Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-02-17
Tho sterm.hip Levisthan.

terpFlSe, as the UuIlulbR vi d 80 W
dimensions So disproportioncd to those OF any
vet aioat, as this chip is. The undertaking
has been naturally attributed to the mere
ambition of accomplishing al enterprl's IN
nautical architecture, which shall not be out
dane. From the hazards which so large a
shin must run, of encuuntering unknown
rocks. even in toe must frequented sea-, at
depths which have never yet been sounded,
from the small number Of ports IN the world
into which so large a ship can enter when
loaded and the smaller number that can 'ur'
nish a full cargo for her, especially within the
space ul time whIch 50 costly q ship could
afford to wait for it to be collecteG-'t has
been naturally inferred that such o ship can
not be proftablg employed 10 any knowu
branch vi trade at the present time, ut least
with the chances Of such a degree f sue
cess as can indemnify her owners for the
b yards run in the execution Of a work 20
novel 10 its character, that most OF II must
be carried 90 almost wholly without any gut
lance from practical experience.
But We learn from an interesting history
of this enterprise, containing Il detailed des'
criptiOn Of the structure OF The snip, with c.
piouS iIiu>tratiDns, lately published IN the
London Illustrated Times, that the project
was not undertaken without calculation. II
is there stated that the design of the cOnstruc-
ton Of the L"viathan was sugge ted TO Mr..
Brunei, it principal protector, by the imEo-sl.
b lrty that any steamer hitherto "a Il should
carry her own coal tor 50 long a voyage a.
rom England to Australia, winch, 1t practi-
cable. would ohviate rhe Necessity OF deviar-
ing from the most direct course, ARD also.
the loss Of time consumed in taking IN coal,
with the ~ruinUus expense thereby incurred
To enable a steamer to perform tn Aus
traliau voyage, t is said to be necessary for
her To have depots Of coal at ST. NIgceHt, the
Cape of Good Hope, and the Mauritins, be-
sides one IN Australia for her return voyage.
The coal tor the supply f all there stations
must be carried from England by means OF
a fleet of C ,lliers despatched in advnucc, and
when received on board at the expense OF a
material deviation from the dlrecj route, II Is
essentially deteri rated in quality BY repeat
ed shiftings. Ii is stated that the best and
quickest steamer hitherto constructed, which
mlde the passage from England t. Australia
10 sixty days, and obtained the prlz; as the
fastest steamer that had made the voyage,
| lDSk l. " Wy " vi Wv N'N'NN6' $3.50
had IL tull cargo, and a full com Implement OF
passengers both ways. 1t is added that
utrpr ,teamers have lost from ElO,OOO to
Cl2,0O0 by the voyage, and that team has
ceased to be prof a bic IN this trade, clippers
having superseded them.
To show the length Of the voyage 20 Aus
traIia by several routes, and that the direct
ocean route is the shortest, the following
statement is quoted from the report of the
Eastern Steam Navigation Company
TIE navigable distances from Lands End TO
Pert Philip, are as follows:
Via Cape OF Good ,sl9 miles
Cape l<,'OO
"GIbraltar, Malta, Alexandria,
Alden, Point de Gale AID SInga-
pore, including transit through
Egypt. ............. ....l&,po4
" Panama, including transit "a
cross the Is minus. l2,h'o
In view of these facts and others, tending
to show the IN portance OF an improved sy''
TEN of navigation Tor sustaining the inter
course with Australia, Mr.. Brunei went into
a course Of reasoning t. show that to prose
cute successfully a system OF steam navIga'
ton c v cen England and Australia, steam
ers should be built capable Ut taking on board
on their departure from England a Sufficient
supply of coal for not only the outward, but
Tor the return voyage. He assumed that d
steamer TO pursue a long voyage successfully
with the fuel Ia ken on hoard at her port o.
departure, should be Of a tonnage nearly
'qual [ the number OF miles measuring thu
length of the voyage. From reasoning OF
this hypothesis he came tt the conclusion
that Il steamer to be adapted to tue Austria
liam trade should be pf a burthen not les
than e, 1000 or u. ZOO tons. For ensuing
the efficiency and satisfactory management
Of 50 large a vessel, he sugge-t'd the eXpe
dent Of providing it with not less than tw'
independent prOpelllng power; and rs tn
most effective mode of giving suthrIen
strength to a vessel of the necessary length
he recommended the in reduction OF the prin
ciple of Mr.. Robert SrepbensOn's tubular
bridge, az the only mode of giving to th'
structure the greatest strength where It Ii
III st wanted. These three principles form
the nucleus of tue plan OF the steamship LIE
viathan.
The design and construction of the iror
hUll of this ship If due to The genius Il Mr.
Scott Russell, the design being formed On tht
principle of 1.-THE wave line OF cnnstructlon,'
which was successfully introduced 10y hlu
in EugIaud in the building of steamers some
years ago. alter many years OF study anc
experimental labor. Ii is stated that th'
Lcviathan, 20 far as her lines are concern
ed. is but a magnifed copy OF the LITTLE
Wave boat bui { by Mr. Russell several YEA
sgo In the article from which we derls
most OF the foregoing facts, It ~ stated tba
the principle Of tue wave lIUe Of construction
WAS brought to the notice OF the British assoc
c~isrion twenty years ago, ard that they ther
rpco niged the value Of it. Mr. Russell -ut
sequenrlV demonstrated its value by building
ST. amers upon the principle, two which 1t /
SAID have teen running for the last twelS,
NJ nths between New Haven and Dleppe
their average rate OF speed IN all weather
being seventeen miles al hour, and theI
maximum speed nineteen miles. Although
partially introduced With SUCCESS 10 st all
vessels IN England some years ago, the VII
ter addr, still prejudice opposed its intro
ductiou 10 the construction Of our saliInI
vessels, till the American clippers con'truc
ted on the wave line principle by Mr.. Nc
Ray. OF Boston, triumphahtiy demonstrate
is value"
Tue Leyisthsn is so constructed AZ to b
worked by three independent propeliing 20"
ers, VIZ: the screw, the paddle-englne, an
the sail. Her screw Propeller is "A feet II
diameter aud Of 80 tons weight, II being Ia