Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-10-21

determined, with ambition yet unsatiated, to |
excel also in the feetness of his ocean steam |
ers. But when his star had almost culminst-
ed, the dark pau of death shrouded it forever.
The model of the Adratic differs from all
former practice, unless the o. s. steam frigate
Niagara (also built by him, and nearly com
pete) be made an exception. Both are mo-
deled on substantially the same plan, with a
studous adaptation of shape to the course of
the water when cleft by the ships prov, ex-
cept that the Niagara is much sharper, but
with less dead-rise on dead fiat, preserving her
stability amid. ships; and both vessels have
many points of resemblance with the Ameri
ca. The keel, for instance, is curved through
out its entire length, but with little curvature
towards the stern, while, at the other extremi-
ty, there is rise OF about nine feet to the wa
ter line, commencing 100 feet back. Some
said to Mr.. Steers that in making his ship so
sharp she would go under, but he anticipated
a result exactly the reverse, conceving that
the effect would be rather to throw her out of
the water, so that the more rapid the speed the
more she would rise, diminishing the disPlace-
ment. Actual experience has confirmed his
| theory.
In passing through the spacious saloons and
decks of this great ship, there is much to i'm
|
| he stands upon the brink of her main deck and
peers down thirty three feet into the iron bow
! els of this ocean monster, he experiences
sensation of wonder and awe. Her engines,
| from the Novelty Works, are massive and of
prodigious power, and form the distinguishing
characteristic of the ship. They are justly re-
| garded as a master piece of mechanism, ard
while they effect great saving IN space, are
! expected to accomplish a still greater saving In
| the reduced consumption of fuel-objects OF
paramount importance in the construction of
ocean steamers. Some idea of the power of
these engines may be formed from the follow
| ing statement:
! Two bed plates each weigh AZ tons
Two cylinders 90
Two beam pillow blocks " %"
Eight boilers 40
Two water wheels, wrought
| iron 25
Two shafts "a a"
The chats and cranks, from Reading, are
believed to be the largest forgings ever made
in any country. The engines of the Adriatic.
have two cylinders, each 100 inches in dame
ter, with II feet stroke of piston, and are of
the kind known as ''inclined vscillators," cou
pied by simple and direct connections known
as the "drag link" and are altogether the
most compact and direct engines yet construct
ed. The valves are of the sort styled 1.-TWO
motion cone valve" and are the invention OF
Mr.. Horatio Allen. They are drawn from their
seats, by which wear is avoided and, being
perfectly balanced, are handled with great ease.
Their object is to economist in the use of
stesm. The cylinders, which are known as
"surface condensers," are on plan which is
also the invention of Mr.. Allen, and which
comprises the advantage of a large amount of
cooling surface in small space, with great
simplicity and accessibility in all their parts,
and are designed to afford a constant and IN
failing supply of fresh water to the boilers
They contain 10000 tubes of brass, each y
feet in length, equal to 81 miles) through
which is constantly passing a stream of cold
water drawn from the sea, and forced through
them back into it again, by two independent
steam pumps of great capacity. 1t is by com
ing into contact with the exterior surface of
these tubes thus cooled, that the exhaust
steam is condensed-an arrangement entirely
novel, and one that may effect great results
1t avoids all incrustation, corrosion, and other
| difficulties attending the use of sea water
The principle is somewhat analogous to that
| adopted by Ericsson, in his caloric engine. The
steam pumps connected with the cOndensers
are so arranged that they can, at a moments
notice, take the water for condensation from
the inside of the ship, and thus, if need be,
keep her afOat. Besides these are two large
pumping engines.
There are eight principal boilers. Martins
patent, having s. 600 perpendicular iron tubes
and are arranged in sets of four, forward and
aft of the engine. The whole number of
furnaces is forty eight, there being six to BOZ
ler There are two extra boilers, with brass
tubes, to be used in an emergency. The water
wheels are forty feet in diameter, of wrought
iron, and each has thirty-twO paddles, twelve
feet in length, 274 inches IN diameter, and
weigh "a tons, The actual prOpelling power
of this enormous engine is estimated at $500
horses The Adratic has eight more furnaces
and two feet more stroke of piston than the
Persia. Respecting the consumption of fuel
the probable rate of speed, &c, the engine
builders prefer to make no predictions, being
satisfied to await results. AS regards speed,
though this ship is undoubtedly expected to be
second to none, Mr. Aliens views are some
what peculiar. He is disposed to view this
quality as a matter of secondary Importance
considering it rather misfortune that so much
stress has heretofore been placed upon thigh
speed being attended with an expense altogeth
er disproportioned TO the advantages gained,
| besides haZarding life and valuable interest,"
The opinion is entertained that had different
views prevailed on this subject, ocean steam
navigation would have attained to a much
higher degree of advancement than we now
witness. 1t is true that those steamers which
have made the best dividends have been those
run at rate comparatively moderate. The
consumption of coal Oh the ships OF the Ounard
line is said to be from ! 200 to 500 tons each
passage, aud of course must go far to curtail
profits.
FOR s ALE