New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-06-22
MARINE AFFAIRS.

TRIAL TRIP OF THE STEAMSHIP OCEAN BRD.-
About three years ago the project of establishing
line of European steamers from this port to make the
passage across the Atlantic to the nearest port the
coast of Ireland within one week, was preached by
Mr.. William Norris an eminent Engineer of Philadel-
pha, who together with several distinguished gentle
men of New-York, commenced the enterprise. Mr..
John W. Griffiths, NOW Editor of The Nautical Mag
o@ine marine architect Of New-York, was instructed
to build steamship capable Of going 20 nautical
miles an hour that would accommodate from 60 to so
passengers and coal enough for 5000 miles of steam
ing at cost of not more than $780, 900. Mr.. Crit
fths submitted his plans for a steamer capable of
attaining this speed with draught Of
water Of seven feet 80 modelled that she would lift her
bows over the wave instead of cleaving it, and be
sustained by the middle of her length rather than by
the ends, thus removing the main cause of pitching
or divergence from the horizontal position, and en-
aiding the hull to glide instead of cutting through
tbs water. The plans were approved the work pro-
crossed satisfactorily toward completion, and the vos-
sci was ary ready for launching when the failure of
MIR. Norris brought her under the hammer of the
United States Marshal, and she was purchased by
Capt Graham, her present owner.
Since then she has been called by her present name,
instead of that of her former owner. Capt Graham
did not choose to complete her according to the orig
10 al plans, and Mr.. Grifhs declined proceeding with
ler construction consequently she was completed by
other parties The notifications alluded to consist OF
reduction of per cent of the propeling power, the
addition of another deck weighing 1874 tuns, making
four decks altogether and curailment OF three feet
in the diameter Of the paddle wheels These atera-
tons sink the hull inches deeper than was originally
calculated for beside presenting much larger amount
of surface for atmospheric resistance.
Her dimensions, as completed, are 222 feet on the
load ne POS feet on deck sc feet 10 inches beam, and
% feet hold or feet deeper than her hull designed
for
The machinery is proportional as follows;
Diameter of cylinder. inches
strobe OF piston. ...'........'.'.'...'''.a iee.
Diameter Of wheels. ..'....S teet
Length Of bucket. ........''s...'''..'''' u IN
breadth OF BUCKET.
Number OF buckets.
Dip of Ar I'm
She is furnished with four singereturn iue boilers
two forward and two AFT. Both of the forward boilers
are 20 feet long, and the after two % feet In length
Width of boilers feet inches and 10 feet ? inches
in HIGHT The entire fire surface is ,500.44 superhca
feet.
On first trial Of the machinery of steamer the
engine is never driven beyond certain point as the
machinery is necessarily loose and liable to great In
Jury from over friction. Yesterday the engine OF tho
Ocean Bird averaged II revolutions minute with
90 lbs. of ,team, running II miles an hour against
,hree-knot tide and strong head wind or equal to
20 miles an hour in smooth water. The engine worked
very smoothly and in point of power. speed and in-
ih does credit to Messrs. Guion, BoMdman q Co.
who built it.
The bow Of this vessel possesses great lifting power
causing the waves to pass under the hull instead OF
being broken by the abrupt termination OF the giobu
lar line. Her hull is nodded to hollow water-hne a.
both ends and thus the external pressure Is perfectly
equaized In model this steamer is novel, beautiful,
and we might almost say perfect-s perfection, Go
cording to marine architects n bow that enters but