Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1853-10-26
SCHOONER MAGIC.

builders and owners claim for her some points
of improvement and adaptation to the lumber
trade, for which she is designed, it may not be
amiss to take brief glance at her qualities and
capabilities.
The Magic was built at Grand Haven, Mich,
by WIN. M. Ferry g. Sons, manufacturers and
dealers Of lumber Her design, model and
moulds were made by VIM. W. Bates, Of Man
itowoc, and the work of the hull and spars exc
cuted by F. II. Revel Of this city. In her de-
sign it was sought to obtain vessel which
might be laden or discharged in one day, that
would carry not less than 10000 feet of lumber,
and sail faster under all circumstances The d.
mansions are as follows: length on the load
line 90 feet, beam 26 feet, and hold 81 feet. The
midshp section, having inches dead rise, is To-
Gated foot inches abaft the centre of length,
whence the bow and stern begins to recede i'm
mediately towards the ends The bow is quite
sharp, with the lines of resistance presenting
gradual lifting surface to the water calculated to
sustain the bow against the leverage of propul-
sion, and at the same time to diminish the re-
sistance and shock Of the sea. This kind Of
bow, while it is best adapted to the purposes of
utility, affords a neat, strong termination, and
dispenses with that i'll contrivance, a cutwater,
to give life and expression to the head of a YES
sci. The stern, or after body, exhibits the most
rotundity in the lines Of resistance, (Which are
mol water lines) inasmuch as the globular form
is found to be best adapted to restore the equl-
librium of the fluid on the after end of moving
body, whose graduated-angular entrance has ex-
cited but gentle disturbance in the removal of
inertia The transom is short,the quarters light,
and sheer high She is finished with brake at
the front of the cabin, and it is the most econom-
ical arrangement for cabin, stowage, and deck
room to be found for lumber vessels. Her rig
is topsaif schooner, and we can assure nautical
casusts that this vessel is not "over spared" but
possessing very great stability for her size,
would admit few more quilts in her wings,
without serious Inconvenience from the "whis-
Ting winds" She is well and very strongly
built, and is as thorough in the mechanical dis
tribution of material and fastening, as vessel
well can be.
But the chief point which has been urged by
the skeptcal observer, with peculiar disinterest-
edness, and appropriate vehemence, against the
adoption of innovations in the design of bust
ness" vessels, consists in the objection that she
will "carry nothing" The possibility of intro
ducing the aspirations of enlarged intelligence
into the familiar channels of everyday pursuits,
can be bug-6ear only to the individual of mar
row perceptions, and limited acquaintance with
the history Of his race, who has not discovered
that eternal progression is the goal of the human
mind. The man of the Age tolls day by day,
and eats drinks and reposes, and arises to pro-
gress And as darkened minds have esteemed
it the work of magic to bring utility out of cha
os, skepticsm was held above par in Grand Ha-
ven until the first cargo was slowed As con-
siderable time had elapsed since the model was
Ca 70 thn Of re
merits had become wide and general, without
regard to age sex, or condition, and consequent
" the day Of loading was an eventful one
Shoulders that were shrugged to deformity, IA
ces that had become wry with distortion, throng-
ed the dock and the lumber piles to inspect the
carrying" qualities of the Magic. Oysters and
hats were threatened with general consumption
as board after board was registered on the tally
sheet AT length the hold was filled and it was
found to contain AZ, 900 feet of lumber and some
lath. when the deck load went on, which for
facility of handling, was designed to constitute
the greater part of the cargo, if necessary, as is
the custom with this class of vessels on the
coast of Maine. When the lading was compile
ted it was found that she had on board 10000
feet (of which ii 900 only was "siding,'O and
10000 of lath. A load fully equal to the ex-
pectations of all directly interested, and much
to the chagrin of skeptics generally. 1t will
scarcely be necessary to add that their stock has
fallen although the mystery is unexplained
Hence the appropriateness of her name-NIagic
-(according to Dr. Webster) &c the secret OPP.
erations of natural causes" Her enterprising
owners are confident that she is an improvement
and contemplate another step in the same direc.
ton.
We cannot in justice to our own feelings,
close this notice without more specific allu-
sion to Mr.. Bates. This young gentleman has
enlisted our warmest sympathy, and excited in
us very high degree of admiration both for his
scientific attainments and the enthusiastic devo-
ton with which he brings both mind and hand
to the abors of his profession. Whatever OBJ
jectors, whether they be Of the mere carping
school or earnest seekers after superior excel
lence in our lake marine, may have TO say against
the vessels modelled by Mr.. Bates, in regard to
their singular beauty, their fautless outline and
all those qualities which are deemed essential
to speed, there is, so far as we know, but one
opinion. In these respects, this gentleman has
not hitherto been approached by naval architects.
If in his first attempts there should not be
complete realization of all his wishes and en-
pectation it should not be matter of surprise,
for perfection is not attained in single day, nor
in the first work Of genius. But in those points
in which expectation is not met, there u.s. at least.
so close an approximation to it, rs to remove all
grounds of skepticism as to future efforts.
These remarks are not intended to apply to
the schooner Magic That vessel we regard as
a complete triumph. Her owners, the Messrs.