Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1859-07-10
The levlsshau Steamshep OOsoes kese.
eru.ss


From the Lon5an Inns June Iii
sssrcely two months ago snd Ne vessel
was AZ desolate as wreck and apparently
with ~ little chance Of ever going TO sea.
Now the tunnels are up; three masts are
10 and rugged the paddle boxes are in ;
the engines nearly finished, bulwarks and
decks complete; and n whole army OF
workmen are busily engaged getting for
ward her inter- nj fittings Such an amount
of progress, when Judged by other ships,
may appear to be no great matter. but
when We reflect q moment on the details,
and fine that the deck alone requires is
miles Of inch plank to cover II that the
paddle boxes are OF rolled iron-that each
contains ~ 900 cubic feet, and 10 equal in
size TO . vessel of 600 tons. We begin to see
that ia point Of labor, some really astound-
ing progress has already been made.
When tenders for finishing the vessel
were first called for. in March last, the di.
rectors concluded an agreement with Mr.
SoorT RUSSELL on the 4th Of April, leaving
it to that gentleman to finish the shin upon
his own plans and tn fit her in every re.
spect for sea as fret class vessel The
contract was for fl25 900, to be completed
premium
of II 900 week for earlier completion. and
| q penalty OF 10000 . week for each CON-
plete seven days beyond the allotted time
On coming irto possession of the vessel
the new company thought that in case Of
war the Great Eastern might prove al in.
valuable auxiliary to the government, il not
for carrying guns, yet still more effectively
in running down the largest of the enemys
ships. which the immense speed of the YES
Gel would enable her to overtake with per-
feet ease For this purpose, therefore. it
was decided to strengthen still more her
sharp, powerful bows. BY laying down three
complete iron decks forward, extending
from the bows backward, for 100 feet
Thee decks are entirely complete.
Everything connected with the vessel is
on gigantic scale. Thus it requires more
than elk tons of paint to give one coat to
the interior iron work, and nearly eight
| tons to give one coat to the outside, from
the water line to the bulwarks. When
completely rugged, she will have six masts-
one forestaysail mast of wood, three main
masts (square-rigged) of iron, one mizen-
mast OF wood, and one jggermast (tbe
last) also Of wood The three wooden
masts are already placed, and almost en-
tirely rugged; the iron ones will be SO
shortly. The last mast is single tree (Ca-
madam pine) about 1870 feet high, and pro-
Portionately thick. The probable consump-
ton of coal when both engines are at full
work will average $50 tons per day. The
cellular compartments at the bottom OF the
chip will be used for pumping water into
instead of ballast, and as the webs subdi-
viding these are made perfectly water tight.
any one or any number can be filled at
pleasure. The trial trip will probably take
place about the end of next September. No
destination for this run has yet been fixed,
but. We would advise the directors, if they
wish to retain the great reputation the ship
has already achieved with the public, not
to let this matter be overlooked. A mere
experimental cruise and trial of her diff
ferent rates Of speed will not give the pub
lie such implicit confidence in the unrivalled
capacity of the ship, as if she ran between
two given points-say, from Portland to
Gibraltar and back. On such a trip there
could be no mistake whatever e. to her
rate of speed, which we firmly believe will
surpass even the most sanguine expectations
that have vet been formed