Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-07-09
RESOURCES AND SETTLEMENTS OF AMERICA
BY CART. McKINNES, r. N

The Atlantic is now completely bridged by the ma
nhcent steamers Of Cunard and Collins that a voyage
across the ocean has become mere pleasure trip AS
have popular account contrasting the per-
formances Of these great lines propose to give sailors
experience of voyage to New York by Cunard steam
ship, the America" and return voyage 70 Liverpool
by the Collins vessel, the " Baltic"
At III A. Nj. on the 10th July, 1852, found myself
and luggage board the steam-tug at the place OF
barkaton at Liverpool and in few minutes
yeyed alongside the Cunard vessel America" The pas
sengers who crowded the deck of the little tug
anxousy scanning every thing about Them and doubt
specializing the characters of those with whom they
were to be closely packed up for the next ten days
The passengers by Transatlantic mail steamer are Il
mixed character. Commercial travellers the most
numerous class the great manufacturing houses in
England have discovered that Brother Jonathan is after
all, one of our best customers.
Although every arrangement in the " America" was
substantial and good and the captain experienced and
able piser, there was degree OF pompous mystery IN
the arrangeeptsf the vessel very much in contrast with
the Yankee steamers. For instance it was impossible
to get the ships daily or any information of her po
ston. If passenger wentured to ask question from
Of the officers he with suen reply part Of
the upper deck deniedto the passengers, unless es
ta degree cf restraint anditmed topic Of converse
b on amongst the American passengers, who could not
jo the contrast this to the universal and
cordial civilty and atten!6F in Yankee vessels.
est Of the eunafd line u very good vessel Upon start
ine6pm Liverpool, deeply laden with cargo and Goals
ler Speed ardnot exceereght and half knots per hour
which radualy Increased to nearly ten, as in proper
ton to the cJhsapton Of her fuel her weight was d-
miAsksd Nothing could exceed the smoothness and
beauty with which the engines performed their work
Fortunately the smooth glass, and the pas
sengers after meeting twice at the dinner table, became
socable and friendly Some Canadians aboard who
very freely expressed their opinions particularly
the treatment they had met in England One gentleman
to the great edifcaton of Yankee fellowvoyagers
described his attempt to visit Portsmouth dock-yard
went down., said he, "with two American friends with
whom had been stopping in London, to the dock
yard at Portsmouth. On giving at the gate,
my American friends put down their residences in certain
American towns which bore English names, and al
lowed to proceed without further question; whilst l.
fortunately stated Canada be my place of residence
Immediately the official pronounced to be foreigner
adding that my admission could not be permitted"
Several intelligent American shpmasters and builders
likewise board and the celebrated constructor of
the g Marco Polo," from New Brunswick. The CONVEX
sation after dinner turned upon the various modes
naval architecture, and the general opinion appeared to
be that if fifty feet bow added to the " America"
her speed would be prodgousy increased with her
present engines.
And pray said to the builder of the Marco Polo
what price did you get for your fine 400 ton shp?
Every little, replied he; mot half what she is worth;
What sort of fgure-head did you give her? ?" asked
another g What does New Brunswick consider the
apropos device?"
8" Oh ~ replied friend from New Brunswick we
thought man with opboos and knee-breeches would be
the proper and classic for celebrated
veller!'
Only imagine the Venetian traveller of the thirteenth
century dressed like an English country squire of the
eighteenth
Since 1852 the value ships has risen so much there
is little doubt that the Marco Polo is just worth at the
present time at least double her first Such the
chances of speculation in shipping.
Never had asteamer better chance for crossing the
Atlantic, as the sea was as smooth sylvan lake. In
eight days the usual fogs indicated the approach the
banks of Newfoundland, and the tenth day the rug
ged coast of Nova Scotia announced vicinity Hall
fax From this town the voyage is short Boston; but
the weather still continued cold and foggy On entering
Boston bay the chill atmosphere rendered cloth
ngnecessary; though, upon landing the heat
oppressive, the thermometer standing 90 in the
coolest place. 1t is impossible to give adequate
count of the enervang effect Of this sudden change
the frame.
On arriving at New York took passage in the BAL
tic, for which paid $780, about G24, and proceed
to give description of that vessel.
The American steamship Baltic, belonging to the Col
Inns ne built by Jacob Bell, of New York. Mt cost
of $40 000 equal in round numbers e42,000. She
is barque rugged, and spread about the quaint
~ of ordinary sloop-of-war. Her dmen-
sions are as follows:
Length deck, nearly the keel. feet
Breadth 40 do.
81 do.
Tonnage
Scathing 20l inches in the throat; inches at the
plane sheer.
She is fastened with diagonal iron braces throughout
and has three decks below the spar deck With LOO
passengers and baggage she draws about % feet She
can accommodate l67 frstcass passengers and SO Sc
cond class.
She is fitted with two sdelever engines 96-inch cyl
nders and 10 feet stroke and the entire of engines
and boilers was S250, 000 equal to 100000.
Her average consumption Of fuel is so tons per day
her Goals averaging los Cd. ton in England and 18s.
Cd. in America and she daily lghtcns 80 inches
Diameter of water-w ............35 feet.
Length Of buckets, II feet width. inches
Number Of buckets to each wheel.......s...32
Diameter Of paddle shaft in the bearings. .23 inches
In smooth water the wheels average 10 revolutions.
Her average steam for the last year Is inches limit per-
mitted by the company, 18 inches hut it is seldom
reached at sea- the cylinders
than it can be produced. The highest speed ever
made at sea is 10 knots hour and the least last
winter for "a hours, 167 nautical miles None Of the
vessels of this line have been cauked outside since they
launched hove to from stress Of
weather Three thousand pounds, fifteen thousand
dollars expended to supply passengers and
voyage to England and back Wines and liquors are
included in this expenditure and are matter Of ac-
commodaton to the passengers, profit made only
sufficient advance upon prime cost to losses from
bekage &C. The officers of the ship charged the
passengers. for the goodness and cheap
ness Of. these articles from my experience.
The usual charge for passengers is ESQ from England
and E24 from Amercathe return trip being thus con-
sderably cheaper 1t is usual to give the waiter that
tends at table 10 shngs, and likewise the bedroom
tendants the stewardess who attends ladies at same
rate The officers together; there likewise sepa-
for the engineer, sailors stokers and coal
mmers that they do not interfere with each other
The three latter classes have fresh meat in the morning
and at noon and salt pork and beef for supper The
fremen and in consequence Of the severity
Of the work have supplies Of provisions set out for them
all night The officers and men arc in two watches and