New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-06-15
A STEAMER OF TTVENTY-F FIVE THOU
SAND TUNS BURDEN
From Houseaold Word., May %.


We are in the habit of making occasional marine
excursions TO Woolwich by Waterman Number One
to Six inclusive. Some times bright, sunny daywe
extend our aquatic trips as far as Firth Gravesend,
where doubtless many of our readers accompany us.
Like U.s. they will not fail TO have noticed ndif
eren-ooking half-occupied spot of land juttng into
the river opposite Greenwich, known the Isle Of
Dogs but having no sort of connection with Barking
Creek.
Scattered over this island, at irregular distances,
are factories, shp-yards, store-bouses, and timber
sheds all unmistakable enough in character There
is one object, however, which has perplexed us not
lttle-a huge metallic erection on which may be seen
employed any day in the working week, hundreds OF
busy craftsmen clustering and humming and buzzing
about it ike flies around sugar hogshead.
1t has puzzled good many aquatic travellers be-
sides the writer. We have heard scores of guesses
made by wondering passengers board Waterman
Number Two perfectly at variance with the opinions
of those on board Waterman Number -Four. Some
have not the slightest doubt as its being sort
of gasometer for supplying London with pure gas.
Others believe il TO be pile of reproof warehouses, on
the Miner Safe principle for the better custody OF the
national state papers and crown Jewels by some II Is
said TO be IN enormous oven for baking bread ana
roasting coffee for our troops in the Crimea One or
two have beard on good authority that 1t is intended
for Wombwel's menagerle, to be moved ON hundred
wheels. Others again have the hrnest bellei IN its
being an iron incarnation of Lord Dundonald's mys-
ferrous plan for destroying CrOnsadt and Sevaetop0
Now it happens that of these opinions are cor
rect Not one of the many guessers have ever dream
ed Of this object being the mid portion of ship which
we have since learned isreay the case. ship Talk
of the Great Harry or the Great Britain, or any other
great craft of the middle age modern period They
shrink into utter insigncance by the side OF metal
monster Of the Isle of Dogs
Tie wooden walls of old England are fast becoming
MYTHS of by-gone age, embalmed in the balladpOety
of Dibdn. They have given place to the IRON
sides of young Britain Canvas has yielded the palm
TO steam and padde-wheels in their turn shaking
their bearings in auxiliary fear Of screws.
IL is not SO many years AGO, but we remember H.
that when steamer of 600 tuns first placed on
the North American line one of then greatest
scientific authorities predicted certain failure; 1t was
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 ineyi-
tobly encounter variety of other unpleasant contn
gencies. But people remembered that similar failure
was predicted thirty years before that time when the
first steamers piled between London and Calais. The
General Steam Navigation Company nevertheless
prospered and so likewise kave the American lines
prospered for Of which there are at the present
moment iron steamers building on the Clyde larger
than any yet aiioet.
as yet bears resemblance TO any known kind of
craft At q distance the eye is unable TO detect any
particular proportions about it, and if we were to be
pressed on the point, we should say that ii had no
shape at all. closer inspection however shows
line of upIights at each end which mark the shelving
proportions of stem and stern, and then one can per-
ceive that the object before is really intended for
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 10 form just conception
Of this marine monster, which, for want OF better
name, we call the Leviathen IL is being built by
Scott, Russell a Company, from designs by Mr..
Brunei the engineer, whose conception the entire
fabric is. When remind our readers that the Roya
Albert lneofbattle ship, of one hundred and twenty
guns, is something under four thousand tuns, and
about two hundred and twenty feet in length and that
the Sima and Himelaya at present the largest steam
afioa only three hundred and twenty feet in
length or thereabouts; they may form some idea OF
the proportions of this Eastern Steam Navigation
CompaIy's ship, when they told that it will be SIX
hundred and eighty feet in length and Of twenty five
thousand tuns burden: IN other words, OF more than
six times the capacity of our largest men of-war and
above double the length of the largest steamship
ahoat
Our readers will have frequently heard discussions
10 the relative merits of paddles and In
the Leviathen the will be combined with the
paddle worked by engines nominally of two thousand
six hundred horse power, but in reality capable Of
being worked up 10 ten thousand horse power. To
guard against accidents at sea TO machinery, and TO
prevent any d tentlOn from such cause, the paddle
wheels win not only be perfectly distinct from each
other in their working but each will be set in motion
by several sets of machinery of superabundent power
that at all times arrangements cleaning of
two cylinders or boilers will not interfere with the
progress of the ship.
Steam viii be the sole propeing power no canvas
being contemplated in this vessel In fixing the great
size of the Leyiathan, it's protector believes that he
has obtained the elements of speed hitherto unknown
in ocean going steamers. IL is confidently predicted
that by the great length of the Leviathan she will be
enabled 10 pass through the water at an average
speed in all weathers OF fifteen knots an hour with
smaller power IN proportion 10 tunnage than rinarv
vessels require TO make ten knots. The contract
ing speed Of most ocean aiearrying steamers il
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 Com
miles if no ports be touched at. speed of fifteen
knots or miles an hour averaged from land TO land
would take the Leviathan to tie golden colony in
about 80 days. This can only be accomplished even
at that high speed by avoiding all stoppages for Goals
which, besides OBTAINING ship many DAYS in the dif
terent ports carries her great distance out of the d.
rect steaming course. Here find another novelty
brought 10 bear by Mr.. Brunei. ship of this huge
capacity can carry coo tuns of coals-ouite snf
fcent, It is stated for her CONSUMPTION ON the ont
ward and homeward voyages. Space viii still be left
for 5000 tuns OF cargo, the massive machinery and
1000 passengers with their luggage and al NECESSARY
stores for
The advantage of this arrangement is trofold. Re-
SIDES the avoidance of stOppages for coaings on ,ha
voyage, the ship earns all the freight which must
Otherwise have been paid to sailing vessels fox the con-
yeyarce of fuel 70 the eoalng depots which on three
fourf's Of the quantity Consumed on one vovaya
xrnu NM n rei.- - l..tl