The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-04-09

eat drink or fight with her-just as she pleases
Go ahead.
THE PROGRESS OF NAVAL ARCHITECTURE AND
COMMERCIAL ENTERPRIsE.--The new steamship
Adriatic, which was launched last Monday, is
one of the most perfect specimens of naval
architecture in the world. Her immense size,
the admirable symmetry of her proportions, IS
well as the speed claimed for her, and which,
it is said, will be greater than that Of any
ocean steamship now afoat-in all these res
poets she may be regarded as the most forci-
u illustration that could be given of human
ingenuity, the extension of commercial enter
prise, and our progress as commercial nation.
Two hundred years ago the ship Unrest
the first vessel built in New York, or New Am
sterdam, as the great metropolis was then
called-was launched on the East river. The
Unrest. history informs us, was exactly 44a
feet long, and III feet breadth of beam, and
her launch was considered among our simple
minded ancestors as an event Of the greatest
Importance. In the two centuries that have
elapsed since then, the little Dutch village nas
grown to vast city, and the two rivers that
form it's boundaries are now crowded with an
immense feet Of vessels from all parts of the
world
The application of steam to machinery has
given a new and powerful impulse to ship
building and the progress of commerce. 1t
was at first believed that steamers could only
be used in making short passages, and that a
voyage across the Atlantic, if not impossible,
was at least highly improbable. The success
that attended the first efforts of the Sirius and
the Great Western, which crossed the Atlantic
eighteen years ago-the former from Cork,
Ireland. and the latter from Bristol, England
soon dispelled all doubts and skepticism on
that point. The Sirius arrived at this port on
the 23d April, 1888, after passage of eighteen
days, and the Great Western on the same day,
after passage of fifteen days The first was
not built for long voyages, but the second was
intended to run between England and the
United States. Their arrival at this port was
hailed with the greatest enthusiasm. When the
news was spread throughout the city that the
Sirius, which arrived first, was coming up the
bay, nearly every one rushed to the Battery
to see her. 1t was beautiful April day, just
like that on which the launch of the Adriatic
took place, and as she passed up to her dock
in the East river, at the foot of Market street,
the thousands that thronged the piers vel
coined her with shouts Of delight.
The successful accomplishment of the pas.
sage by both these vessels, and in such COM
paratively short time, showed what might be
hv oil Of 49, b;nI
greater experience in ocean steam navigation
would suggest. With larger vessels it was con-
fidently predicted that it could be made in from
ten to twelve days. The Great Western was 24O
feet in length and registered 1870 tons, while
the Adriatie is 354 feet long and registers
5,sSs tons, and it is expected will make the
passage between New York and Liverpool in
about nine days. The clipper ship Great Re-
public was 800 feet long, and measured $500
tons; the Atlantic is 2s7 feet in length and re-
gisters 5000 tons; and the Persia the new iron
steamship of the Cunard line, has length Of
$50 feet and registers 5000 tons.
But all these gigantic vessels shrink into
insignifcance when compared with the NAM
moth iron steamer which is now in process 0.
construction at London for the Eastern
Steam Navigation Company. Her length is $50
feet; her draft of water when loaded 2S feet;
her register $4,000 tons, and she is to be pro-
PEELED by gigantic screw, 20 feet in DIANE
ter, and by four paddles, besides the sails
which she will carry, and for which she will
have seven masts With this motive power 1t
is calculated that her average speed will be
twenty-three knots an hour. Besides large
number OF life boats, she is to carry eight
small screw steamers, each ITO feet long.
These will be employed in taking on board
and landing passengers and cargo, as it will
be impossible for her to approach near the
shore in consequence of her great draft of
water. Her accommodations will be ample
enough for 600 first class passengers, 1900
second class, and 10000 troops, with all their
field equipments. The estimated cost Of this
leviathan, which we understand is to be called
the Great Eastern is over one and q half
million dollars
Who, in view Of these facts will venture to
say there is limit to progress in human
ingenuity, and particularly in that depart
ment OF is which relates to naval architecture?
VINO CLEANED THE STREETS Who was it
Was 1t the Commissioner, or was it the people?
People who live in Fulton street have recol-
lection Of having paid out sundry dollars and
cents for cleaning that street. Residents Of