The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1857-10-03

Approaching Lannch - The Great Casters.
IA It y now more than three aears since tn
lofty wallS Of iros, forming - si1es Of tlje
Great Eastern, 4Sst began 90 6xej14 the Won
der Of yoysge1s up and doxN III ThAnes,
md As she approaches comple tio1 the pub
Iic.interest increases, EnorrIeus she, which
Is naturally the distinctive feature that first
strikes the observer, is however, ono Of the
least of the maryels that belong. to the joint
production of Mr.. Scptt Russell and Mf.
Brunei. We have the assurance of the for
mer that the Great Eastern is built upon
precisely the same model as every vessel he
has constructed since his discovery Of the
wave line twenty-five years ngo. IN the
wonderful ship, which now toweds some se-
venty feet above the leyel Of the Isle Of
Dogs, dwarfng every passing vessel by her
enormous proportions, we hare only an ex-
tension Of lines upon which Mr.. Russell
built the little Wave, Of seven and a. half
tons. This may relieve those who, regard
the ssbig ship" as too much Of q novelty,
and still leaves sufficient food for wonder
in the knowledge that she is aboutth eighth
Of mile in length, and more than twice the
length Of the Great Britain, which, . dozen
years ago, was the largest iron ship then
UuiAt Vt tuOuSAt OAs Out utI UIc1utu Is
much less, in proportion to her length, than
that Of the vessel just named, (being eighty
two feet cover all,'')a point Of difference
which affords the best ground for the anti
cipations entertained Of the speed with which
she will cross the Atlantic. .sS9
The weight Of this huge ship being L, 900
tons, and coal and cargo about $4,000 tons
more, the motive power to propel her TWEEN
ty miles per hour must be proportionate.-
If the visitor walks aft, and looks down
deep chasm Gear the stern, he will perceive
an enormous metal shaft, one hundred and
sixty feet in length, and weighing fifty tons;
this extends from the engine 70 ON near the
stern to the extremity of the ship, and. is
destined to move the screw, the four fans of
which are Of proportionate weight and di-
mensions. If next, he walked forward, and
looked over the side, he will see paddle
wheel considerably larger than the circle at
at Ashley's; and when he learns that this
wheel and its fellow will be driven by four
engines, having nominal power Of 1000
horses, he will have no difficulty in conceiy-
ing a voyage to America in seven and to
Australia in thirty-6ve days. The screw en-
gines designed and manufactured by Messrs.
James Watt & Co.. are far the largest ever
constructed, and when making fifty reyolu-
tons per minute, will exert an effective force
Of not less than 5000 horses. 1t is difficult
to realize the work which this gigantic froce
would perform if applied to the ordinary
operations Of commerce.; it would raise
1872, 600 gallons of water, to the top Of the
monument, in one minute, or drive the ma
chinery Of forty of the largest cotton mills
in Manchester, giving employment to from
80, 900 to 10000 operatives. There arefour
cylinders, each about twenty-five tons, and
eighty-four inches in diameter. The crank
shaft, to which the connecting rods are APP
piled, weighs about thirty tons. The boilers
are six in number, having seyenty-two fur
naces, and an absorbent, heating furnace,
nearly equal in extent to an acre of ground.
The total weight exceeds 1000 tons, yet SO
contriyed that they can be set in motion or
stopped by single hand.
Sails will not be much needed, for in ca
reering over the Atlantic at twenty miles
per hour, with moderate wind, they would
rather impede than aid; but in the event Of
a strong wind arising, going twenty five
miles per hour in the course Of the vessel,
sails may be used with advantage, and the
Great Eastern is provided, accordingly, with
seven masts, two squared-rigged, the Others
CARRYING fore and aft sails only. The lar
ger masts will be iron tubes, the smaller of
wood. The tunnels, of which there will be
five, alternating with the masts, are con-
structed with double castings, and the space
between the outer and inner castings will be
filed with water, which will answer the dou-
BILE purpose of preventing the radiation of
heat to the decks. and economizing coal
- al.