Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1856-06-19
The Monster steamer.

The London Quarterly Review for March
gives an elaborate and minute description ct the
mighty iron steamship now building on the banks
Of the Thames. one eighth Of a mile long, and
the greatest prodigy Of strength aud power, as
well as dimensions. which the world has ever
seen. She projected by the eminent eng-
neer. Mr.. Brunal. the father Of trans atlantic
steam navigation. The old method of construc-
lion of iron steamships has been entirely depart
ed from in the Great Eastern, and by the system
adopted she is made almost as strong as if she
were Of solid iron; as light and. indestructibl".
comparatively speaking. rs IA piece ct bamboo;
and so safe that "she could not well be destroy
ed even if broken Into two or three pieces. since
the fragments, like those Of a divided orm.would
be able to sustain an independent existence. -
Her lengihi is 500 feet. her height GO feet, from
side to side Of her hull she measures 63 feet, and
across her paddle boxes is ! IA feet. She is sup
piled with three propellng powers: the screw.
the paddle aud the sail. The paddle wheels. 50
feet in diameter, will be propelled by four en-
gines, the cylinders Of which are 6 feet inches
in diameter, and the stroke II feet. 1.-THE mo-
tive power Of these will be generated by four
boilers Enormous these engines. hav
ing nominal power of 900 horses and standing
nearly 80 feet high, they will be far inferior to
those devoted to the screw. These, the largest
ever constructed for marine purposes, will he
supplied with steam by six boilers working to a
force of 1000 horses-the real strength of the
combined engines being equal to 5000 HORSES
When the spectator looks upon the ponderous
shaft of metal, 100 feet in length and GO tons in
weight, destined to move the screw, and the
screw itself of "a feet in diameter; the four fans
which as they lie on the ground. remind him
of the blade bones of some huge animal of the
pre- Adomite world, he better comprehends the
gigantic nature of the labor to be done, and the
ample means taken to perform it. BY paddle
and screw the ship will be pulled and pushed i'm
in its course like an invalid in Bath chair. and
each power will be called upon to do its best
In regard to speed, che is expected to average
90 miles an hour. She has seven masts, and, in
addition to steam, can spread. if necessary $500
square yards of canvass. 1t being impossible
for speaking trumpets to communicate orders over
such a space as her decks. semaphore WILL in
the day time give the word to the helmsman,
whilst at night, and in foggy weather, he will be
signalled how to steer by system of colored
lights The electric telegraph will also be EN-
poyed to communicate orders. Her ten anchors
will weigh 55 tons; her eight hundred fathoms Of
chain cable % tons; her capstain and warps 100
tons, making total of 253 tons for the sole pur-
pose of making fast the ship! At night she will
have an electric light at her mast head to give
warning of her approach to other vessels. Her
saloons will be lighted up with gas, manufactured
on boord and applied to every part of the ship.
Fancy her rushing through the night in full Ca
reer-an arrow 81 900 tons in weight, propelled
by bow of 5000 horse power''
In addition to the engines employed as mo-
tive power, there will he four auxiliary engines,
for heaving the anchors, for pumping, hosting
the sails, &c. 1t has been ascertaned that the
Atlantic waves average no more than twenty feet
in altitude, and rarely exceed twenty-eight feet
Their maximum width from wave to wave is 600
feet, whilst in moderate gale they are only 800
and in fresh about 100 feet Her great
length will thus enable her to rule the waves, and
make shorter and smoother passages.
1t is said that the harbor of Portland Maine,
and of Norfolk, Va, are probably the only Amer
lean harbors which this gigantic stranger can en-.
ter.