The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-02-22
THE "WINoosKT'' AGAINST
THE ALGONQUIN"
THE LATE TRIAL ON THE SOUND.
Official Report of the Chief Engineers
Of the Bureau Of Inspectors,
Steam Machinery.
Etc, ESQ. Etc.. Etc.. Etc.. Etc.. Etc.


February 10, lS66.-Sir:-The un iersigned. ap-
pointed by you to conduct the experiments with
the competitive machinery OF the United States
paddlewheel steamers Wno0Sti and Algonquin,
have the honor to submit the folio wing prelimi-
nary report OF the result of the trial on Long
Island Sound for maximum power OF machinery
ana speed of vessel aud for economy OF fuel
under these conditions.
II will be followed by q full report, mbracing
the results of all the trials at the wharf as we'll
as of that on Long Island Sound, together with
our conclusions from the same, and all the data
an eGie11S0.
THE OBSTACLES TO THE FULL PERFORMANCE OF THE
RACE
The trial on Long Island Sound was intended
to embrace eight consecutive double runs. be-
tween Execution Rock Lighthouse and Faux
ners Island Lighthouse, passing around both.
Each double run measured on the vessels track
was, according to the coast survey chart, ll3
geographical miles, but violent storm, accompa-
MED with weather so thick to prevenC the lights
being seen beyond mile or two and the refusal
OF the pilots to run init terminated the trial after
the WinooSRi had performed three double runs, or
339 geographical miles, and the Algonquin two
double runs, or 226 geographical miles, Our
data and results are accordingly for these dis
tances respectively. Both vessels ran portion
of the distance on the next rnn, but that portion
is omitted because the exact position of the
vessels could not be determined when they de-
cided to anchor. During the running time the
wind was gentle, variable breeze, and the water
smooth. At each terminus of the route large
field of ice was encountered, whose resistance
greatly lessened the speed of the vessels while
passing through it, and the speed was also de-
creased by the turning Of the vessels around
each terminus.
THE CONDITION OF BOTH VESSELS.
Neither vessel steered we'll, but they we're
about equal in this particular; which, OF course,
still further lessened their speed The machinery
of both vessels was in excellent order. That of
the Algonquin, after the completion of the wharf
trials, had been for two and half months in
the hands of the contractor, for repairs, during
which time he had renewed all the vertical
tubes OF the boilers, substituting new circulat-
ing pump, etc. etc.
THE INJURIES TO THE ALGONQUIN" NOT MATER1AL.
In the course of the trial the feed pump worked
by the main engine was imperative ten and
half hours, during which time the boilers were
supplied by the auxiliary steam pump; as, how
ever, this pump draws the feed Water from the
hot well, its substitution in no way affected the
performance OF the machinery. The counter
balance OF the eccentric broke at the commence
ment OF the trial, but its fracture was not OF the
least importance. A paddle on one OF the wheels
was also broken; but it took place on the return
OF the vessel to port, and not during the trial
THE ''wINoosKI's" ENGINES UNIMPAIRED.
With the machinery of the Winooski there
was no accident or arrangement, and it per-
formed throughout with the same regularity,
smoothness, and noiselessness OF motion which
characterized its previous performance at the
wharf.
THE APPLICATION OF THE BLOWERS.
iOn board the Algonquin the blower was used
but as 1t delivered the blast into an open fire.
room its efficiency must have been very small.
The steam-iet in the smoke-plpe was in use, and
with boiler pressure OF 6S pounds per square
inch above the atmosphere, was doubtless very
efficient in forcing the draft. On board the
WinooShT the blowers were nSsused. They are
two In number, driven by an nnspdependent
steam cylinder, aud delivered their blasts into
the ashpits of the boilers, which are closed by
two tight doors; when employed. an enormous
rate OF combustion can be obtained, and supply
steam much exceeding that used during the trial.
steam-jet "a duplicate of that OF the Algonquin
in the smoke-pipe was employed during the
trial, with boiler pressure Of Ss pounds per
square inch above the atmosphere.
THE VACUUM.
The machinery of both vessels was fitted with
surface condensers, and neither was obliged to
blow OF during the trial. The vacuum in the
Atgonquir'S condenser was less than that of the
Winooski; but as it resulted from insufficiency
OF condensing surface, and not from air leaks,
1t was attended by corres9ondingly high tenn
perature OF feed water, which, to great extent
compensated this disadvantage.
THE DRAUGHT OF WATER.
At the commencement of the trial the A1qon.
quira's draught of water was feet inches for
ward and aft, and the Winooskts draught was
feet 10 inches forward, feet inches aft. The
difference OF A inches in the mean draught was
an allowance made for the deeper false keel of
the latter vessel; both vessels being presumed to
be in other respects identical, as they were con-
structed from the same building directions and
mould lott dimensions. ru4 ..,t
THE PADDLE-wHEELs OF BOTH VESSELS COMPARED.
The paddle-wheels of the Winooski consist
each OF twenty-f0ur paddles. Each paddle was
feet in length and 16 inches in breadth, and its
outer edge was placed at the distance of IL feet
from the centre, making the diameter over the
paddles twenty-four feet. The total area of pad
die surface in one wheel was 2S8 square feet
With the vessels at the above dIaught of water
the deepest immersion OF the outer edge of the
paddles was three feet six inches. The paddle
wheels of the Algonquin were arranged by the
contractor as he desired
Each wheel consisted of SO half paddles, is on
each side, and placed opposite the interspaces
Of those on the opposing side These half
paddles would have been equispaced had each
wheel consisted of 49 of them instead of So; but
by the omission of IL, six at dlametrically
opposite points, an empty space, equal to that
due to those paddles so spaced, was left
at those portions of the circumference of
the wheel. All the half paddles were of the
same length-namely, five feet-but they
were of unequal breadth. being SO made
and arranged in the circumference of the wheel,
for the purpose OF producing regular rotary
notion with high pressure OF steam and high
measure OF expansion used. The breadths of
the consecutive paddles, in inches were as fol-
lows, namely:-l5, IL, 10, 2l, "a, ~, "a, II, and
Fl. The length, from outside 10 outside OF
pair Of half paddles was nine feet caused by their
overlapping one foot at the centre.
IcOnsinUed on tie Eighth PsSs.l u ff.l.