Union County star and Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1859-1864, 1860-04-27
|. s. STEAMER CRUSADER.

>
L. S. STEAMER CRUSADER.
At Sea, April Is, 1860. !
MEssRs. EDIToRs: There is seldom
anything more disposed to make me fee!
lazy, or anxious for something to do TO
keep me in good spirits, thaa being at sea
iu 4 calm. This is our fix al present; but,
many thanks t. the kiud genius Of such
men as Watt and Fulton, we are now
rushing along at very satisfactory speed
towards our destination, Havana. have
i'll will take a chat with nv friends,
By your permission, and through your iu-
struueu;aii:y.
We have jus; left the gay and flourish
ing city of Mobile, waore We have been
spending a few days on very interesting
visit. This city has about ;hir;y-iye
thousand inhabitants. and is most beauil
fully situated ~ the head Of Mobile Bay,
being about thirty miles from the sea.
The Mobile river, which is formed by the
junction Of the Alabsma and Tombigbee,
enters the Bay at this place. l, is regu-
larly laid ont, in squares, with fue, broad
streets lis buildings, Doth private and
public, are graced wiki an uuusua! display
Of architectural skill and taste. Many of
the private residences are surrounded with
beautiful yards, handsomely arranged, aud
ornameuici with the rich flowers Of Ala
bama, par, of which are q, this season Of
the year in full bloom. The general ap-
pearance Of the city is one of luxury COM
fort. and happiness. To give you an idea
Of It's business importance, will merely
mention tia; is exports during the past
three months were valued ct over Seven
teen Millions Of Dollars. 1t is with un-
feigued pleasure that witness such pros
peIity in this remote limit Of the Union.
Alabama has made rapid strides. In the
wear 1900 she numbered less than two
thousand inhabitants Her progress has
not equa.ed some Of our other new States,
still, il i commeuia5.e and Mobile, as
her metropolis, is not la-ging. As one Of
our youngest sister States, We may be
proud Of Alabama, and wish her God-speed
Imust not neglect TO say word for
Florida, as We have been enjoying her
sunny cline for the past few weeks. O1r
vessel, as you are aware, being one Of
"Toucey's Fleet" Of Paraguay reuown,
got in a delicate state Of health, aui We
were compelled, in self-iefeuse, to have
our upper deck shea,hei over, in order to
prevent the institution being converted
from mau.of-war into floating shower
bath. This far-famed feet needs very
delicate uursipg)
The Warrington Nary Yard, situated
at Warrington, on the Bay Of Pensacola,
(aDd about seven miles from the old vii
lage Of the same name, is the only place,
south of Norfolk, where our national yes
sels are repaired We have large and
pretty wel.-arrangel establishment at this
place, with the usual facilities Of repair
ing and building men-of-war. The bar
bor is oue'of the bcs; io the United States,
and in case Of maritime war would be
invaluatle. The steam slJ9p Of war, Pen
sacola, has Just been built at this yard,
being the first vessel built here. 4 few
months ago, she sailed TO Norfolk, TO get
her engines, which were buils at the Wash
iDgton Navy Yard The new gua-boat
Seminole has also been bulk here, and in
few weeks will be ready for sea. Her
engines were bull, in New YoTk, and sent
out to the ship.
The people here claim great economy
in building these vessels, but l think
their claim vii! be found entirely uutena-
bic. The price Of skilled labor here is
very high in comparison with it at our
Northern Yards, and the only advantage
is, that part Of the timber is near at hand.
None of our naval vessels exceed in popu-
lari,y those built at Philadelphia. l, is
something Peunsylvanians can boast Of
The Wabash, the Susquehanna, the Ian
caster, the Mississippi, and Wyoming,
have been triei, and shown the superiOri-
ty Of the science ard skill Of Penlsylya-
mans in many distant sea.
The old L. s Steamer Fulton is now at
this yard. After she was wrecked, (Which
was abou. twenty miles from this place,
she Was 60: of the beach with great diff
Guilty, aud brought here to be examined.
She is TO be rebuilt and re-ftted, aud an
attempts to be made 10 make her an eff.
man-Of-war. Her day is past, and their
ill-advised attempts mus; be futile, aIiho'
Uncle Samuel has to pay for j. at the rate
of about one hundred thousand dollars.
Connected with this old craft, | have many