The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-01-14
A steam or caloric Navy.

We devote considerable space in our col
umns this morning to an article abridged from
the New York Times, giving detailed &C
count OF the second trial trip of the Caloric
ship ERIcssor. The wonderful results accom-
plished surprised even the inventor, and ex-
ceeded his most sanguine expectations. 1t
would seem that the most sceptical must now
admit that the steam engine, with its enor
nous consumption Of fuel, its vast requirements
Of space, and its terrible destruction of human
life, must be superseded by the Caloric Engine
For some purposes, and to, some extent, every
body admits this 10 be the case. We cannot see
what should prevent the Introduction of the
Caloric Engine for all pur poses now employing
the steam engine, and to the extent of render
ing the latter an s'obsolete idea"
We learn from the last received number Of
the Nautical Standard that GREAT BRIrAIN is
making large additions to her steam marine.
1t is stated that in the course of the present
year she will possess screw fleet of twenty
two ships, sixteen of which may be termed
sail of the line. 1t is further stated that no
line Of battle-ship will be launched without
being fitted for screw machinery. Our readers
will observe that this number does not include
the guard ships very many of which have
long since been fitted with screw machinery
but only large and powerful ships, the smallest
of which carries SO guns, and the largest
like the Duke Of Wellington, the Royal AL
bert, the Marlborough, and the Royal George
from 100 TO 13l guns. Esa
The inventor of the Caloric Engine was the
first engineer who succeeded in the practical
application of the Screw Propeller tosteam navi-
cation. 1t is true that the elder STEVENS had
experimental on the idea in ferry boat on the
Hudson nearly half century ago, but he
brought it TO no result that was deemed worth
pursuing. The first demonstration of its great
value as motive agent, particularly for ships
of war, was made in the United States steamer
Princeton, a ship that was constructed outside
of the bureauocracies Of the Navy Department,
under the exclusive orders of Commodore Stock
TOY, and the machinery for which was planned
and executed under the supervision of Captain
ERIcssoN. After the lapse of ten years the bu.
reaus succeeded in turning out their second
screw steamerin the San Jacinto, which, with
the perfect Princeton before their eyes, they
succeeded in rendering very unfortunate
aggregation of wood and iron. Worse than
this-the bureaus could not even rebuild
the Princeton without spelling her. They
undertook to Improve" on Captain ERIcs-
SONS boilers and engine, and ruined both
| 1t was announced very osteniatiously in the
| newspapers that there were sundry Improve
ments" making in Captain ERIcssoN's ma
| chinery, and the next we heard of them was
that they would mol "work." After ten years.
opportunities for studying the first Princeton,
the bureaus produced the second with their
improvements" as failure only paralleled by
| the San Jacinto.
| We do not know that it will be possible for
Congress to cut itself loose from the traditions
that have hitherto k pit the navy Of the United
States SO far in the rear of her commercial ma
rine. In the navy, a ship of war is built by
"boards.o There was board of naval con-
structors, of engineers, and of commodores,
which incubated for some months at this place
over the four steamships of war which were
provided for by the same bill which author
ICED the contract for the COLLINS steamers.
The world knows what the COLLINS steam
ers are. If the world knows any thing of
the Government steamers built by the boards
and bureaus under the same law, we are
not aware that it is much to their advan-
tage. OF all mediums for the transaction OF
business, the worst possible device is ''board;''
r 800 L
sign and Of all responsibility. The very last
thing that should be entrusted to "board'' is
the building of a ship. Put three boards, acting
| as one, on the construction of steamship and
failure il inevitable. stls 1861
! We hope that Congress will look into this