Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1860-05-07
Tho Great Esstern---Progress Of the New
Works.



There appears to be no doubt whatever that the
great ship will be ready 10 Try its powers on the
Atlantic by the latter end Of May. The contracts
for tho works necessary to t the ship for have
been taken, and they are being prosecuted with
the utmost vigor. All that 10 necessary 10 bo
supplied in the ahipwrigh.'s department has been
undertaken by Messrs: Langley & Co., Of Dept.
ford, and tho engineering works have been placed
in the hands OF Messrs. Somsrs and Day. Mr..
Scott Russell has now nothing whatever to do with
tho ship his contracts have como 10 an end, and
oven the intefminabe arbitration upon tho differ
ences between the Company and himself have, II
is understood. been brought 10 close by sheer
weariness Of oil tho parties; and something like
compromise Of oil matters In dispute have been,
or will shortly be. agreed upon on both sides.
The works necessary to be completed before the
start for America are mainly those which are re-
quired to bo performed BY tho Board Of Trade
before tho grant Of the necessary certificate under
the Passengers Act But In order that nothing
should bo wanting to mako tho Great Eastern az
perfect and rs complete a. possible In every de-
partment n most careful examination Of the ma
chinery has been made by Messrs. Penn and Field
and the hull and Rttings have beon most carefully
looked into by eminent ship surveyors. The re
suit of all this examination has been to show how
greatly exaggerated were all those descriptions Of
her imperfect state, which many persons. from
various motives. had circulated with respect TO
this magnificent ship. Every suggestion mado
10y competent" pavties have been adopted by
the new Board of Directors and the whole or.
pcnse of the works. including those that are actu-
ally necessary and others which may be considered
MS improvements, will not exceed tho amount stu.
ted In the Obscypcr some weeks SINCE viz; 600 900,
Tho works which have been taken In hand include
the building of now store rooms on board somo
additional stanchions to support tho cargo dock,
some alterations in tho dayits for hanging the
boats, and some additional supports TO the sdes of
tho GOAL bunkers. One rather heavy affair 10 tho
construction Of n tunnel for the passage Of the
crow, engineers and others through the coal bun
kors. This bas involved considerable amount OF
labor. and 2t00 tons of ooai have had to be remov
cd in order to get ut tho work. These tunnels will be
ltted with watertight doors nj each end Of the COM
partmants, and will bo useful for giving increased
ventilation, and afford facilities for testing tho
temperature Of tho ooal In the bunksrs--an impor-
tant consideration, when II Ia considered that some
10000 tons Of coal are slowed away Ia these parts
OF tho ship Some alterations arc also to be lnnde
in tho packing Of tho iron masts, theindia rubber
hitherto used being about to be replaced by horn
beam, or some less elastic substance. In addition
to tho squadron Of twenty small boats, with which
the ship is Mt present provided, there will be two
others oi unusually large size, equal, In fact to
moderate sized schooners. their Dimensions being
fifty feet in length by thirteen in width. The sa-
looms aud cabinp which were unfinished whom the
ship left tho Thames, are also to DO completed be-
fore tho Atlantic trip. The planking of tho deck
will remain unchanged though admitted on oil
hands to DO n piece Of notorously bad workman.
ship upon very bad timber. 1t 10 not, however,
absolutely essential 10 lay down new deck, and
the exertions OF the crew since the ship has been
at her present moorngs have had the effect Of giv.
ing it Glenn, and to the superficial Observer
really good appearance.
There arc a number Of small details required
to be attended TO in the engines and machinery.
la naI pnI.t a.tns A., La AtaI
with feed pumps, and thus avoid tho objectionable
plan Of relying solely upon the donkey engine for
the supply Of the boilers---a state OF things which
tho proximate cause of tho explosion on the
first trial trip. The "donkeys" will be retained
ard made generally useful for pumping out the
bilese water washing decks, and other m alters
but, sofar assurplying tho large engines, they will
be relieved altogether from that duty. The ca.
pnbililcs Of the paddle engines are to he increas-
ed by slight alteration OF the side valves which
will produce n more complete vncnm in the cylin.
dcrs and admit, OF course, Of tho more efficient
nction oi the pistons. A nominal gain OF not
less than 500 horse power will accrue from this
slight alteration. The piston rods. which had
the appearance Of being so exccedly "lankey"
and weak, will DO practically strengthened by
lcngthenng the stnfing boxes in which they
work and the air pump rods, which were
chnrgeable with the same defect, viii I've rendered.
more rigid by spanning them with sliding socket.
The screw engines require sill less alteration tho
change Of the bearing Of the screw shaft from tho
white metal now used to gun metal being tho
only change OF Importance suggested. The aux.
ilary engines are to be fitted with fro hose, and
the united pumping power of the engines win be
equal to raising about fifty tons Of water per
minute. Increased draught for the furnaces will
be provided BY Introducing q steam blast pipo into
each funnel. The whole Of these alterations and
additions may 20 regarded rs the merest baga-
telles after the work which has already been
finished In connection with this grand experi-
mcnt in ocean steam navigation, and there are
no difficulties now 10 be surmounted which may
not be overcome by that prudence and busi-
ness like aptitude which the present directors
possess. . .s-,... .,yI,s... ,. sas5s "a u
The whole Of the new capital has been subscrib.
ed with a readiness which shows the faith the
stockholders still possess in the undertaking. OF
the new fl Preference shares o sum Of 81 was
paid on the allotment, and o further some Of 7s cd
per share is,o be paid by the lat Of May. The
Board have appointed Mr.. Thomas Rold one Of
tho late directors TO the post Of general manager.
Mr.. Bold has the good fortune 10 possess the con-
idence Of the entire body Of the shareholders, and
when the charge in the direction took place, he
left with his ee!leagaein Difference to the opinion or
the committee and the wishes of the other directors
that there should 10 q complete and entire recon
struction Of the Board. The new manager is al
present staying on board the ship, and exercises
general supervision over the whole Of the works.
No appointment Of Captain Of the ship has yet
been made but the general opinion is that Captain
Vinchal will bo appointed. The testimonials of this
gentlemen Of tho CHEST character, aud his rep
utatoh as an able and experienced commander 10
well known in the merchant service. IIo was former
ly captain Of the Crosus, which was burnt at Ge-
noa, and more recently commander Of the Golden
Fleece. one Of the famous clipper ships in the Ans
trailiun trade. Capt. Yneball 10 at present SUI.
perintendent Of the Mediterranean Steam Naviga-,
ton Company. and there are few men who would