Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1853-06-17

IL is now about SIX years since Inc first American
steamship left this city to establish regular commune
cation on our part with Europe Our first steamships
of inferior character, they failed TO equal in
spead the old Cunarders, which had run for eight
years Respecting what had been done by both the
English and our own steamships, we said page 81
Vol. 4, Scientific american. October, 7, 1848 mo
first rate voyage has yet been made the Allan
tic the shortest at that time occupying ell even days
made by the Europa We also said our American
steamships must can and shall yet perform the pas.
sage the Atlantic at the of fifteen miles per
hour there is science and genius enough among our
engineers and nautical architects to build the verv
finest steamships.'' 1t is nearly five years since
we expressed these opinions let see in the evoIu-
ton of events if formed anything like
innate of the future of American steamships.
In April, 1850, the Atlantic the first of q new line
of American steamships, left this port her voyage
TO Liverpool to compete with the celebrated Cunard
Iine for the mastery of the seas. Her first voyage was
somewhat unfortunate, but from the beauty of her
DEL general confidence placed in her ultimate
AT intervals after that three noble conSOrts
the Pacific Arctic and Baltic, added to the line
all built after the same model For the past years
they have made such voyages as have given them the
sup emacy all the English steamships, both in
point of speed and every exec lent sea quality This
is manfuIly acknowledged by Capt. McKinnon, of the
Royal Navy, in a work recently published, entitled
g The resources and Settlements of America He
to the United States in of the Cunard steam
ships, and went back 10 England in the Baltic one
tne COllnS llne respecting "nlcn ne uses Inc IOllOW
ing language, " am only doing justice 10 these mag
nfcent vessels in stating that they beyond any
competition the finest, the fastest, and best boats
in the world | am sorry TO be obliged 10 say this
but naval officer feel bound in candor to almi
their great superiority Their extraordinary easiness
in the fall to excite the admiration OF tht
sailor. | never behed anything like it. No eve
came on board, there was no violent punging, tht
steamng of the Baltic was the absolute poetry o.
motion" He attributes the superiority OF American
StPa IN fholr on Qpnf or 2D(
the huoyancy OF the fore part in being relieved OF thu
weight of the bowsprt He calls the attention of th
English ship builders TO the absurdity of a heavy
bowsprt on steamship, and says, " the reason VIII!
we allowed Brother Jonathan to beat US on our OWL
element is patent to the world, and may be summed
up in one sentence, the British moded is far infey1o
to the americana Here we have the unbiased opin
ion of most competent foreign Judge, respecting tn
superiority OF American steamships now-they are tn
finest and fastest IN the urorld Although the voyage
of American STEAMSHIP s across the Atlantic have bee
shortened by thirty-six hours since penned the re
marks have quoted at the beginning or this article
still, they have not yet come up TO the mark which
e then set up before them We expect to see America
y steamships making the passage from New York t.
Ii, erpOO in eight days-the shortest yet marke ha
occupied days and II hours. At the average spec
of miles per hour, this desirable result would
: nearly accomplished, and surely, when some OF GU
clipper ships, under canvass have run over % mile
per hour, is not too much to expect that our steam
ships will make voyages across the Atlantic at al
average speel of Is miles per hour. new STEAMSHIP
named the Arabia has been added to the Cunrad Line
lis performances have equaled in speed those OF ne
American rivals. The honest rivalry OF two power
fuI lines like the Collins and Cunard, will operat
beautifully for improvements in steam navigation, nc
= only as il regards speed, but the safety and comfort
of passengers.
f Our nautical architects and engineers have don
f we'll and deserve the thanks of the country, but the
S can and must do better still The next STEAMSHIP
which is to be built for the Collins Line must go
Liverpool in less than nine days; this we expect, an
S we believe will not be disappointed
Scientific american.