The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-03-10

at the present time could not demand any
stronger evidence that the new motive power,
discovered and 80 recently applied by Captain
Ericsson, will at no distant day, supersede
entirely the use of steam, than is contained in
the letter Of the late Secretary Of the Navy re-
commencing an expenditure by the govern
ment of the large sum of half million of dol
lars to test the capabilities of one of the inven-
tors calorc engines in frigate Of two thou
sand tons burthen. Aside from the recent sue
cessful trip of the Ericsson to Norfolk, Mr..
Kennedy received other evidence of the
perfect practicability of the caloric engine, of
sufficient force to warrant him in recommend
ing so large an expenditure of money, on what
appears on its face mere experiment. We
hope that the ex-Secretary is not the man to risk
his reputation for superior judgment and
foresight on any frivolous enterprise, or
even one that might afford the most remote
chance Of becoming failure; and hence is
derived our opinion that Mr.. Kennedy had
become firmly convinced, before he sent his let
ter to the Naval Committee of the House Of
Representatives. that the caloric engine was
susceptible Of such improvement as would give
it all the power and advantages Of steam, and
at the same time overcome the principal disad-
vantages which at present attach themselves
to steam engine
And we see yet further evidence has been
offered to sustain the belief that Captain Erics-
sons invention will, at no distant day,
take the place of steam in propelling ma
chinery; and although more were hardly
wanting, save what time will bring forward
we will, nevertheless, be excused if we record
one or two facts that are now frequently men
toned among scientific men,
Certain wealthy steamboat builders in the
West we understand, who are we'll known for
their sagacity in all matters appertaining to the
navigation of the Western rivers, have deter
mined to build first class boat, to be propelled
by q caloric engine, for the construction Of
which orders have already been sent forward
from responsible individuals. When this enter
prise is contaminated, and the experiment
proves, as we hope it will, successful. how easily
can we foresee the inevitable effect it will pro-
duce? What sane man would risk his life on
one of those Western steamboats,. as at present
navigated, while an Ericsson foated upon the
Ohio or the Mississippi! Those noisy and
rickety boats which have heretofore proved so
destructive to human life, would speedily give
place to the quiet. safe. and, no doubt. feet
floating palaces, with which those gigantic
rivers Of the West would soon be covered, and
we should see an entire revolution in the navi-
cation of these great arteries Of commerce.
Rufx rhn do find n IF
innate complete success of this new invention
than Commander Sands of the United States
Navy, who was on board the Ericsson on her
trip from this city to Norfolk. he was scien-
tifc observer Of the machinery, and the power
by which the vessel was propelled, and in his
official capacity he was there to pass judgment
upon the practicability of the invention. His
opinion has been given, and almost Immediately
we see the Secretary Of the Navy recommend
ing the government to adopt the invention.
With these evidences before US. what will his
tory say of the steam engine What is to be-
come of the steam whistle Throughout New
England. the music of the woods, and the val
legs, and the villages, is the whistle of the To-
connective, as it rushes over the iron net work
Captain Ericsson invented caloric whistle
Does he blow hot or cold
VANDALISM IN THE SENATE-The public Of the
United States will feel justly indignant against
their representatives in the Senate on learning
that in the last hurried hours of legislation, an
amendment was passed to the census bill,
excluding from publication all the valuable
statistics of manufacturing industry, all the de-
tailed statistics of the deaf and dumb, of the
insane, idotic, paupers. criminals, &C., and
leaving nothing of the last census, in the compi-
lation of which so much care. talent, industry
and public money was expended, save the bare,
uninteresting, and unsuggestive statistics of
population, agriculture, and few other con-
densed summaries, of little importance.
The House of Representatives had, with re-
markable unanimity, passed q resolution for the
printing Of the entire statistics of the United
States census. as provided by law to be taken
This bill was the work Of the two Com
mittees on Printing; and it afterwards went to
the Senate, where it was kept, Enacted on, in
the hands Of the Senate committee. At length
when the committee did report. it was to sub
ject the census compilations to that act of de-
spoliation which we have described, and the
effect of which is to deprive them of all value
and interest in the eyes Of this republic. and of
the world. Within three weeks these statistics
would have been ready for the press, and now.
by this unaccountable action Of the Senate they
are destined to be cast aside in the damp base
ments Of the public buildings, to become
nesting places for vermin, and the work which
has already cost million ofdollars, and which
has been prepared with the greatest accuracy.
is to be stripped Of its value, and rendered
utterly worthless.
We cannot comprehend what motive could
have been so powerful as to induce the commit