The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1886-07-01
From Sailing Vessel to Steamship.

In referring to the snavy of the past it
is impossible to avoid recalling the feel
ing of pride with which an American
seaman-otfieer or man-walked the
deck of his ship. This feeling was COM
mon to the naval and commercial
marine. Our wooden ships that sailed
the ocean from 1S40 to 1860 were the
finest in the world The old frigate
Congress in 1912 was the noblest speci-
men of the frigates of the day, and the
sloop of war Portsmouth was unsurpass-
ed as corvette. The clipper ships of
that period need no eulogy beyond their
own record. These ships were the
models for the imitation OF all maritime
nations, and among the constructors of
the period can be recalled, without
detriment 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 progress;
its demands are practical and impera-
tive, and the great motive power, steam,
was being crowded to the front even
during this the greatest development in
the era of sails Advanced ideas could
not be resisted, and steam was admitted
naval construction still stood us in good
stead. and enabled US to supply ships
with auxiliary steam-power, which con-
tinued to be prominent for many years
rs standards to which others found it to
their advantage to conform.
Before the final abandonment in the
navy of sailing ships, pure and simple,
an effort at compromise was made by
limiting steam to side-wheel vessels, and
a number of fine ships were built in the
forties, which did good service, and
were credit to the country, answering
as they Gid the demands of the time The
Mississippi, Missouri. Susquehanna,
Saranac, and Powhatan carried the
flag to all parts of the world for many
years, some of them enduring to bear
their share in the late war. while the
Powhatan is even now borne on the list
of vessels of the navy.
The Princeton. of great fame, and the
San Jacinto. were the only ships with
screw propellers that appeared in the
period under consideration, the use of
the screw being considered of doubtful
propriety, to be tested by tentative ex-
periments. These ships have long since
disappeared, but the screw remains, and
side-wheels are relegated to boats for in
land waters.
Confidence being established in the
screw propeller, construction on the
principle of auxiliary steam-power was
decided on. and ships of different classes
were added to the navy in such numbers
as the varied duties required.
There were those at that time who, wise
beyond their generation, recognized the
full meaning of the advent of steam, and
law that it must supplant sails alto
gether as the motive power for ships.
These advocated that new constructions
should be provided with full steam
power, with sails as an auxiliary; but
the old pride in the sailing ship, with
taunt and graceful spars, could not be
made to yield at once to the innovation;
old traditions pointing to the necessity
of full sail-power could not be dispelled;
it was considered a sufficient concession
to admit steam on any terms, and thus
the conservative and temporizing course
was adopted of retaining full sail
power, and utilizing steam as an auxili-
ary.
The United States government was
not alone in this policy. 1t was the
course pursued by all other maritime ma
tions, and for some years the United
States retained the lead in producing
the most perfect types in the new phase
of naval construction.-Re Rear-AdnairGl
E. Simpson in Hdrper'S Magazine.