The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-06-30
THE GREAT EASTERN,
First Voyage Of the Vessel to the United States
COMPLETE ACCOUNT OF THE TRIP.
PERFORMANCES OF HER ENGINES
FULL ENGINEERING AND GENERAL DETAILS.

The Great Eastern, which left Southampton on
the 18th, arrived at New York on Thursday morn
ing, as already announced, making the voyage in
! about eleven days and a half 1t was expected
| that her speed would have been from sixteen to
| eighteen knots hour but it is said that her
swiftest rate was only fourteen and a half The
utmost distance she in any one day was 1888
miles-which makes an average of less than four
teen miles an hour. Her bottom is said to be very
FOUL and it is said that but for this she would have
made sixteen knots an hour. This foulness how
ever, was known in England, weeks before she
sailed, and ought to have been removed Consid-
erlng that this Leviathan of steamers was buiIt
with the expectation of crossing the Atlantic in
seven days, it must be confessed that her first
voyage is not a success
At the same time, the Great Eastern truly merits
to be considered wonder of the ocean, In material
size, and construction, this is the most remarkable
vessel ever built. Seven hundred feet in length,
wholly constructed of iron, with a tonnage far ex-
ceedlng 10000 tons, and capable of being navigated
with screw or paddles, both and also rugged for
sals this stupendous vessel is worthy of all notice
She can carry 1000 passengers, and could take
freight of 10000 soldiers She will, no doubt, be
visited by multitudes while in New York
we take the following account of the voyage
and incidents connected with the trip from the New
York papers, some of which had correspondents on
board
The Great Eastern sailed from SOUTHAMPTON on
the morning of Sunday, June II, and arrived off
Sandy Hook at 7.20 A. NJ, on the morning of the
Zotn. She brings 50 passengers and guests.
Inc voyage has been particularly fine and full of
interest 1t has demonstrated the Great Eastern's
superiority as sea going vessel, tn. excellence
ana reliability of her machinery, and her unrivaed
safety and remarkable comfort as a passenger
steamer As trial of speed the trip has been made
under great disadvantages Without deductinp
detentlons, the actual time has been ii DAYS
houTs. The highest speed attained was IA % knots
or about l6M statute miles per hour. For four
Gays the paddle-boiler pressure was limited to 20
pounds. The screw boilers were so limited during
the whole trip that none of the engines were
worked with that increase of power BY high steam
ana high expansion, for which they were designed
aTe ana adapted. The firing was bad during the first
malt OF the trip. Besides this, the ships bottom
mas been so foul as to materially affect her speed
On the other hand, it must be said that the vessel
was rs llght and the sea generally smooth.
Inc distance sailed has been l42 miles further
than the shortest course from Southampton to New
1ork, and there have been various detentons which
VIII be hereafter noticed, such running south to
avoid ice, adjusting compasses, &c.
No doubts the ability of the vessel, with a
proportionate load of passengers and under favora
BILE circumstances, to make the in less than nine
days.
1t is very remarkable fact that none of the en- |
gines, screw or paddle, have been once stopped for
adjustment during the whole trip.
This voyage of the Great Eastern has to a GER |
tain extent, demonstrated the mechanical feasibility
of the schemes of her designers, and the economy |
OF large ships on long routes with heavy traffic
The excessive speed expected by the public, how
ever, was shown by the Times to be impossible, !
without an increase of boiler power, long before
the trial trip. Yet the all-important distinction
between the size of the hull of the ship and the |
proportion Of her power, should precede anv rash
conclusion cor as to her speed and economy. While
excellent of their kind the vessel may be premature
for the purpose of Trans Atlantic navig That
she is not entirely adapted to long routes is vet to
be proved by commercial experiment. The me-
chanical experiment has been successfully accom-
plished
The following is the number of miles made per
dav.