Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1879-03-06
Iron the New York Sum-
CIGAR STEAMERS.

A project which, IL successful, will
certainly revolulionize ocean travel,
has ior years received the attention oI
firm Of celebrated engineers, and as il
is now, after many vicissitudes and the
expenditure Of millions of money. ap-
preaching maturity, an account of is
progress, obtained from entirely trust.
worthy sources, will be OF great inter
est.
Many years ago, when publicity was
given 10 the experiments ofthe Winans
family, OF Baltimore, with what were
then. as now, called "cigar steamers, -
a great deal of interest was manifested
in the subject. and there were even
found persons who affected to believe
that some practical good would come OF
the project.
The experiments at Baltimore were
made under the immediate guidance
and supervision Of the venerable Ross
Winans, the great locomotive builder
and inventor of eight wheeled or dou-
ble-truck cars, and his eldest son, Thom-
as Winsns (the senior member of the
three successful frms-Winans HarrI-
son g. Eastwick, Winans. Harrison q
Wiaans, aud Winans Broihers--and ac-
cumulated gigantic fortune through
his contracts with the Russian Govern
ment in connection with railwsys): both
Ross and Thomas Winans have recent
ly died, and the spindle steamer enter
prise is now being prosecuted by Will
liam L. Winans. De Wit Clinton VII
mans and Walter Scott WInans, three
sons OF the late Ross Winans. Of Balti-
more, who reside in London.
The inauguration of the war OF the
rebellion was deemed by The Messrs.
Winans . sufficient reason for discon-
tinuing their experiments at Baltimore,
and shortly afterwards Thomas Winans
went abroad and soon Began, in ccn-
nection with his brother, William L.
WInans, assisted by their younger
brothers before named, and by Messrs.
James Murray and +. II. Hambleton,
OF Baltimore, both engineers Of great
ability and experience, the building Of
q spindle 256 feet in length and 16 feet
greatest diameter. This vessel was
named the Ross Winans. She had
been the instrument of continuous Sc
rtes Of experiments Tor many years,
having been subjected 10 almost innu-
merable alterations, internally and ex-
ternally, aud while the details Of the
results obtained have never been made
public. enoughis known to warrant what
l. given below regarding the eonstruc-
ton of four immense ships, and the
practical application Of the knowledge
acquired through twenty years OF earn
est and skillfui effort. and the expendi-
lure of several million dollars of the
private funds OF the MessrS. Winans.
Prior to the removal of the scene OF the
experiments to England, Mr.. w. L.
Winans, who then resided in st. Pc
tersburg. Russia, had constructed q
small steamer on the same general prin-
cipie with which he was conducting a
series Of experiments simultaneously
with those being made al Baltimore.
Still another small spindle or cigar ship
was built at Havre. France. in order to
comply with certain points OF French
patent law.
Some idea Of the amount Of money
expended in experimenting with differ
ent lengths Of hull, different boilers,
different engines, different methods OF
propulsion, central screws. forward
screws, after screws, and twin screws,
areas Of displacement. weight OF mate
rial. &c.. Sc, may be inferred from the
fact that several years since. on the ex-
pi.ing Of the american patent. the late
Ross and Thomas Winans made oath To
having expended over .. .000. 900 with
out having received o in return. The
patent was extended IN this eountry By
special art oi Congress, bat IN extern
sl9n was refused in England. The late
Tbos. Winans hsd Of late years taken =
less active interest IN the scheme, and