The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-11-06

know which is which-of the free soil demo-
Gratis, they contend nobly for the palm which
ought to be awarded to him who goes the far
thest in degrading the standard of popular elo-
quence, and reducing our statesmen to the level
of pothouse brawlers.
The Progress OF shipbuiIdins--Ihe ArchI-
tcct OF the America--Our Navy Behind the
Age.
In another part of this sheet will be found
an interesting account Of the progress OF
naval architecture, by one of our reporters,
who day or two ago visited the model shop
Of Mr.. George Steers, the constructor of the
America, for the purpose of seeing model of a
very large ship about to be built surprising
in excellence even the model of the peerless
yacht, which hitherto has been regarded as the
Ultima Thule of naval construction. 1t will be
seen that Mr.. Steers undertakes to make the
new ship sail twenty-five miles an hour-a speed
never yet attained by either sailing vessel or
steamship-and that he is willing to. race her
against anything that floats for $4,000
In nothing has this country distinguished it.
self more, for the last twenty years, and es-
pecially for the last four or five years, than in
the progress made by its naval constructors
and shipbuilders in producing superior models
and superior craft of all kinds. Formerly fast
sailing was considered very secondary
consideration. and it was deemed, moreover
incompatible with safety. The Americans
were the first to perceive its Importance, and
with the go-ahead character of the nation, were
the first to put it into practice They have
ever since maintained the ascendancy they first
achieved, and they probably will for many
years to come. They saw that saving of time
was saving of money, and that, moreover. o
fast ship would be paid higher freight than a
slow one. They calculated, too, that speed
diminished the chances Of shipwreck by short
ening the trips, and thus abridging the period
OF exposure on the ocean, and that
therefore, even If fleet vessel was not quite SO
safe as laggard. the danger of the former was
fairly counterbalanced by the fact of the latter
being liable to greater number of perils BY
her speed the clipper would I've perhaps week
or two first in port, and thus escape raging
tempest that overlook the slower craft. AGAIN
if the stress of weather was so great as to COM
pei The mariner to seek shelter in some adjacent
port, the fast vessel would have the advantage
by reaching the harbor before the violence Of
the storm so increased as to overwhelm every
thing exposed to it on q lee-shore. But it was
discovered by American science in naval archi-
lecture, and by its practical application, testing
the relative merits Of the fleet ship and the slow
in the terrible realities of the Deep that the old
theory was false-that beauty and speed could
be combined with strength and utility, and that
the fast sailer was in every way not only AZ
sea-worthy as the hardest tub in existence, but,
if constructed upon scientific principles, ives
far dryer boat, and could weather the storm,
where the old iogy" would be sure to periah
Our little pilot boats, so beautiful, and 20 re-
markable for their fleet qualities. were so many
eyemplifcations of the new theory, and con-
tributed in no small degree to explode the
antiquated doctrines Of other days
No single man has done SO much to bring
about the great result as George Steers, native
Of this country, young man only thirty three
years of age As he was the first to construct
model entirely superior to anything that ex-
listed at the time, so he has ever since main
tanned his pref minence; and while others have
slowly initiated him just as their prejudices.
overcome by experience, would permit, he has
made further progress, still following out to
which he started nineteen years ago, when he
was a boy, and never deviating from his first
model, (Which was then regarded Al danger
Gus innoyation.) unless by holder and holder
advances in the same direction, till now the
plain and unpretending mechanic stands con-
fessed the Prince Of Naval Constructors Like
most men Of genius, his career has been marked
by modesty; and were it not for the fact OF his
being employed to construct schooner yacht,
which was to whip all creation and which
has actually done so 10 great trial OF skill in
the waters or England. so long 1.-The mistress Of
the seas his name probably would not have
been heard outside Of the immediate circle Of
bis private friends. and the shipbuilders, ship
owners, and seafaring ncn connected with New
York. But that accident brought him into pub
Tic notice, not only throughout The United
States, but in Great Britain and all over the
world. Even then he was nearly deprived OF
The bonors which belonged to him; bat the truth
came out at Last. that George Steers was the
man who had constructed the model Of the
America, and superintendent her architecture
from stem to stern, from keel to topmast. AZ
ter his return fforu England, where he sailed
the schooner for the prize, he was publicly hon
ored by the presentation Of a magnificent set
Of silver service, from the principal shipbuild-
ers, sbipowners, and merchants OF the city. Mr.
Steers now proposes 10 build sailing vessel
that can outstrip any steamer in the world, and
q mammoth steamship that will make the pas
sage from here to England in seven days.
BY reference to another report subjoined to
the account of the models Of Mr.. Steers, ii will
be found that Mr.. Crifliths at Green Point