The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1872-10-15
From the Quaker Ci'y.
LAUNCH OF GREAT Iron STEAMSHIP.
PHILADELPHIA. Oct. 4. 1872.

Mr.. Editor Sixty years ago PhiIa-
delphia was the leading commercial city
on this continent, as she is to-day the
leading manufacturing one, and geograph-
ically the largest. If the largest in area
it may be reasonably asked why the dis
parity, as compared with New York. as
to population. The answer is simple, and
easily made. and the solution phiosophi-
cal. In the former city large percent
age of its inhabitants do not live as the
"Beasts that PERISH" while in the latter,
it is potent. and known to all who take
the trouble to inform themselves, that
very large percentage do live in that
manner, crowded and hu1dled into those
large tenement houses, reeklng in filth
and contamination, producing an atmos-
phere as destructive as the sirocco Of the
Lyban Deserts, while here such struc-
Trustworthy only of heathendom- are
unknown. | have heard it said that the
erection Of such buildings to be occupi-
cd in such a manner, is intcrdicted by
the corporate authorities Of the town. BE
that as it may, they are not builded.
Perhaps the cupidity of man not be quite
as inordinate here as there, and mammon
may not be the paramount object of wor-
ship and alteration, notwithstanding the
old adage that human nature is the same
in every age and everywhere. Here neat
and tidy two story houses are erected for
laborers and mechanics, and all others of
limited means, especially in the southern
portion of the city, through the ageu-
c6 OF building associations, In modus
operandi of which, do not thoroughly
understand. Almost any Industrious and
temperate mechanic, as well as the more
skilled artisan, may, by economy, if fav,
ored with health, within few years bo-
come the owner of one Of these houses,
by paying in small instalments, and may
even loan funds of the association, of
which he is member, if he wishes to do
so; and also paying an annual ground
rent on which the building is erected the
amount being not large
But to the launch. Some months since,
in communication to the Register, 1 al
luded to transatlantic steamship line,
projected, chartered and organized, to
ply between this port and Liverpool, con-
sistlng of four Of the largest class of iron
steamships, the cost to be S520.000 each,
aggregating over 100000, that nam.
moth railway Co., the Pennsylvania Cen
trial, taking 100000 of stock, the mcr-
chants Of the city the large remainder,
the Railroad Co. guaranteeing the bonds
issued. When completed, they will con.
stitute the only steamship line built and
owned in this country, and are to be NAM
ed respectively, the Pennsylvania, Ohio,
Indiana, and Illinois, after the four great
central States of the Union. A little af.
ter the middle of August she was adver-
tised to be launched on a certain day, at
10 o'clock a. M. ihet hour being the timo
OF iuIl tide on the day named. Never
having witnessed launch, went As
the day was as pleasant as Dog Days
can produce, great concourse of people
gathered. 1t was with much difficulty
| obtained admission into the shpyard,
as tickets of admission were absolutely
required, and | did not possess one, and
what complicated the matter, none could
be obtained, either for ''loye or money"
Although no charge was made for tickets
the supply was exhausted. By repairing
to the Office of Messrs. Cramp & Sou,
owners of the yard and contractors and
builders of the big ships, | obtained a
written pass which procured my instant
admission. Many that had no tickets
undertook to run the gauntlet" by min
Cling in the crowd that were passing
through the gate. But the lynx eyed
police caused them to beat a retreat in
Aariably. After being fairly within the
enclosure, | posted myself on the summit
of coal car about rs yards from the
great ship. The spectacle, or | might
say the panoramic view spread before me
was on far grander scale than | had,
or even could have conceived. The
monster ship was posted at an angle or
inclination, | should judge, of about 20
degrees, her bow 30 feet above the earth,
her deck dotted or nearly filled with 600
ladies and gentemen-a large proportion
being Of the former. l did not care to
be on that dizzy height, even if | could
have gained admission, as if by any means
in journeying down the "ways," she could
have careened or toppled, what "souse"
it would have been, according to Web
ster's secondary de6Dition of the term, to
all Immediately concerned. The river
was literally filled across to Jerseys
Shore" abreast the ship, as likewise up
and down the Delaware for long way,
with steamers, revenue cutters. ships, pro-
pellers, barges, tugs, skiffs, and down to
the tiny row boat, all filed with an ex-
pectant crowd, many on the move, sail
ing and counttrsaiing, to find a proper
position. Soon the staiwart axmeD we're
heard chopping away the supports. Soon
crash is heard, the towering bow sud-
denly settles about two feet, aud slowly
sways about the same distance to the
starboard, then slowly sways to the lar
board, and apparently regains her for
mer position, then slow y and noiselessly
"goes ahead" Immediately the open
mouthed cannon pour forth their thunder.
ing and deaiening roar, from the revenue
cutters in the stream. Scores of steam
whistles scream and scrcech from the
motley craft. Men burra, ladies clap
their hands, but look Her movement
decreases, now she scarcely. moves. She
has stopped surely. What eisappoint-
ment This exuberance of innocent Gu
thusiasm, how suddenly checked The
eclat Of the tens ofthousands how quick,
ly hushed. But cast the eye ON the qui-
eted steamers lofty deck, and see the
senior members Of the building frn,
perchel on a large dry goods box, giving
orders, the men quickly moving to and
fro, dragging lines about The tugs in
the river are Immediately astir, backing
up and uncoiling, and paying ont their