Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1859-06-03

Trial Trip of the Russian FrIgate Genera, g..
On page 80 Of the present volume Of the sc1,','"
American we gave account oil the successful c
OF this splendid war frigate, built for the Rusgian
eminent by our distinguished fow-ctizen William "
Webb. We also presented an account Of be a"d am IT,
sons, model, &c. Her capacity is about OOO tn
length on spar deck 307 feet breadth So feet eu
over all about 325 feet depth Of spar deck "a feet E
is pierced with "A side ports and two stern norta one
lower deck and 30 side ports and four large ports %
ward, and four large ports aft spar deck Her o
ment will consist Of 40 shell guns of large cabro
gun deck, and 20 long guns and two pivot guns oF
largest size on her spar deck. The gun carrioro u
of solid mahogany, although the contract was opI all
the ordinary white oak The crew will numhorS oo Of
men, and she has capacity to carry water and oV0
to which she has stowage room in her coal bkprs t
200 tuns of coal, and will draw not over d fet f
everything on board for sixmonth's cruise. wit"
The engines and boilers Of this vessel were roors
tured at the Novelty Iron Works, in this city anJ
all appearance, and so far as they have been tested %
seem to be in all respects worthy of the reputatio
the builders 1t must be confessed however that nr
in spite of the of our marine engine builders 5
the simplicity of the plans which have generally oTto;
ed among them, we have yet reputation to estah;
in this department We think as general thing tba
British marine engines have proved more suhst9noI
and reliable than those made in this country # ta
that English and Scotch engineers have had more a
perence IN this branch than own but we are ron
idly fixing our reputation, and in respect to the case %
tore us everything seems to be complete There are two
horizontal back-acton engines, with 84-inch cylinders
and 40 feet stroke; nominal horse power 500 actnaI
1000. The propeller is Grifiths Patent illustrated 0n
page 352 of Vol XII of the Scientific American tba
blade is made Of brass and is feet in diameter and q
feet pitch 1t is arranged on an adjustable frame 90
that it be readily lifted from the water The bro
peller is driven by line of shatng l24 feet lone AMI
seventeen inches in diameter at the journal What is
technically called the thrust that u.s. the force of
screw against the ships kept off by collar tbrst
bearing and parry roller bearing arranged 50 tbat
either can be used and readily unshpped. The engnc
proper weigh $50 tuns the propeller II tuns and brass
fixtures L. tuns The eng ines are supplied with Sjyp
marine governor the object of which is prevent "rac
ing in head sea, or the sudden and swift revolution Of
the shaft when the punges of the ship raise the screw
out of the water This governor illustrated on page
356 of Vol. XI of the Scientific American and We are
happy to know that its worth is beginning to be apn
ciated There are six horizontal tubular boilers proyj
ded with telescope smoke-ppe, which is arranged 50
as to be hoisted or lowered at pleasure, being readily
taken out of the way of the sails or during action il
is IL feet in diameter There 80 furnaces provided
with Van Syckes' grate-bar (which has also been illus
traed in this ournaD, and these furnaces have 2OOO
square feet of fire surface and 700 square feet of crate
surface. The fire floor is 70 feet long by 10 feet
wde and we were much pleased to notice that itbwt
ventilated Our sympathy has often been stirred for the
fireman pent up in his sufocating and uncomfortable
quarters
A very important feature in connection with the
construction of this ship is the admirable system of ven
tilation recommended by Dr. D. B. Reid, of Edinburgh
ventiatng apparatus consists essentially oftwoppcs
each about 300 feet long and two feet in diameter which
command the whole ship. These have communication
with the sleeping berths, the cabins the hold and every
place where ventilation is required This the ages
ship on which Dr. Reds plan has been applied although
it has been adopted several British vessels. The cur
rents of air produced by the aid of donkey engine
having boiler of its own; this engine also drives two
steam pumps which pump ont bge water supply water
to six main boilers and be made to perform efficient
service in case of fire.
The trial trip of this splendid specimen of naval ar
chtecture took place on Wednesday, the 18th inst In
consequence of dense fog she did not 60 out to but
spent the entire day in cruising about the NarrOWs and
the Upper Bay. The vessel was easily turned in small
circle; the made As revolutions per minute; and
it stated that speed of tweveanda-half knots per
hour attained. The company board consisted OF
about 600 persons-gentlemen and ladies'; and the
whole affair passed off to the entire satisfaction of all
and it the unanimous opinion that the Genera.
admiral is the most complete and superb vessel Of the
kind ever built Several Russian officers were on board
and were highly gratifed with their ship.
Not the least interesting portion of the affair wa,
the exhibition Of slverware, porcelain glass and crock
cry which alone cost $l3 300 There is set of pOr
celan for the Grand Duke, with the Russian coat Of
arms set for the captain, and one for the officers
| Early in June she will leave this port for Cronsadt
stopping at CherbOurg, France. Mr.. Webb and family
with the Russian officers Captain Shestako Schwartz
Frastchenko and Selirianof and Leutenants MOjasky
Belavenstz and Koobuim, who have been superntend
ing her building, will accompany her to her destination
The total cost of this vessel is about 81 100000.
Scientific Amer2caA