The New York herald., 1873-12-08

steering west TOO soon, run upon the lana; out
the fork to Halifax turns on on soundings, while
where the lane from England strikes the Grand
Banks Will take you clear OF everything. so that,
without gross neglect OF his lead. 1t would seem
impossible for the mariner to run his steamer into
danger hereu
Thus much for the westward lane. Let us
see now what the Lieutenant has TO say ABOUT
the route ior vessels bound to Europe. Can he
urge as much for IL -
Gin the longitude OF the Grand Banks' he writes,
"the lane to Europe 200 miles south OF the lane 70
America AS rule this lane can be followed
always. admitting an exception now and then. II
degrees south from Sandy Hook to The meridian or
10 degrees, where 10 takes course east IL degrees
circle south OF the Grand Banks. The distance by
this fork from Sandy Hook to this junction Is few
Of the GSq Stream It is time ne shortest dis
tance that steamer can take. From the Capes OF
Delaware IL Is obviously the shortest"
Now, in regard to the entire eastward route,
the distance by 1t from Sandy Hook 10 Liverpool Is
greater by LOG miles than the westward lane. But
The lane going east is in the Gulf Stream, which of
itself will nearly II not quite make up for this DIFF
ference. When the Great Western steamship first
came over she stemmed the Guif Stream and was
set back by 1t l75 miles during her voyage. Now
from the Grand Banks west the track OF the Great
Western was not as much In the strength OF the
Stream as this lane is. She passed tar to the north
In this connection it is to be observed that the
route recently selected by the Cunard Company for
their westward bOund steamers Is Objectionable be-
northern limits OF the Gur Stream and lays upon
them the necessity q stemming It's adverse
ITS line OF greatest force. II Will be
remembered that the Cunard captains are in
structed on their outward--i e. westward-voy-
age to ''cr0ss the meridlan OF 80 deg. IN latitude
~ deg, or nothing to the north OF 43 deg" In
place themselves where they will necessarily meet
resisting current, and prohl0ted from going be-
would be set Sy the v wesward eddy
To return, however, to the letter OF Lieutenant
Maury; ne says that not alone will the friendly I'M
pulses u the Gulf Stream lead to equalize the two
routes, but there IS urther compensation tor the
extra loe miles Of distance. With the aid Of
corps OF navy o1icers he "examined ABSTRACT logs
$4,000 days on the winds, weather, sea
and currents In the region tnr 0rgh which me Two
animation he presented IN tabulated iorm en-
ploylng curves to Indicate intensity and duration
show that logs are far less frequent on the east
ward than on the westward lane; while as regards
ss the mGst part Of S this p s be-
here, in January, 1t Is blowing gale OF wind half
the time (52 per cent?, while at certain other sea-
all the gales that the mariner has to expect on this
route are westerly and therefore favorable. Thus
by the Gull Stream and lavoring gales the & added ca
largely, II not altogether compensated for.
I'm my Judgment" Maury concludes, ''these
length OF passage, as determined by the mean OF
all lOr the year. probably less each way certainly
IS. Individual passages coming wlll perhaps not
be made so quickly as they have been, but on the
average trips will be shortened"
The author OF the above suggestions was far
from supposing himself infallible In speaking OF
these lanes he says that it Is altogether likely tnat
succeeding observations and experience may show
The photographic Once at Washington is. doubt
less, In possession of information, II there be any
such, that may demand the notifications thus an
tclpated. In the absence Of any sucn information
and Of consequent necessity for change, there
navigators very earnestly to the "lanes" proposed
by Lieutenant Maury. N.