The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-04-06
NEW YORK HERALD FRIDAY, APRIL s, lsso-rRpIR SHEET

The Science or Modern Haviwation.
QUICK TRIP OF BOSTON CLfPPBR SHIP FROM LON
DON TO NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. or THE AMERICAN
WIND AND CURRENT CaARrs, ETC.
OBSERVATORY, WASHINGTON April g. 1885,
coxxASDKR xAURr CAPTAIN xnxRsoS
DEAR sRI have 10 thank you for the abstract log OF the
Goiconda, on her voyage from London to Australia and
ence 70 Boston, This voyage led you through the brave
west wnds OF the Southern hemisphere tho very
upodes Afforded your ship fine opportunity To dis
play her prowess, and gave her chance to dis
play bis skill Both ship and captain improved the OPP
porsunity, making the fine OF eighty i've days out
which in the log Ia ascribed TO tho "wnd and current
charts The home would also have sgnalized both
ship and master, but for touching at Rio.
1t 10 well to remember what voyage to Australia and
back used to be, and then TO sec what Il now b.
When we commenced systematically to investigate tho
winds and currents Of the sea- tho route to Australia q
then followed was what was known O. the Admiralty
route. 1t lay through . region Of battling winds and
calms and took 127 days the voyage to accomplish
il. The homeward passage was moro circutous. have
now before me the passages 70 Australia from England
sage Of all Of each group was os Gays and hosrs q
1855, and 90 days and hours In 1857 The homeward
passage BY the Admiralty route was even longer but
only few Of these vessels returned The average
homewsrd passage by the new route is % days.
Here, then there has been gain the route voyage
from England TO the golden colony and back sixty days
at the least and that too, by nor any outlay
Whatever Of money the part either OF master or own
be- I'd ~ most praSaSs OF i. ss' Sa1
sui almost within the recollection OF own "ancient
nsrners when the voyage from England to Australia
hehts OF the day guide the outward pas
sage has frequently been accomplished In less than
seventy, and tue homeward In less than eighty DAYS
To enable three ships do the work OF four to lift up
Distant markets. and practically for all purposes or
q mrnerce to set them down closer together by many
days sail, 10 surely great achievement How has Il
been accomplished Answer: Simply by oolatng
journals and comparing the experience of navigator
with that OF another, until the result depended
bers large there could hot be- any reasoning mind
fsom left for difference OF opinion he best route for
any particular season Of the year.
proof Of this only to look at the returns
'or the two years that happen TO be before me The
yefage passage OF one compared with the average pas
sage OF other. differs for the round age and
six hours Now this, considering that the
OF decentralization, considering that the ships
sbch make ii actually pass through regions that are an
poda their ports az departure considering that their
depend upon the winds and alone for their
a,ove pOwerconsderDg all these Thugs, the result s
Untitled 10 be regarded OF the most complete clio
qeut and triumphant vindications OF this OF Undue
I'VE philosophy for seamen AID the sea that possibly
o. imagined.
The voyage from England to Australia and back, could
shf~ IS the flies would require them sail
than "a eco miles; 81 ships tried year-they
accomplish In the average time OF le days hours
me mex. year 226 try not the men but many OF
hem going for the first they MAKE an average
& l9l Gays hours Isay it ia marvellous and We,
sc DOW and then come ACROSS shipmaster WHO has
ah IN any such system of research, or ia sailing d'rec
tons based upon Haury g theores-when, in fact tine
alrg directions based theories at all They
mpy the fruit Of the experience of those pavgsors who
end their abstract logs this Office, wb experience
nrooPht together charts grouped In tables aud pre-
snted again back Tor their guidance those who fur
ash the
Somehow or other II invariably happens that those
els that have these sailing cirectons board always
aeas, in the long run. those who have them not
The route to California s pretty well understood now,
she'ber vessel has charts board not Don't you
blink go? Well have before list OF all the vessels
ca arrived at San Francisco during last year. " those
with the charts board, the passage from the
Atlantic ports weeks less than those from the
same poTts but without the charts, and nearly moath
lees Than those from Europe.
rbe mere keeping Of the abstract itself Ia Of
great service to owners, as we'll 10 masters.
Besides tho information operates in q measure
stimulus and to keep the navigator up TO his
netle He knows when It comes here It 10 TO be
hauled by experts who TO discuss the skill an
judgment displayed by him a. q navigator.
These abstract logs are study. II s impossible for
any slip shod navigator to attempt for hide his
racks if he tread carelessly. The abstract log tells
whether it s kept by navigator, just surely the
ship working up to her anchorage tells whether she is
handled by seaman.
Yours speaks we'll for you, and hope to have many
Of the same Sort
Wishing fair winds and prosperous voyages, have
the honor TO be, &c, N. r. MAURY.
Captain Gso. T EMERSON, ship Golconda Boston, Mass