New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-03-01


nicaton of the Secretary Of the Navy to the Charmss
Of the Naval Committee In the House OF Rspressnt-
tves recommending the passage of resou ion direct.
ing the Department TO contract with Capt Ericssos
for the construction Of csorc frgste OF 1900 tune
burden,
To this communication annexed the several Loo
ters which have passed between the Department Err
icsson and other parties in relation to the new motor
The following extracts la relation TO the OF tho
Ericsson and her engine on her passage 10 Washing
ton, copy the first from Capt Ericssons letter,
the other from that Of Commander Sands OF the Navy
Capt 4. says;
"on going up the Chesapeake we encountered
heavy storm, the thick weather compelling Nc 70
come anchor nj the mouth OF the Potomac. This
cLnery bad then been in operation for seventy three
hours without interim sson, with regularity seidons
equAled in the best constructed la fact
the motion Fl the paddle wheels found 10 bs more
contnao us, owing % the powerful momsntnn ot the
double piOns which form main feature In tins cslorc
engine J, proper 10 observe that while at times the
ship pitched her bowsPrif under wster, and although
the lee wheel was sometimes Immersed 70 the center.
the slightes, vibration movement perceptibls
in the frame and braces OF the engine neither there
any side action or Earring In the pNsons during the roi
ing u the ship The various valves OF tina supply cyl
inaerr also worked with the utmost regularity and free
dom notwithstanding their inclination consequent
the heeng of the ship II simpousnt 20 observe. that
after the hrst days run the consumption Of fuel proved
fully tn less per diem than my previous trais
had indcsted Sxtyfye pounds Of coal supplied t
each OF eight furnaces, amounting 30 something
der four and a quarter tuns Ia twenty four hours,
proved 10 be the actual consumption. The speed at
tanned with th. very small consumption average, seven
knots per hour in moderate weather
Capt. sasds writes
81 was sppreheDsive that with the engine it
would be impossible obtain that continuity u action
in see way which the steam engine has To my aston
shtnent however found tsi during run Of seventy
odd hours consecatTely, there was not single stop Ia
the engine there the slightest check 10 the
steady movement 81 the paddle wheels, sthOUgh tns
chip often rolled her westher.wheel Of the wster
and pitched considerably also appTehenslye that
the immense size Of the piston ADD the elevated position
rsngemsnt whsr the ship rolled aud ptched heavily :
noticed very carefully that there the sx.est
giving way 70 any part eyeryrhins remaining srtn
u the ship were lay ing al her dock
The pston noyed perfectly stesdy and smoothly
while the ship was rolling and pitching
had heard good deal sakl Of the great heal applied
20 the engine and therefore frequently visited the arc
rooms, and iound 10 nay surprise, ihsy were 40 cOo a.
q cellar was much struck With tbs fact thai only one
fireman reapred duty q yas, AMI thai be had
only 70 supply small quantity Of coal occasionally.
pounds every eighty mputss ia eash Of tho eig tar
The ship eneountered gales bead winds st1 ns.esy
much Of the time fres es,lng sa..iy hooa iSt Wed
nesdsy mOrnng between and 10 O'Clock, until 10.
anchor let 70 Desr the mouth OF the Ps6onac on
Saturday morning. IN snow storm. 10 be'sz impossios
for the plot 70 proceed
The weather was ,1ch durpg tie voys ~ tina, the
CANVAS could be Used lite advantage y time NV
srrention particularly called e pressure kept
upon the engines which Captain Eresso strictly Lac,
ted % eight pouDds The speed during the gale aver
aged Elk ard hall turns Of tie wheels minute; wneu
The wind moderate The log indics ted six 10 seyen
knots AZ sea-
II would be useless notice parv culariy the speed
a. the working pressure we tnaitef , "a nave already
sisted at the lime ast ~ that the result wa.
altogether satisfactory
on toe whole, deem the test rp Of the Ericsson a,
conclaiyey establishing the sw OF the new prncs
ole and trust the day NOS remote when IL iptro
asctou into naval ssrvcs may free our ships from
tbs danger Of being blown y, By chance sho. throuzt
sboslsr' perhaps IN the vesZ momsns ofvicsay.,