The New York herald., 1870-11-17
NAVAL TNTELLIGENCs.

S~ift Cruiser Fitting Omt--Afinirs mt the
philadelphia Navy Yarl-Progrcss of the
Tshunntepac Expedition.
The corvette Florida was hauled out on Tuesday
last from her old berth In Rotten Row. In the Brook.
lyn Navy Yard, where she has been IN ordinary for
long time, and towed alongside the ordnance
dock, where her guns are to be taken out. The
ship is to be fitted for sea- She was
launched as the Wampanoag, and has made
her name In marine annals as being
the fastest seagoing steamer that was ever afioat
On her protracted trial trip she ran of for moro
than twenty.four consecutive hours seventeen
knots an hour with u heavy sea on, under steam
alone. This speed equals that Of the best iron
steamboats,, and Is something that has never been
approached by any screw ship launched The
Florida, or Wampanoag as she was called, Is Of
2,l35 tons burden, new measurement, and Is
pierced for twentyonc guns. She is, doubtless, one
OF the longest wooden ships ever constructed.
She is OF narrow beam, and unfortunately has only
one good quality, as now constituted-tat OF speed.
lier boilers, ana engines and coal bunkers take up
about he whole OF The ship. All this is well enough
for sw LIT cruiser, built expressly 10 serve de-
sroyer Of merchantmen, to fight when necessary
and 10 run when an oyerpowerlng force shows its
nag. There are no quarters for large crew, and
ent four guns iSr,e would pc me heeded' II the
Hghtlng cruiser two or four OF her
boilers Will be removed and her coal bankers re-
ters for her officers and crew. An additional light
spar deck will be added to her; and, when COM
| peled, she will somewhat resemble the corvette
Tcnnessee, which Is quite nobby craft. as she now
| lies at the deck In the Brooklyn Navy Yard. The
Florida ought TO be very comfortable and last yes.
sci, Ii properly altered, and doubt not she will
become one OF our best cruisers before she leaves
Mr.. nelano's hands.
There has been reduction Of men in the
engineering department. In Brooklyn In conse.
GnenSe Of Tue appropriations running low. This
WY r29ss y 9S reSea q be 4s SSas EsSSesp H s
gagged Is inadequate to the demands pf the hour.
At the Philadelphia Navy Yard the corvette
lroguo!s, niue guns is being almost rebuilt. She
for sea In q short time II necessary. The
frigate Powhatan, seventeen guns, Is to be
repaired and rehtted for sea service Beyond
this work there appears to be little going OF
In the Philadelphia Navy Yard, although there arr
number Of ronclads at League Island below tn, th'
phia mechanics when the time comes.
The presence OF cholera In the port Of Minatitan
feared, have the effect Of delaying somewhat Cap
tain Shufedts surveying expedition on the lsthmu
OF Tehuantepec. The approaching cool weathe
ought, however, TO relieve that coast from TIL
presence OF the terrible destroyer, and permit visit
ors to lis ports without fear OF encounterin
extraordinary danger. Captain Shufeldt is an oil
Ger OF the most varied experience, especially i
tropical climates. and he will not lose minute il
pursuing hs work when IT can be performed safely
middle Of December, at the beginning OF the DIR
season, and before that period al contagious dI'
ea se5 will have ebated His preliminary arrange
ments Will require at least two or three weeks b'
fore he can begin the ascent OF the Coatzacoalct
10 move into the mountainous regions where til
difficulties connected with snip canal are first Ell
countercd, and where the most careful lines OF su
vey are to pe ran. The cholera will be over, thel
before any time Is practically lost as some hydr
eraphic surveys must be made ut the mouth OF I'll
Coatzacoalco which Will consume some tune. u
tne FIRST OF the new year Captain shuetdts partlt
work will be rapidly pushed ahead and completes
IL possible, in the early days OIL spriag.