Columbia gazette., 1854-02-04

1
was directed to reconstruct it entirely
The old engines were taken ont, alsC
the copper boilers A single inclined
engine, was built by II. R. Dunham s
CO., along with iron boilers, az put il
at cost Of $75 9o9. BY statistics o
his vessels performance, obtained from
Stuart's splendid work on naval steam
ers, it appears that she made as high ;
speed as 20 miles an hour. For thi.
extraordinary speed we cannot accoun
her engine and model would not leac
lis to believe that she could make sucl
time as, upon good authority, it is stat
ed she has made. The three "Fultons'
had paddle wheels.
In 1912, Lieutenant Hunter, =. S
n, took ont a patent for new stbmerg
ed wheel for the propulsion of steamers
and upon the strength IF some expert
mcnts made with a small boat on th,
canal at ashington, the Government
ordered a vessel named the "Union,
of 1000 tons burden, to be constructec
at the Norfolk navy yard. To test thi
wheel was submerged paddle wheel
revolving horizontally in case unde
water This vessel was employed fo
about eighteen months in the Gulf o
Mexico had two sets of engines put il
her, and had number of alteration
made in the wheel, and yet never mad.
over four knots per hour. In 1916 thi
vessel was laid up in the navy yard a
Philadelphia, her machinery and boiler
taken out, and was turned into a receiv
ing vessel, after costing Sl72, AIT 90
In lS43 a small: iron steamer named
the michigan" was built for cruising
on the northern upper lakes, and ha:
done good servive since.
The "Mississippi," the flag steam
ship Of ofCommodore Perry, in the Japal
expedition, was built in 1910 at the ma
w yard in Philadelphia and her engines
were constructed by Merrick & Town
of that city, from designs by Charles w
Copeland, of this city Her cost wa:
$3.50, ,254; repairs in 1859, 1914 4,954.-
T, This vessel has side wheels, and ha.
done great and good service to the coun-
try: it is believed that she has steamed
greater distance than any war steamer
ahoat, and has required but little repairs
aud she will last quite number Of years
yet. The "Missouri'' was built at tn,
Brooklyn navy yard in 1871, from th'
same lines as the 'sNlississippi," and he
engines and machinery were constructed
at West Point foundry, Cold Spring
from designs by Mr.. Copeland. Charlie
Fl. Haswell being then engineer-in
chief Of the United States Navy. Her
cost was $59a,4S3 7S. On the 22d o
August, 1S43, this fine steam frigat,
was destroyed by fire at Gibralter. Sh,
was fine sailor, and was in every re
spect like the Mississippi, only that sh,
had 10 feet stroke, with e25 inches o
diameter cylinders, while the cylinder
Of the former are Is inches diameter
and the stroke is only 7 feet. The
"Princeton" was also built in lS43
with Frlcsson's engines and propellers
This vessel was failure, so far as the
quality of her hull was concerned, an6
lasted about six years; her speed was a.
about six per hour with steam alone
Two small steamers (paddle wheels
named the 'Spitfre" and the "Vixen,' ,
were purchased by the Government
during the Mexican war. They have
undergone many repairs since, and arc
Of a very inferior character.
The "Alleghany" was constructed Of
iron, at Pittsburg, from plans by Lieu
tenant Hunter, in 1S47, and fitted with
two of the designers submerged wheels.
She was 1000 tons burthen, and thirty
three feet broad Her whole cost was
$2e2 ,053 -, including $40, 900 for the
patent right of the wheel-a most enor-
nous price indeed for small iron steam
er. This vessel was sent on trial trip
to the Mediterranean, and on her re-
turn in 1S49, the Hunter wheel was
condemned; side wheels were recon-
mended, but she was not fit to 90 to sea
again. During 1852 she underwent
great alterations, and propeller de-
signed by Engineer Isherwood, was SUBJ
stituted for the Hunter wheel. One Of
Persons condensers was also applied,
but none of these changes can bring it
to the six knots per hour.
In 1850, the "Saranac,' was hn;lt At
the Portsmouth navy yard, New Hamn-
shire, with engines built by Jabez Con-
ey, of Bosten, from designs by Charles
W. Copeland. This vessel has paddle
wheels maintains respectable speed, is
very efficient, and credit to the SER
vice.
The "San Jacinto,'' was constructed
on the same lines as the Saranac at the
Brooklyn navy yard. Her engines were
des;oned hv e. w Hoeuol1