The New York herald., 1870-05-25
THE CITY OF MERIDA.

Trial Trip of a New Vessel Of the New York
and Mexico Mail steamship Line-A Splen-
did BOat SpIendidIy Appointed-Hcr De-
scriptiou and Full Particulars Of the Trip.
In these days Of Congressional Indifference to our
shipping interests and the unaccountable public
apathy respecting the depressed trade OF the Amert
can seaboard it is pute refreshing to be able TO
cord tie first sign and symptom OF commercial en-
terprse The line OF steamships plying between this
city, the Mexican ports and Cuba owned By
Messrs. Alexander Il Sons is one deserving
of public encouragement. lnasmuch as it was CON-
menced in the face OF innumerabie difficulties and
conducted without cent Of government aid. That
it is important we should have at least one line OF
American ships between the republican States below
us and the metropolis a will acknowld dge who have
marked the decay OF the commerce or New York;
ana nat even @ awasens 70 proper sense
tion or rather ts want OF legislation IN this par
ticular, has laid prostrate vt the feet OF
foreign nations it should give fitting aid to such
firms as the Messrs. Alexander In extending our
commercial influence, few will be found TO dispute
since its inauguration done signal service and proved
an effectual estOppel TO English capitalists VINO
can trade Further Efforts on the part OF this COM
pany in the same direction, therefore, deserve &C
Acknowledgement and the plaudits OF patriotic citizens.
Fiudtng that their business was increasing on
their hands Messrs. Alexander II Sons ordered u
new ship 10 be built for their line and yesterday
saw her trial in her proper element. The appear
ance, dimensions, pecuiarities aud accommodations
OF the new mail steamer City oi Merida have hereto.
lore been described In the HERALD; but before pro-
ceeding to record her performance yesterday re-
captulaton OF them will doubtless be acceptable.
The CITY Of Merida was built IT. y John tngisa
She 265 feet in length deck, 81 feet beam. 26x
feet in depth OF hold lin lower hold IL feet in deptnh
Is 1000 tons Old or 800 tons Custom House meas
! urelnent; full brig rgged has surface condenser
CYLINDER 81 inch stroke of piston, with
two return tubular boilers. She has two smoke
stacks aud a brass screw weighing 1000 pounds.
Her stater0oms, o which there are lory first class
and twelve second class. are lifted magn1Centy
and their arrangement and adornment are SIMPLY
superb. peculiarly OF the interior arrangements
II that the deck apartments are lifted with steam
radiators and communication by wire and bell, be-
tween the stewards department and every state
room Is ingeniousIy provided for. The appearance
OF the ship Is such that even the most Ignorant
landsman must have confidence in ner. she is high
and alrogetner may be described as :
| safe and swift vessel IN which II
long and fayoraby known as nav gator, commands
the City of Merida and the next Office IN Importance
OF the City Of Mexico, whose courtesy and gentle
manly bearing towards all having business relations
with him has brought him deserved popularity. The
other officers have been well selected II Is intended
| that the City of Merida Will have q crew of fifty
hands, all told, which Is large and liberal allow
l ance for vesse OF her size.
According to previous arrangement the ship left
her berth, al pier No. H., yesterday, at ha-past
ten O'CLOCK. with 400 invited guests on board on q
trial Trip down the bay 1t was found that although
| capable Of working up to sixty-nve evOutions she
made ten knots With nifty evolurions. and uly salts
fed every that the twelve and half knots which
she expected to attain Will be less than ner Ordi-
nary speed: Among those present were the Mexican
Consul. General w. M. Tweed Jr Assistant
| District Attorney; Assistant District Attorneys
| Fellows and BOunt; Alexander EgglesOn Mr.. Della
mater, OF the Delamater Iron Works, and ana
citizens OF distinction The ship was run out beyond
the light ship turned and headed again for the city.
| which she reached at five O'Clock. ON the return
| trip elegant collation. spread in the capaciOuS
| and beautifully fitted saloon, OF which the entire
company freely partook. Speeches were made by Mr..
Alexander Sr. VI the firm OF Alexander Sons,
| Mr.. District Attorney Fellows and Others, and
| the evening was spent most enjoyably. mr.
| Fellows proposed Mr.. Alexander's and Captain
Deckers health In characteristic speech, In which,
while euIogizing the spirit and enterprise OF the
| owners OF the ship and paying merled conpll-
| ment to Captain Decker he spoke OF the popular
desire for the revival of our shppng interests and
the Intervention of the national legislature between
| impending business decay aud manifest commercial
| destiny Altogether the trial trip VI the City Of
Merida was most pleasing, satisfactory and enjoy.
| abe,