New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-05-28
MARINE AFFAIRS.
TRIAL TRIP OF THE ARAGO.


On Saturday mornging large party of gentlemen,
among whom were Mr.. Senator Seward Mr. Aspin-
wall and many of our distinguished merchants, pro-
ceeded by invitation of the New-York and Havre
company on an excursion down the Bay in their
uowlv-constructed steamer the Arago. As the ferry
boat which conveyed the party from Whitehall to her
sides approached Staten Island the noble vessel was
seen living beneath the shadow of its shore Ike some
lingo sea monster On being startled by the arrival
Of her freight she shook herself and with giant gasp
ING strobe along the Bay. The morning was beautiful,
and the small smacks and steamers, with their PEN
uants floating as field OF flowers, gave to the scene
an air of pituresqueness and animation.
The Arago is fitted with two osclators, placed fore
and AT. and standing at angles Of $50, each engine
operating on its own paddle. wheel, and both engines
being coupled by drag-lnk. BY this arrangement
full play is given to the engines, and by the power OF
cisconrect1g which it gives If either OF the engines
is Injured enables both wheels to be worked by the
other one The engines are fitted with Allen and
Weiss adjustable expansive wives and with Pins
sons patent condersers The cylinders are 60 inches
in diameter, with 9 feet stroke TO the piston. The
main shafts are inches in diameter and wheel 80 feet
The boilers arc arranged with double tiers of ire-cham
bers with drop fues The boilers and engines are in
wator-tight buikheads midshps. Betwee1 these bulk
heads is ccntered coal and all that il necessary To
their working. On the sides OF the Arago the
memory Of tie Arctic was brought up by tho
presence Of eight Of Francis's lite-boats, capa-
bic Of holding 100 passengers. BY the adoption Of
PRISONS condenser saving effected in fuel OF rom
q to 80 per cent. The Arago, which il under tho
commend of Cept Lynes fine, bluff, generous sailor,
measures 300 feet all and ~ feet beam and car
res $50 passengers She made at one period OF the
excursion Il niles within the hour.
The cabins and staierooms were decorated with a
neat graceful, quakcrike beauty, to our minds far
more pleasing than that vulgar glare and snowy
maenifcence which disfgures too many Of our sea
and city palaces.
On the return to tie harbor dejeune was served
in the cabin. after which Mr.. Allen, under whose SUI
peryision the engines Of the Arogo constructed.
was called on by Mr.. Livingston, the President 10
ezplain the particular peculiarties and improve
ments they embodied. In very lucid explanation of
tie mechanical arrangement and action Of the side
lever beam and osciating engines he demonstrated
clearly the advantages Of this last movement in dEpos-
ing Of eleven Of the fourteen separate complications re-
quired in the others 10 affect change OF direction.
After acknowledging the indebtedness to England Tor
the invention Of the osclating engine, and showing
the many improvements which American ingenuity
had engrahed. lie concluded amid warm applause
BY expressing biz firm conviction that the engines Oh
tie AraQo as they were then working were the most
perfect ever placed in any steamer on ether size OIL
the Atlantic Upon Mr. Aliens sitting down there was
loud and general call for Senator Seward, in ODE
dience 10 which he rose and said, that though he was
ayersetointudDg pleasant excursion, such "a TINS,
the prosac practice Of speech.making, there were some
memories ard reflections which the spot end seems
awoke and which powerfully crowded on bis mind that
morning. 1t was twenty-throe years since in an Amer
lean paeket-hp be had crossed the Atlantic in seven
teen DAYS So miraculous this passage then
deemed that banquet was given in Nev-York to ee'-
citrate the triumph and at Liverpool il was made o
subject Of similar oystons. II was taen thought by
some TINT we he'd attained the highest point Of speed
in sea-,ravel. a few years passed By and il Wa
about he believed ten years since their elder brethren
crossed the ocean IN the steamer Sirius. In this
sketch Of progress the packetshp Of years
before was foro often. That progress had sti passed
on until steam might he sad 10 have gathered in the
world in it, grasp. And now in another ten years,
Standing in this noble vessel who remembers tho
Sirius Another ten years hence and who could say
the Arsgo would be remembered With this feeling
he would give them q sentiment "Thc spirit Of the
age and those who would not be forgotten ten years
"hence." The speech and sentiment of the Senator
received with great applause and set pleasing
crown on the pleasures Of the day.
The Arago sails for Havre on the I'd Of June. SIM
cerely do say in the beautiful words Of the oldsa
bills of lAding May the good ship reach her des-
"tny in time and safety, with the blessing Of God.
"amen."
MORE MoRxoss--Tbe ship William Stetson, Capt.
Jordan, from Liverpool, arrived Sunday, brings 80
Mormons among the passengers, al bound West.
Among the infants there have been four desths and
two births, one Of them Of Staten Island.