The daily union., 1852-09-14


legislative authority necessary to authorize The depart,
ment to use this invention, II is necessary IL has all
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Does the senator from
Virginia raise question OF order. under the rule IN re-
gard 10 this amendment?
Mr. HUNTER will not raise the question of order,
but seems to be precisely the sort oil amend
ment which was offered TO the army bill in regard TO the
discoyeIer OF ether. F~8
pointed TO inquire into this matter has been reported
on. have never that report. do know what
its details but II have such report, il is right
that we should not act upon the subject until know
wha, the conclusions arrived al think ii is not
desirable that should adopt this amendment II seems
10 me TO be necessary that Congress should be u posses
sion of the information which this report contains This
may possibly be the best condenser in but we do
not know any evidence We have before us whether
tended il seems 10 me- ,hersoTe ,bat would be better
TO postpone the consideration OF il until another time.
Mr.. DAVIS. Think it is quite certain from informa-
lion before the public that ought not To- adopt This
amendment. There is a sharp contest now going on
between the several patenees this subject. and the
question 10 which is the most meritorous not yet
satisfactorily determined To select of these men
under such circumstances, and give him the privilege OF
furnishing The United States navy with condensers, ap
pears to me TO be at least doing injustice to others, and
adopting step not very udiclOus very wise. II the
department desire 10 make use OF any o these inventions,
why not leave the department 10 choose that which they
consider the oes. and most I.ea Why should we os
these inventions IS the best, when know nothing OF
them whalever' THIS subject has come upon us very
unexpectedly, out ma on my tduc IetteT IrOU inc
Secretary OF the Navy the subject. | ask that the
letter may be read. aa #9aR3
II was accordingly read, as follows
NAVY DkrARralKsr, January "a, 1882.
SIRE In pursuance of the authority conferred by the act
making appropriations for the naval service for tho
ending The soh Of June 1851, approved September 49,
nio the merits OF the condensers for supplying
boilers Of marine engines with fresh water aud directing
thai he House OF the result of
SAID examination together with his opinion of the value
Of The test OF said oondensers % the Of the Uni
nu IL 10
this provision law effect" havs the honor
required ssoory PRACTICAL results. board was com
situed consisting OF two gentlemen Of science and
quiry who applied great the in
sestsaton and now transmit their report for the nfor-
1t win be observed that twenty line different remedies
have been proposed for the prevention removal OF
nechanical MEANS avoid blowing oil removing
the deposc, all OF which discussed in this
t, exeehenco, wits The inventions OF Messu PRISON.
Baldwin, Lynch, and Miller respectively But no cne of
these has received the iu spprobaion Of the commission
10 recommend Its adoption by the government TO the
exclusion OF all others aud u advises that arrangement be
proposed 10 the each OF whom claims
patent tor the construction and In naval vessels
OF condenser which shall combine the eligible parts
Of the apparatus EACH and be perfect than any
OF Them IN thi' opinion The department, concurs The
spectve are stated n the repofl AN opinion
also expressed Of the pfobabe cost Of The apparatus OF
II the several csnsuts Of patents shall entertain
proposals, commission board OF naval engineers
" cohsuiSu a. w PioPcf SoHhPousAuon w " uauo W
each
respectfully recomnend lha the repor, of the eomms-
this i'm subjsct Of mechanical and chemical
science be ordered to be published under the supervision
have the honor to be, sir wild, high obo-
a'fR, Hou. ssiSssb Iss borp. will a. oNAhA"
Speaker Of the House of Representative.
MIR DAVIS II is manifest from tha, statement in re-
gard to the report OF the scientific board that they
ained there four or FIVE OF these inventions
ot great excellence, but that they not prepared 10
lect any particular especially worthy OF attention
from the government: think. then, that this is not
proper subject for legislation at ALL but that these nven
tons should be left 10 work their own way and that the
inventors should be allowed to pursue their
feet purchase OF any Of Them sucha selection should
bS made complete information as would render II evil
dent that it was the best that could be made. supposng
that IL is necessary 10 select any al ALL
MIR SEWARD | would suggest to my friend from
California MI GwIs TO modify his amendment by stri
king out the word sball and inserting may instead
OF IL thus giving discretionary power to the Secretary
OF the Navy. The amendment, will then read that the
Secretary OF the Navy may, II he deems IL expedient."
&c.
Mr. GWIN / accept the modification.
Mr. DAVIS now move 10 strike out The name oil
" Prison." and insert the word any" instead So that
the clause shall 81 read any steam condenser"
Mr. SHIELDS. As understand it, the Navy Depart
ment al this moment possesses the power OF making
fair experiment; and think II would be very wrong
them to suggest to them to Apply this par
experiment al first IN one or two vessels, instead OF ex.
t.nding all the vessels OF the United States To re-
qure the employment OF any invention to all the vessels
in the navy that not thoroughly tested appears
to be highly nudicious and very extraordinary propo-
siton.
Mr.. STOCKTON. Mr.. President. I will endeavor to
the question proposed by my friend the senator
IRON illinois, and hope will be satisfactory. My
impression is that senators do not thoroughly under
stand this subject and that the mystery and confusion
which have enveoped IL heretofore likely continue,
unless some further explanation 10 made Although
when this debate commenced did not intend TO take any
part in II, yet notwithstanding, must ask the in
dulgence OF the Senate for lew moments while ex-
plain, well may be able the circumstances under
which this question before the Senate, and the
necessity there be that Congress should do pre-
cisey what the amendment asks them TO do.
steam condenser capable Of supplying vessel with
sufficient quantity OF fresh water Tor her boilers has
long been desderaium in ocean navigation. will not
deain the Senate by a dissertation the boiler or
engine all must know the importance OF a condenser
at sea- supply fresh water for the boiles will pro-
the very best; beyond all question the best that has yet
been invented, and that experiments full and ample
permenis have proved il to be all lis friends claim for H.
Now, sir must be permitted 10 present to the Senate
the following satisfactory testimonials in coIroboraion
OF what have said, and will say in favor OF MIR Pifs
sons condenser.
In reference TO PRISONS steam surface vacuum con-
denser, Messrs Henry r. Durham II Co., OF the Ar
chImides Steam Engine Works, say:
We gave Il opinion that the difference OF saving
in fuel alone would pay for h in few months There
seems be present disposition the part of the
OF pay reasonably for any improvement
saving fuel and for the preservation Of boilers both Of
which your invention accomplished"
cko~~ - n Il