New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-06-14
A STEAMER or TWENTY-FIVE THOU
SAND TUNS BURDEN

IN Six inclusive. Some times bright, sunny day we
extend our aquatic trips far as Firth or Gravesend,
where doubtless many Of our readers accompany US.
Like us. they will not fail to have noticed an indif-
fereptooking halfoccupied spot of land jutting into
the river opposite Greenwich known as the Isle OF
Dogs. but having no sort Of connection with Barking
Creek.
Scattered over this island at irregular distances,
are factories ship-ysrds store-bouses and timber
sheds all unmistakable enough in character. There
ia one object however, which has perp!exed us not
ttIe-a huge metallic erection which may be seen
employed any day in the working week, hundreds of
busy craftsmen clustering and humming and buzzing
about it like flies around sugar hogshead.
1t has puzzled good many aquatic travellers be-
sides tie writer We have heard scores of guesses
made by wondering passengers on board Waterman
Number Two perfectly at variance with the opinions
Of those on board Waterman Number Four Some
have not the slightest doubt to its being new sort
Of easometer for supplying London with pure gas.
Others believe to be apile of eproof warehouses on
the Miner Safe principle, for the better custody of the
national state papers and crown Jewels BY some 1t is
said to be enormous oven for baking bread and
roasting coffee for troops in the Cimea One OF
two have heard on good authority that it is intended
for Wombwell's menagerie, TO be moved on hundred
wheels. Others again have the fImest belief III lis
being iron incarnation of Lord Dundonalds mys-
Now il happens that none of these opinions are cor
rect. Not of the many guessers have ever dream
ed Of this object being the mid portion OF ship which
we have since learned really the case. ship Talk
Of the Great Harry the Great Britain any other
great craft of the middle age modern period They
shrink into utter nsgnifcance by the side of metal
monster Of the Isle of Dogs.
The wooden walls of old England are fast becoming
myths of by-gono age embalmed in the balladpoetry
Of Dibdin They have given place to the IRON
sides Of young Britain. Canvas has yielded the palm
ILL., forlo thar urnQ aahQk
their bearings in auxiliary fear of screws.
II Is no. so mnny years ago, but we remember it,
that when steamer of 900 tuns frat placed on
the North American line one OF then greatest
scientific authorities predicted certain failure; IT was
limited in friendly way TO passengers proceeding by
her to the United States that they had better insure
their lives and make their wills before leaving the
country. The ship said TO be too long for heavy
sea; che would break her back from the excessive
weight of machinery in her center and would inevi-
tally encounter variety of other unpleasant contln-
gencies. But people remembered mat similar failure
first steamers piled between London and Calais. The
General Steam Navigation Company nevertheless
prospered, and so likewise have the American lines
prospered for one of which there at the present
moment iron steamers building on the Clyde larger
than any yet afioat.
The huge fabric erecting at the Isle of Dogs
ns yet bears no resemblance to any known KIND OF
craft At distance the eye is unable 10 detect any
particular proportions about it, and II we were to be
pressed on the point we should say that 1t had no
shape at all. A closer inspection however shows
line of uprights at each end which mark the shelving
rroportions OF stem and stern and then one per-
ceiye that the cec before us is really intended Tor
ship. .
Standing on the banks of the river Thames, with
vast open space on one side and Greenwich Hospital
on the other IL is not easy to form just conception
Of this marine monster, which, s9r want OF better
name we call the LeviathaD Ii 10 being punt py
Scott, Russell & Company, from desigSs py Mr.
Brunei the engineer whose conception the entire
fabric is When we remind our readers that the Roya
Albert line-of-bate ship OF one hundred and twenty
guns, is something under four thousand tuns, and
about two hundred and twenty feet in length and thai
The Simla and Himaaya at present the largest steam.
A., a., .ra o,,x ,nr, hundred and tgclIv Feet in
length or thereabcuts they may form some idea of
the proportions of this Eastern Steam Navigation
COMMANDS ship when they are told that II will be six
hundred and eighty feet in length aud Of twenty i've
thousand nns burden; IN other words, of more than
slx tive the capacity of our largest men oi-war and
above double the length OF the largest se""'Hp
afoat. -, 49, -.
Our readers will have frequently heard discussions
M m the relative merits Of paddles and screws In
the Ieyiatban the screw viii be combined win me
naddle worked by engines nominaly OF two Thousand
az hundred horse power but in reality capabie OF
being worked up TO ten thousand horse power. 10
guard against accidents at sea TO machinery anu "
prevent any detention from such cause me paaaS
wheels will not only be perfectly distinct from eech
other in their working but each will be set IN motion
byseveral Gets of machinery of superabundant power
all times arrangements OF cicdnS Va Ve VI
two cylinders or boilers viii not interfere win Inc
progress of the ship,
Steam viii be the sole propelling power, no canvas
teie contemplated in this vessel. In hxng ice great
size Of The Icvathan its protector believes tnat ne
has obtained the elements of a speed hherto
IN pecan going steamers 1t is confidently predicsa
that BY the great length of the Levathan she VIII oe
enabled TO pass through the water at an average
speed in all weathers Of fifteen knots an hour with
smaller power in proportion TO tnnnage than ordinary
vessels row require to make ten knots The contract
ing speed Of most ocean mailcarying steamers Is
eight knots.
We believe that the Eastern Steam Navigation Com
psny intend making their first voyage TO Australia
Tie actual distance from Milford Haven, the Gem
panys starting point to Port Philip is lees than 2,o0o
miles il no ports be touched at A speed OF fifteen
knots or miles hour averaged from land to land
would take the Leviathan 10 the golden colony in
about 80 days. This can only be accomplished even
at thai high speed by avoiding all stoppages for Goals
which, besides OBTAINING ship many days in the diff
feren ports carries Der great distance out Of the d.
rect steaming course. Here we ind another novelty
brought to bear by Mr. Brunei. A ship of this huge
capacity can carry IL 600 tuns of coals-quite sui
netnf, it's stated, for her consumption ON the out
ward ana hemeward voyages. Space win still be left
oI oooo tuna OF cargo, the massive machinery. aud
stores for use.
The advantage Of this arrangement is twosold. Be-
SIDES the avoidance Of stoppeges for coangs the
voyage, the ship earns all the freight which must
otherwise have been paid to sailing vessels for the
veyce OF fuel to the coaing depcts which on three
fourtbs OF the quantity Consumed on one voyage
steamer Of two or three hundred tons In order TO
If xoight o,,,sad hv