New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-12-18
LdRLNE AFFAIRS.
DANCERS IN CROSSING raE ATLANTIC
Wala<s r. Jos.s Eng P,ess<sse II ~ Bsa,d u sds-ss,

VANCEhS IN CEOcsINB ATSANIiS-
Was, r. Jos>s Eng P,eSrse n ~ Bea,d u sds-rTtsrs
DEAR Sir: In con p,nce with your reques., have
Examined the chart snd the accompanying explains
tory letter which you were kind enough 10 suon, to
my inspection, relative TO new route scroee the At
laniic-
The plan Of compelling steamers which ply De
tween Liverpool southampton and Ha're, on
the ore side, and PbiiadelphIs Nev-Yorz, BCstos
and Portland, incluoing the por,s in the Brinsh
Provinces Cd the Other 90 10 shspe theu course ~,
il passing Cape Race, to leave that point some 80
ID les 10 the north arc. hss 10 tain aspecs, much
Ia recommend H. and we're there no counterysiling
objections i, would certainly be desirable by giving
that Cape wide berth, 10 avoid the danger Of ap-
proscbipg il in foss. Bat there sppears u my mind
reseope which, sheib.r valid or not, Will be bar
TO the adoption of that course.
First: In this fast age time IS TIE rery efssnce u
locomOtiOn end il very questionable whether mas
ters owners, or passengers would consent to such
deviation az would add one day running dstance TO
the voyage.
S,csnsls: Ship masters, particularly steamers CAP
tabs hDong the alteration Of the comp,ss from
local other causes such prolific source Of error
and uncertainty, while they are runolng N high
preed sometimes for many days, without an OBSERVE
ton sud subject TO variable drifts aod currents that
after sailing say 200 miles the one, 900 mes
CD the opposite voyage, they are very desIrous 10
sight the land having cone which, they ls many
nUst have observedl breathe ffeer, walk the deck
finer AID are relieved Of the snxisty which every
under the above circumstances, must feel
Believing, as do, tina, the present route by the
great circle sailing IT, and must continue 10 be, the
fsvore one for sailing well a. steamiag vessels,
think the project which had the honor lay before
the BoarG Of Underwriters and the Chamber N IN.
merce at tb.ir last regular meetings and 70 which
both these bodies have, with great promptne-s given
th.r sar c-ion viz: the erection # frst class hgk,
hOpse on CAPE Race and arrangements for frtHg fog
RpR H. decidedly the aid and remedy most fe~lble.
CAM OF bst at toe same time reiferste VIVA. have
before stated in my communications to you on the
subject, that until light be placed on Cape X zee,
yess.ls bound OF the western passage would DO veil
10 steer direct for Cspe Spear or st Johns light,
vbich are only fear miles apart and at the ls,'er
place fog guns are regularly hred; aud .ying made
either OF ttese ana kno~ny their position and dis
farce 10 fraction, they could run do " the bold
shore of Newfoundland for sixty miies. there seng
only a single binorsDce and that the Rene@s rock,
above wafer 10 Cape Race.
And here allox me - remsrk, that having resided
at Doth places, have found that Newfoand and
,,s,t il very little more subj CT 10 fogs, than Long
Island and that even when dense ogs prevail the
peighboripg seas there is frequently clear Amos
pheTe extending from half to mite from the .hsre.
7, j. with difIidenc. that | disagree With such high
authority, AZ the gentleman who deserv-dly stands
headmost in matters concerning the science Of Dsyl-
CATION riill must be allowed 10 question, whether
steamer finding herself durlg fog IN the mds, 81
the great psribe highway, aGd, experimenting col
,ioD Ii - have her speed increased Ia order 10 get
cut OF way IS Iuthiy aS Pv,eio'r' ih' 'hhh'
Of crossing our crowded Broadway il scnceiy con-
pleie. IL London jog, | thibk he would hardly
recon mend one IT, rush across the Strand or Hoi-
boSp among the tbroDg Of vehicles ana p-destr4 IS.
The idea ID at under great speed steamer Is likely
10 have the best Of IT, collision Occar. shoald MT
b. the controlling conidt ration FIsoing vessels at
ancl or on the Bank. others la,ins.so, are under
81 OFT sail and percbaLce an expscted proximity 20
a sbore, should be 'sken into the account
Should. therefore, rather recommend that whsn
oveitai en- by fog, the speed should be moderate,
spest caution 1ercsed thar the Engineers be the
sert 10 stop or back The steamer, and the frequent
use of the whistle, or other device, FOE giving
notice OF approach.
Their should be some better method adopted for
lowering boats so that both stem and stern would
reach The water smultane ou-ly and safely for by the
lreseL. mode, ~hIe one end is Lowered " hand
.tnmely ~ the ssilOrs term IT, the other is let %
"by the run" whereby the occupants are precpi-
iaed into the sea the boat is capsizet Aud lost.
Any Ingenious rgger could make the desired i'm
II0vemtnt.
an very respectfully dear sir, your oSsdeo, serv.n.
e iANDLER WHITE
E.r. Yo,t No a southst, Dec. II, 1854