commenced they had before them the
experience OF the Cunarders, excepting in such
points rs the Cunarders, in their admirable saga
city and good management, chose to keep to them
selves; and IN this they have displayed great tact
IN the management Of their steamers, which, with
their experience, makes them indeed formidable
rival5.
When the Collins steamers were commenced the
new Cunard steamers -dmerica, Europa, Niagara
and Canada were in the field, and astonishing the
world with their unprecedented quick passages;
and 1t was these steamers that the Collins steamers
were built to compete with. During the construc
ton the officers and engineers of the Cunard boats
frequently visited the ship yards and pgne works
engaged IN the construction of the Collins boats
and were uniformly treated with courtesy which
they always reciprocated, looking upon the matter
as an honorable rivalry between the two great
commercial nations of the earth Their conyic.
tons OF the character of the opposition they were
10 encounter Is best proved by the facts that before
the Collins boats were completed the Cunard COM
pany contracted for two additional steamers the
-itrtca and -1Sia; they both longer and
sharper than their associates, Of much less tonnage
than either Of the Collins boats while they put IN
engines OF precisely the same capacity as those of
the -Auantic and Pacific, viz: 90 inches diameter
feet stroke (he largest diameter and the lon gcst
atroke ever before built in England.) The expec-
taton in favor OF the new Cunarders NAV be best
illustrated by quoting the language of q Liverpool
paper
1.-The Cunard company have contracted for two
new steamers, five hundred tons less tonnage than
the Collins line, but Of the same power. Their
models and accommodations will be greatly i'm
proved, and when they afoat no one for
moment tclH entertain the absurd idea that drnerica
can compete Uith England ocean sfeana ,lauiga-
ton"
The six Cunarders above referred to and the
four Collins steamers have for some time been be-
fore the world in the glorious and praiseworthy
race for the supremacy of the seas. In the contest
(Which has always been conducted with the best
OF feeling on both sides) the performance of the
four new Cunarders which were to be the CONNIE
uors Of the Collins line have been lost sight of and
the performance of the Asia and .dfrica alone com
pared with the Collins boats. The result is before
the world, and ii is that should awaken the
pride OF every American. The Cunarders in good
earnest, are not willing TO give up the glorious
contest which they acknowledge 10 have lost and
are now building two other steamers the drabio
and Persia, much larger than any they have buiIt
before They have adopted tubular boilers, and
braced them Tor carrying from fifteen TO eighteen
pounds TO the square inch pressure of steam which
Ia the pressure of the Collins boats As the Irabia
from some cause beet known TO themselves has
been sold to the West India Company, il is fair 10
infer that the Cunarders going 10 max another
and more powerful attempt TO regain The Lqu.els
they haze lost.
"Fair Play" accuses "the proiectors of Tho
American line with being resolved ~ scliDss tho
English line, and of considering expense no OBJ
Jcct." This j will admit, and will endorsc the ac-
cusation for witnessed the liberal disposition ON
the part OF the projectors whenever they found
what was necessary 10 produce steamers e0,lnI IN
hitu TASK, reasonable compensation was al
lowed Tor 1t; hence the ligation Of the Govern
ment to encourage the enterprise for they are lust
as much nationally interested as thu protectors
themselves.
Fair Play" next asserts that The cost of the Gu
nard steamers Is not known. Itynay not be TO him
but il Is well known TO others and IL is also well
known that each Of the Curarders cost as much in
pro orton TO their capacity as either of the Collins
Doalsj ana the expression hat either OF the Colns
boats cost as napCh any flour of The e. nardeys
exhibits how little he knows OF the subject he writes
about Inat the reader may decide this point for
himself, give the cost Of the British Queen"
me "President," and the Liverpool
that preceded the Cunari line, and OF smaller ca
pacity-as published by the association, at a coat
OF ElOOOOO or 100000 each. Is il, then, fair Ia
presume that the Cunardcrs-any one OF them
cot less, when, IN every feature, they were Of
larger dmcnsons2
Fair Play" makes a spccious argument Of the
Disadvantages Of n "llush deck" As he ia so fond
Of referring 20 English examples, will do like
wise, and refer him TO tho five new ships for the
Royal Mail West India Company -the Anazon
Oronoco, DeDidrara, Parma, and NagdaLeHa-nIl
Of which have "hush decks," and engines of cx-
acily the same diameter and length of stroke, a.
Aii' <ihHItttt auu fdftic-Nhllf the huls rdurb
the same, being nearly the same length and o. fcct
iess beam. And ngain-tO quote English authority
concerning the 'lush dock"-I refer 90 the No
York 4ibion Of late date, contain;n an extract
from n London paper:
In reference 10 the ORoSoco ,teamer. lust COM
pleted, she y regarded the most conpleto and
efficient vessel aloat in citbeg the ENGLISH Frcnrb
or American nary, for war purposes Her lenoib
j. gl6 Feet 43 feet beam, and 81 feet hold.
ihis steamer Processes a spar or flush deck,
whchls regarded Of greatand decided Gu pcriority
from me actual experiments, which have been
mace oy oFdcr Of the Admiralty in the use Of cir
cular or pivot guns"
Thus II "a seen that the best authority in Enpnnd
! approves OF tho Flush deck" The assertion that
not one OF the United StAtcs mail steanlers IL ft 20
carry such battery that used on board tho
United states steamer Susqushannat ia uniusti-
| hable md unjust. will challenge n comparison
WIN miniature models Of the mail steamers of the
Collins line and the ravy steamers; and will even
agree that tho investigation be conducted by naval
constructors solely, who shall decide upon the struc-
ture and htness OF the mail steamers for ycs.ely of
war. Several OF our most eminent naval construc.
tore, who have from time TO time inspected The mail
steamers during their construction. have expressed
themselves satisfied on tsispOtnL The ottack upon
the machinery Of the mail steamers, % being I'M
1 Il y ~. nrsINs -. -