The New York herald., 1869-04-04

measurement and time allowances should Dc
OF that nature that the naval architect may
have full scope 10 proportion his vessel as
his Judgment skill and experience may dictate but
to be confined and subservenI to fixed rule wnere
one dimension OF yacht is taxed more tnan an
other as is SO glarlngly the case with the Thames
rules, whereby every inch OF beam Is twice taxedr
the length but partially so and the depth Tree from
all taxation for tonnage-what is the resultf Win
such rules, can a gentleman build yacht or an
architect carve model with the fainteSt hopes OF
success, without following In the old beaten path
ana save his honor reputation by "stretchlng the
length, ''squeeZngn the breadth, and allowing the
depth to extend dd hthnituDl d?
Again, In this matter OF tonnage, have read many
letters published both here and In England, with
view 10 explain the various rules adopted Tor calcu-
latihg tonnage and the allowance or time due TO the
respective vessels OF the Thames and the New York
Yacht clubs. None or these productions seemed to
nave made comparison OF the results in time
alioWance OF the two rules OF calculation, upon
which they have BASED their criticisms and sug-
gested improvements. 1t would appear that much
OF the stereotyped grumbllng In their communlca-
tons has been prompted by some defeat experienced
In their cutters OF five TO ten tons Uhames measure
nr aent on On ahe 'na5 oent great yachting highway
by the International Congress suggested some
rule OF measurement or allowance Of time
may be agreed upon. that their 'Ieather weight'
boats be increased IN tonnage or in time improved
in model. In such a fleet OF 'rttle friendsn the
owner OF the Dauntess IN contest might sail his
"gig" against them; yet under their rules he would
be compelled tc allow time and stand the chance OF
being ruled out for being over size. 1t Is assumed
that 'sma boats have ever been and always VIII
be, by the laws of natural development, the
parent OF more majestic yessels;" but to
their respective speed and seagoing quantities,
from this standard Of small fryn sallboats as has
been done, is SIMPLY unprofessiona and ridiculous.
An instance In point:-An American built sailboat,
say OF ten tons burden, would be about two and a
half beams' TO the length, which rule OF c0nstruc
ton, carried out in yacht OF the size OF the Cam
brIa, would give her forty feet breadth OF beam In
stead OF twenty feet ten inches, as noted above.
The International Congress proposed by you for
the establishment or some basis for the equitable
measurement OF not only yachts, but OF all vessels,
1t is to be hoped Will eventually prevail. IL Is
movement, whatever the trouble and annoyance shall
be before its consummatlon, which must succeed lt
can never do any harm on the contrary, IL will
mutually aid the naval architects of both countries
Each have the recoectons OF the past and the anti
cipations OF the future TO dilate upon; each have
defeats account for plans to suggest theories
maintain to confess and triumphs TO boast Of
Let the proposed congress meet, and then the chal-
lenge OF Mr.. Ashbury ana Its acceptance by the
owner OF the Dauntess shall have produced at least
one glorious result.
Finally the yachtmen OF America IL Is my opinion,
look forward TO the time when the fresh and Jolly
azure banner with the crimson crown the silver
cross, OF the Royal Thames Yacht Club floating from
the Cambria shall be seen III our waters, wishing
II every manner Of success that Its merits warrant.
J. b. VAN DEUSEN, Naval Architect.
NEW YORK, April 3, 1862