The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1886-06-18
From the Sailing Vessel to the Steam.
ship.

In referring to the navy Of the past i,
is impossible to avoid recalling the feel
ing of pride With which an American
scaman-otticer or man-walked the
deck of his ship. This feeling was com
mon to the naval and commercial ma
rinc. Our wooden ships that sailed the
ocean from 1910 to 1860 were the finest
in the world. The old frigate Congress
in 1912 was the noblest specimen of the
frigates of tho day. and tho sloop Of
war Portsmouth was unsurpassed as 9
corvette. Tho clipper ships of tina,
period need no eulogy beyondthcir OWL
record. These ships were the models
for the imitation of all maritime ma
tons. and among tho constructors OF
the period can be recalled, without dot.
rimcnt to many others omitted, the
names of Lenthall, Steers. Pook, and
Delano. The poetry of sailing reached
its zenith during this period.
But there is no sentiment in prog.
rcss; its demands are practical and ini.
pcrativc, and the great motive power,
steam, was being crowded to the front
even during this tine greatest develop.
ment in the era of sails. Advanced
ideas could not be resisted, and steam
was admitted as an auxiliary; but our
development in naval construction still
stood us in good stead, and enabled us
to supply ships with auxiliary steam.
power, which Continued TO be promi-
nent for many Fears as standards to
which others found it to their advantage
10 conform
Before the final abandonment In the
navy Of sailing ships, pure and simple.
an effort at a compromise was made by
limiting steam to si.lc-wheel vessels.
and a number q fine ships were built in
the forties, which did good service, and
were a credit to the country, answering
as they did the demands of the time.
Tho Mississippi, Missouri, Sasqwehan-
nG, S0rassdc, and PoWhatan carried
the flag to all parts of tho world for
many years, some of them enduring Ia
bear their share in the late war. while
the PosDlsat0n is even now borne on the
list of vessels of the navy.
The Princeton, of great fame, and the
Sal, Jacis4o. were the only ships with
screw-propellers that appeared in the
period under consideration, the use Of
the screw being considered of doubtful
propriety, 10 be tested by tentative ex.
periments. These ships lave long since
disappeared, but the screw remains,
and the side wheels are relegated tc
boats for inland waters.
Confidence being established in the
screw-propeller, construction on the
principle Of auxiliary steam-power was
decided on, and ships of different classe:
were added to the navy in such mum.
bers as the varied duties required.
There were those at that time who
wiso beyond their generation, recog
nized the full meaning of the advent o.
steam, and saw that it must supplan
sails altogether as tho motive power fol
ships. These advocated that new con
structions should be provided with full
steam-power, with sails as an auxiliary
but the old pride in tho sailing ship
with her taunt and graceful spars, coult
not be made to yield at once to tho in
novation; old traditions pointing to the
necessity of full sail-power could no
| w ulsPcllcui u WIN cOhSluereU sulil
cicnt confession to admit steam on any
terms, and thus the conservative ant
temporizing course was adopted of 70
tanning full sail-power. and utilizing
steam as an auxiliary.
The United States government wa.
not alone in this policy. 1t was til,
course pursued by all other martini.
nations, and for some years the Uni
ted States retained the lead in produc
ing the most perfect types in this new
phase of naval construction
admiral E. Simpson, IN Harpcr's Alag
asise.