Wilmington daily commercial., 1874-08-14
YANKEE NOTIONS THAT THE BRITISH DO
NOT UTILIZE


Those of US who, from neeetsity or choice,
stay at home will not have cause to make COM
plants about the way they do things abroad
The badness Of Continental drinking water will
little concern us, while we sit by the cool ana
copious fountains of the Brandywne, nor the
absurd imperfections Of European baggage
transfer, ferry boats, and railway sleeping cacs
interfere with the comfort OF tExvele-s who are
careful to remain on this side of the Atlantic.
Still it is fair subject for remark how sing J.
larly slow the engineering and mechanical ski
Of Great Britain-to take no wider field of ci :
eism-seems to be in adopting many OF the most
simple and obviously excellent appliances VII n
on this side are in daily use, aod which no one
would foE moment think Of dispensing With.
As examples of this, let Us remark the IA:
that tbs English have no; yet placed the see
ins-spp&rssus of their steam We ssels up ie,N-, d
where the pilot selecting his coms &c may :
stAnfly apply his Judgment to the wheel un6s
his hand ON the contrary. they sail plaee the
steering-wheel st the stern OF the ship, to which
the captain or pilot, on the bridge forward, mast
send OF signal his orders. Moreover this send
ms or signaling is wonderfully laie process.
On many ships, the order is passed verbally by
boys OF men. stationed for the purpose, and the
same Is true IS to the method Of communications
with the engineer, though some steamers have
signal wire from the bridge to the ensine-room,
operating what Is called telegraph, on dial
plate Bot, on all Amercan-Duilt ships, the
Law requires that the bell in the ensine--oom
shall be SO placed st the vide mouth Of speak,
ing tube th2. the sound OF its stroke shall be
directly and distinctly heard back in the pilot
hsuse, thus informing the captain wha, signal
the bell gave, snd preventing the possibility Q. q
disoEdered wire or hAssy pull leaving lis e. Or
aadesecied. No such device, of cor Sc, Is in
nse smoasst the primitive ship srchitecis Of
Britain
Another eomicAl specimen Of rude eoe..lee-
ton Is the British ferfy-hoa;. The convene zee.
simplicity, and economs o; our broad, fa.-bo.-
toned double-enders, win two plo:-boases sr j
double steering apparatus, Are quail. es wi eli
might be expected 10 cross the water. withou;
loss q tine. But in fact, the English fei -y-boa
are ordinary steamboats,, With bow ard sleln.
designed to move one wsy only. sud receiving
and delivering their freight on the side. yehi.
cles are not driven shoSri, as with us. and the
immense throag Of cars draws, trucks. and
wagons ceaselessly running scross the Delaware
ST Philadelphia, or the iiye.s at New York is Al
objeet Of wonder to our oli-coln.ly visitors.
What shall we think Of locomotive bi'iae i.
among whom Stephenson himself, lived. who
until ve-y lStely put no 'cAb"-thAt is no pro
testing roof st the rear Of the locomotiye-as
shelter for the engineer and fireman? TSt
score years have the British ''easine diver
and ''s.oker7 stood OF Iheir locomotives. exposet
to Wind and weather. driving against storms an.
ansheltered from sun rain or snow. IuA, tie
engines are heavier, clnnsler, aai les Land
some than ours msy no; be faults worm notice
sinoe ne admit thst they are sste. su.ft. and
powerful
The small compartments Of fore 81 n va,
cars mar have some points Of s57AatAge IS tbost
via prefer p-4vscy &c S mixed 9 cup4-y. thousa
IS y9u are AAbls 70 have G1y and every sors c
Pezsans ,h,us; N With yoa zs your eiJ'se conpan
loas o. iaos ZIP. this !s noz ce.iA'n. and =
tas eArhAro1s elstom Of lockins Ii. do.s-s
rg.d-y nAnsznei-A eus.on ri ch We a.
Pleased 10 t=Aeve voali no, be endured OF tol
e-1te3 b! Ans-cAn$-yoa take the chee! il r.sl
81 Al times Of telng lo,ke3 up in 'itile encios
ire. on 5 irAin running 700 fast 70. le42 f4oa
- -'- -----@--' = : ----A--ss a -stss- N-p "
50 through !ou- Or mailman vlo NAY l.
seiEsi With the vhin Of taking your life, Thes
things have happened Oh English rzllvsys an
ss The trains have no bell-eori by which 70 -
IA thoss n charge Of the t-sis-a1othe5 ouit
slon which can only ezeiie vooie.-yoa na=
laok oIi fo- yosr=el sgGnss suea oon7ar +!
Lanes trAvellng by r.ght vithou; .sseor,, &
American lsSes sone: mes have peedei 10 :
n Europe, may have strange men pu. INTO ia
same lceled oonpar1uenl 70 accompany then
The good points Of such a systen are NOT e4sil
perceived.
PalLnAn sleep.ng eA-s are being adopted
though slowly. in Britain Bsys-i T4ylor say
that. going up fron London to Scotland Ii
ether day, ION his wsy to Aberdeen, to take shi
far his Ioelxnd y.-zise he eanli Ari no slsarin-