New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-05-27
MARINE AFFAIRS.
srIAm rRorrLLys ev.rvs.,,.

trip 90 Tuesday at II o'clock a. M. from the foot OF
Thirteenth street North River There were about
nifty invited guests on board among whom were the
President, Secretary aud Officers Ct the Panama Rail
road Company; his Excelebcy A. J. Yrrissari, Guat.
emaian Minister and his friend the Secretary of Le
cation from Guatemala; II 4. Sanford, ex-Secretsry
Of Legation to Paris, of black coat nOtoriety:
ex-Polce Commissioner Simeon Draper; Isa.c Town
send j. A. Cayit Of San jose. Costa Rica; J. III.
Wainwright; G. III. Delam alter, builder Of the engines
John Baird, Marine Constructor for the Panama Rail-
road ard other lines; Col. Topham, and Others. AZ
the Guatemala passed down the river she was sauted
by the Persia and other ships, returning such siues
by firing of guns and dipping OF flags. II being the
fortieth anniversary of the birth of Queen Vic
toria, the English ships and steamers in the harbor
were gaily decorated with flags presenting beaut-
full appearance. The Guatemala run down by the
Highlands. passing the new and beautiful flash
light at Barnegat, rounded the hsht-ship- OF
the Delaware capes, aud returned to the city
on Wednesday evening, arriving at her dock
about six ooclck. The trip delightful
one, the weather being fine, the company joyial,
and all the provision made for the comfort and enter
tainment Of the guests that was possible. The ar
engagements for satisfying the inner were under
the immediate supervision Of George Downing, as
siste by his brother. F. W. Downing, and wa, At
tended to il bis usually satisfactory manner. The din
ner Of Tuesday evening was a pleasing affair, and
having been amply discussed and washed down With
good wines, was followed by numerous speeches. and
songs in harmony with the occasion.
The propeller Guatemala is built expressly for csry-
ing freight and passerg gers from Panama to the north
ern ports Of Central America, aud will run in cornec
ton with the Panama Railroad. There is a large
amount of freight sent from these ports to various
parts Of the world and it is expected that the Guate
mala will supply the want Of proper freighug facilities
so long felt by those whose commercial interests in
that quarter. Her model is beautiful one, both for
speed, convenience of passengers. and carrying Of
freight. She is go feet long, 80 feet wide III feet
deep ia the hold and u feet between decks Of which
there arc three, and pa tuns burden, CustomHouse
measurement Her frame is Of solid white oak below
and hackmatack above, and is planked with a inch
white oak plank below the water line, and Georgia
pine above. The frame is diagonay strapped outside
by straps of4lxa inch ron and she considered to be
te best and strongest vessel of her class which has
ever been built, and is evidently constructed for
service Sheis supplied with an inverted directactng
engine, manufactured by {. III. Deanater, from
designs by john Baird who the marine constructor
diameter Of the cylinder is Sc inches with Is inches
stroke of piston. Tie air and feedpumps worked
by levers operated by the main crosshead, the air
pump and condenser being casting. The whole
machinery rests upon substantial bed plate which
in turn rests upon large keesoos running engthwise
the ship, thus throwing the weight equally over
large surface in the bottom Of the vessel and obviat
ing the danger Of straining or leaking at any one
- of obi ha mir
shaft runs from the bedplate back to the propeller,
and another shaft runs forward of the engine both
shafts being supplied with crank-wheels with counter
balances to give uniformity to the working of the
engine. The engine is provided with an improved
sde.vave adjustable cutoff, which eau be varied at
pleasure while the engine is in motion, cutting of
from one-ffth part Of stroke to the following full
stroke. She has two return tubular boilers, each 10
feet inches wide IA feet high, and Is feet long,
each having three furnaces Each boiler is complete
in itself and either may be used independent OF the
other, The propeller, stern bearing, rudder, &C.
are all Of cast brass-being more substantial tean tue
ordinary ones in USE and impervOus to the attacks Of
worms which are SO destructive to all woodwork 10
the ATTITUDES for which the Guatemala is destined.
There are many improvements n her machinery, sug-
gested by Mr. Baird which are very valuable. AL
though specially designed for carrying freight, her
main cabin contains twenty-five very large aud beau
tful sa.erooms with four berhs in each. Her CABIN
is elegantly finished with plain oak panel'ng highly
polished and contains every convenience Tor the COM
fort of her passengers. Beside accommodations tor
100 cabin passengers, she can carry as many more
very comfortably in the steerage.
On this trip especial attention was paid to the con-
sumption Of COAL and it ascertained that but ten
tuns eighteen hundred pounds were used in twenty
four hours giving her an average speed ct ten and
three-auarter miles per hour the greatest speed at
tanned was thirteen miles per hour AT ne time did
she carry over twenty pounds steam, aud there
was then sufficient surplus to have given her ST.
more speed. But the great point gained ls In tue
saving Of al the Gustemaa using al least ten tuhs
per day lees than any steamer OF the sane tunnsge'
BY the experiment thus made, it is estimated that
propellers Of this build will make the trip round to
Panama without coang at any intermediate poh,
feat which has never yet been accomplished
The Guatemala may be considered as the pioneer
American steamer in this trade with Central America.
From the amount Of hides, coffee dyesufs, cochinea
&c. furnished by these Central American ports to the
commercial world in general il is expected that TINS
line will not only contribute largely to eommercIa'
interests but will be the means OF bringing tuoSe
Governments more Immediately 10 contact with Amer
lean enterprise. Such sentiments were even publicly
expressed by DE Yrrissar who also expressed himself
pleased with the notwithstanding views OF Americans
generally There were on board the Guatemala sew
era gentlemen interested in new steamship company
chartered by the last Legislature, who design runnh
II line of steamers .eui-monthly between Panams an
the South American ports, aud their presence oa luis
occasion was to witness the working OF the ne" ''
proved propeller. So satisfied were they with Us econ
omy and peculiar freightng qualities, that they viii
undoubtedly supply their line with ships Of the same