Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-12-27
The Need Of st am Merchant
Vessels.
N Y T.;k,.o

The American ship David Crockett,
which arrived at New York December
IA, alter stormy passage Of l02 days
from San Francisco, is famous for
having one OF the best records for short /
voyages. The record has been marred |
by this last named voyage. On the
passage to San Francisco she arrived |
there on July u, having been l57 days
at STA. This was the longest passage |
made by this ship, although she has
lost none OF her good sailing qualities |
The causes for this we're adverse gales, |
hurricanes, and terrific head seas On |
the return passage the heavy seas
swept everything movable from the
decks, broke the stern and stove 10
the cabin windows, filling the cabin
with water.
1t one of the swiftest merchant
ships ahoat ia nearly half year 10
making the passage from New York to
San Francisco, that fact only gives
additional weight to the theory that
the sailing ship must have auxiliary
steam to meet the necessities OF com
merce. The race horse Of the sea is
no longer swift, or rather can never
be certain of making a quick voyage.
Gains and hesdwinds cannot be con-
trollsd by the most ssilliul captain
who ever walked the deck of a ship,
but with auxiliary steam he can laugh
at these obstacles. There is q noted
rapid increase Of the steam commercial
marine. The commercial supremacy Of
the Engllsh is maintained to day by
steam. There is also the modern iron
sailing ship, which makes a prominent
figure in the carrying trade, and gets
the cream Of the grain transportation
business Of the New World. But the
steamer is yet to supplant the sailing
ship. Americans invented, so to
speak, the clipper ship. There have
since been some notifications, such as
greater breadth OF beam and fat floors,
while the sharp ends have been pre-.
served. Tho clipper ship has nearly
had its day. No extreme clipper ships
are now built. There is an opporlu-
nifty still lett for supremacy; that is by
means Of steam as an auxiliary, or as a
dominant power.
The steam whale ship which first
made its appearance on the Pacific,
was not an American invention; but
| L was an improvement of an idea
| The seal steamer was the pioneer
| The next improvement is the steam
merchant ship, as perfect as the David
| Crockett and other great clippers,
which shall go along through calms
as the rate Of Eve or six miles an hour,
and which in headwinds will lie two
or three points nearer the wind so
that days work will count we'll 10
the reckoning. There are to day two
experimental vessels OF this kind, one
four masted steam schooner, the
other sthe steam bark Mendoza
which sailed from Bath, Me,
on December 4 for New York,
and for which vessels safety there
are some apprehensions. If IN
! Mendoza had taken enough fuel OIL
I board for steaming purposes, she woulC
} undoubtedly have reached here befor,
I this time. The stOam equipment o
these vessels is light, and the oarryin,
! capacity has not been much reduced
Q by the machinery. Six or eight fee
-. Of additional length make up for al
d the dead space occupied by the ma
}, chinery and fuel. There is also iai
Q prospect that within the next fv
d years fuel other thin coal will b
c adopted for auxiliary ste. m purpose
l. Rut even with coal this composit
}. ship. or the steam sailing ship, vii
II cope 10 'bs front il here is inv iv
a 2 p'as enough in the land to psrleC
h