New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1857-01-22
rhir.y-Four,i, consfesss..sr'nlird session

-
Thirty.Fourth Coneress-sThird Session,
WAsH,sGTos. = Jan. I.-Ssnate. = The Senate
passed the House bill making appropriations for the
support of the military academy. " :" &
Mr.. Benjamin reported bill for making Improve
ments by contract of the Mississippi Missouri Ohio
Mr. Benjamin remarked that at tie last session
bills were referred to the committee on commerce to
provide for such objects. The committee being
unable to agree on the subject, no report was then
made. The propositions in those bills were to adyer
tise fora nitnber Of hands to do the work of reoE
ing various sbstf1etens in these rivers by contract
butthe committee found great difficulties in the way
of such SYSTEM and accordingly reported that now
4 before the Senate, the consideration of which he
4 would ask at an early day. -
] The bill proposes to have the western rivers divided
into convenient sections and then advertise by con-
tract for the removal Of all distinctions to the nayi
/ cation of each section, whether from stumps, s1ags,
I sunken wrecks, rocks. logs or of whatever nature,
i'll either of the main channels leading to the various
portsiand landings 1t provides that no money shall
be paid any contract until the entire work under
taken shall be completed and inspected by suitable
&. officers Of typographical corps of engineers. n
/ The bill includes various appropriations, which do
not exceed one hundred and fifty thousand dollars
per annun for five years. For that sum the commit
tee have ascertaned that contracts could certainly be
made by which all these western rivers cold be kept
entirely clear from these distractions at present SO
destructive to life and property. AT the end of FIVE
years, when these rivers to he delivered up to the
government; entirely free from distinctions, con-
tinuous appropriation of onetliird that sum will keep
| them clear q ~ tr0' -.>.'.t 'E.2 - ~
Mr.. Houston offered resolution, which lies over,
calling on the President tentorm the Senate of the
number Of deserters from the navy since the passage
of the act to provide for the efficiency of the navy
the cause of the return from the Pacific station of
certain officers and in relation to the resignation of
any COMMISSIONED officers recently serving in the
East India squadron 1900
The House bill providing for the settlement of the
claims of the officers of the revolution was advocated
by Mr.. Bell, of New Hampshire, and opposed by
Mr.. Clay. .,.g ~ -I,t ,s,,., ,,rz', ,es.,s.
| TheS Senate then adjourned =. .
The House transacted some unimportant business,
and adjourned after debates upon three OF four differ
ent matters, which ended in nothing. ,si-.A ", r
! The STEAMSHIP NIAGARA.-The first trial Of the
engines of the great steamer Niagara was made
! in New York harbor on the 18th inst. The Times
I says: -.
The Chief Engineer says he has never seen such
perfect acting OF an engine upon first trial. The
/ steam guage marked four and five pounds only, and
yet the shaft made twenty three and twenty-five reyo
/ 1utons; with fifteen pounds steam Mr. Murphy cal
culates it will perform forty revolutions per minute
Il The engines three In number and are arranged
boilers weigh SO tons apiece, without their CRATES
D Her shaft is about l25 feet in length, and II?
inches in diameter being the largest SHIFT with crank
attached, that was ever forged In this country th
cranks being eqnidishant on the shaft, assist eaci
other past the centres, thus giving perfectly stead
motion to the shaft. Judging from the comniotiol
under the ships stern in the wake Of the propeller
the ship will attain high rate of speed under sean
alone. Her coal ounkers will hold a thousand tom
She has bulkheads Of boiler iron, dividing the sh
from deck to keson into several watertght and hrs
, proof compartments. .t7' sraS rsr's'I- -'