Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1853-01-19
SCIEETffkC,
ERICSsON's CALORIC SIP.

been asource of fruitful inquiry. Many in
genious and useful applications of mechani-
cal force have been contriyed for the one
great ohject-the propulsion Of the vessels
upon the ocean, and of carriages on the land,
by means of power, which, possessed Of
the force of Steam, should be at once more
economical, less dangerous, and gilmore easy
and general application. To effect this OBJ
ject, skilful mechanics have directed their
attention to the deveiopement of those pow
ers of nature by means of which man con-
Fquers the world to bis will. There is much
that is serious in the thought, that so simple
an agent as water, when subjected to the ac-
ton of the heat. should create an instrument
capable of reyolutionizing commerce, and Of
bringing the ends of the earth together
There is something much more remarkable,
if the idea can be carried to perfection, Of
which there seems now little doubt, in the
employment of the air we BREATH and with
out which we cannot live, TO feed the lungs
of theiro monster, which conveys US rapidly
erom port to port, and serves to spread abroad
and strengthen the ties of civilization.
The Caloric Ship of Captain Ericsson marks
new era in the history of navigation. An
experiment it can scarcely be termed. for
it is the result of twenty-five years of re-
search and experience. Its triumph or its
defeat will settle question which has at
tracted the attention of the world, and its
final issue is to determine the future of ocean
navigation.
In its outward appearance, the caloric
ship does not SO greatly differ from an ordi-
nary steamship, as might be imagined, in
consequence of the total change in its pro-
pelling power. The most perceptible alter
alton upon her decks is the presence Of four
handsome, Symmetrical tunnels. placed at
nearly equal distances from each other, and
occupying the place of the unsightly and
smoke begrimmed pipe of our large steam
ers, Two of these chimncys are attached to
the upper cylinders of the engines, and the
remaining two serve at once for ornament
and the escape of heated and impure air from
: the engine room. Each funnel is perfect
cylinder, thirty inches in diameter. rising
only five feet above the paddle-boxes, and
resting upon an octagonal pedestal, tasteful
r y carved ard orname nted. The whole is
painted wEite, with the exception of cast
. iron ring, near the top of each of the pipes.
which is carefully gilded. The general ef-
feet of the four white, plain and cloanly pill
{ lars upon the deck is very pleasant. Near
! each pair, the pipes standing two and two,
! is an air-shaft. This is intended to supply
O constant current of cold air to the engine
l. room, and descends to the very bottom of
1t the vessel, carrying down vast volume of
&c fresh air to supply the waste engcndered by
> consumption of the furnaces, In conse-
. quence of this happy arrangement, the fire.
room, is kept at nearly the same tempera-
10 ture as the upper hurricane deck. The diff
ference between this and the similar apart
or ment of the ordinary steamship is very stri-
TO king. There is manifest improvement in
tn the application of this ventating-shaft, in
le the simple fact, that all danger of fire is OBJ
~ Waited through the GOODNESS of the spot where
=. 81 the fame is generated But the shaft is
le not alone useful in this way. Being so con.
We structed as to form a continuous well from
Is the top to the bottom of the vessel. the oper
he space thereby afforded is available as loca
ton for the pumping apparatus The breaks
no no of the powerful force pumps with which the
40 ship is supplied, project from the side of tht
C. shaft upon the deck, and may there be
worked by the crew with the utmost possible
w convenience. A large amount of pipe is. Of
oy' course. required to draw the water that the
he ship may make, to SO great height, but the
asst pumps are sufficiently powerful to complete
ne the work. The mouth of each of these
III shafts is carefully covered with oiled canvass
his though light is admitted by means of net
ting surrounding the edge of the pit. The
nd uses to which the shafts are put are remar
re- kable auxiliaries of the system ofventiation
Try which the ship possesses in an eminent de
e? gree. The deck is perfectly free, fore anc
III aft, and affords pleasant place of prone
er- made, if the passengers possess the requisit
me strength of nerve.
ed, In her build, the Ericsson is fine speci
men Of naval architecture. No vessel ha
'ful gone out of the port of New York her supt
ike rior in beauty, strength and. we will perhap
she st soon add, in speed. The engines being 81
Tue uated in the centre ef the ship, the midshi
of section of the vessel is formed quite unlik
on. the steamships. The floor has gradui
ang rise, greater than is usual in vessels of lib
YER description the wave line is applied jud
the ciously; the bow cuts the water smoothl
ted and rapidly and the run is marked by
Inc peculiarly of construction which gives Ii
on, ship an easy rest upon the water. III
;nto INTO flooring is entirely solid from stem to ster
but To give additional strength TO the timber
isht the entire frame is firmly braced by bars
her iron placed diagOnally, and securely bolte
torn to each other and to the ship. With thel
orm advantages, and the tidy masts and riggin
= ner unsoied in the longest voyages by smoke
,,s neu gases, the ship always presents clean al
her fresh appearance, which places her in st
hite king contrast with her rivals. The peculia
nate tiles of build and finish, We may not be
how particularize more closely. They are bt
mo- judged by observation, and their adYantag
from will be determined by experience.
with The principle involved in the construct
vain of the Caloric Engine, it is already W
known, is the application Of air in state
into expansion to the uses for which steam
cold long been employed. To explain the mo
: he in which Capt. Ericsson accomplisbes t
avea ea undertaking is comparatively easy matt
, "isn -, but to make it thoroughly ineligible 10
- is more difficult. The account, hOwcv
m. may be given in the simplest manner.
I'll roo,,, rauo1 nth