Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1858-1859, 1859-10-08
The Great Eastern.
New York, Sept. ~.

The HeralTs reporter had an interview
Yesterday with Captain Comstock, lately of
the Collins steamer Baltic, who came home
as a passenger in the Vanderbilt. Capt. q.
commanded the Russian frigate General Ad-
miral on her voyage from New York to Con,
stadt. He has taken great liking to the
mammoth steamship Great Eastern. He has
visited her every few months while in course
of construction, and on the invitation Of Capt.
Harrison. her commander, and the Board OF
Director of the Great Ship Company, he &C.
companied her on her recent trial trip, ana
happened to be on deck at the time of the IA
tai exploeion of Hastings, on the evening OF
the 9th inst.
Capt. Comstock his highly pleased with the
steamer, and pronounces her perfect sue
cess far as navigation is concerned, and is
even enthusiastic on the subject of her per-
formance. MANY have the impression that
the late trip was trial for speed, but this is
an entire mistake. The trip was made simp-
" for the purpose of running the ship from
her position in the Thames to sea port
where she can be coaled and put in perfect
trim for her trial trip.
The Great Eastern is to be prepared for her
her trial trip as soon as the repairs necessitat-
atcu ny ILlC CAplOoiOu CdLA w SOuPiSSSu. AASA
trial trip will be from Portland to Hollyhead,
and according to the present arrangements
she will sail from Hollyhead for Portland, Me-,
on the 10th Of October.
Ithas been fully determined by the Board
of Directors that from Portland, U. S., the
Great Eastern shall come on an excursion
trip to New York by way of Sandy Hook
This is positively settled, and determined
| shortly before the ship left the Thames. Capt.
Comstock and Captain Harris were both
questioned on the subject before the Board of
Directors, and both concurred in the opinion
that the ship can enter the Harbor over the
bar at Sandy Hook, drawing 2l4 feet OF wa
ter, with perfect safety.
| Captain Comstock is of the opinion that
the Great Eastern cannot cross tho bar safely
except at the spring tides, which occur once
fortnight, and that even then she cannot
bring muth of cargo. 1t would hardly pay
to run her regularly to this port. The He'll
Gate channel he thinks is impracticable, not
for want of water, but because the channel
is too crooked for vessel of her immense
length. Under very extraordinary clrcum'
stance the passage through He'll Gate might
be effected. Capt. Comsto k thinks that as
passenger ship the Great Eastern might be
| run UetWctu NC" 1OIh anu SOtuc IuiOfCou
port with profit, because she would not ne
cessarly draw too much water to enter the
harbor if she carried little or no freight, or a
depot might be formed for her the etner side
of He'll Gate, which after all would be nearer
New York than many ships approach to the
heart of London.
A large number of the stockholders are
directly interested in the Grand Trunk Rail-
road, Of course would prefer to have the ship
run to Portland others in the Directory are
Indi, merchants, and desire, ifshe shall prove
commercially as well as practically successful
to India.
They talk of building five more steamers
of similar monster proportions for the India
trade :; but, Of course, that will depend upon
the success of this first great experiment.
On the whole, it is probable that the ship will
be run regularly to this port.