Year: 1866

From Il Baltimore GTzette.


Some years ago, when Mr.. Thomas


Winans projected his wonderful cigar
ship, the attention of the maritime
world was excited for the result of his
invention, which he is still prosecuting.
But before that is perfected, another
invention has been given to the world


by Mr.. George F. Snyder, of this city,
which promises to be a still greater
wonder than anything that has yet ap-
peared upon the face of the waters, not
excepting even the application of steam


by Robert Fulton for the propulsion of
vessels. The vessel invented by Mr.
Snyder is a cylinder, and has a rotary
motion. A working model of the yes
sci is now lying at the shipyard of
Messrs. Brewster Il Potter, at Canton, and
the trials made with it have been en-
tirely satisfactory, a speed OF six miles
per hour having been made by hand
power. As stated before, the vessel is
a cylinder, through the centre of which
passes a shaft, which is stationary, and
supports the decks for freight, passen-
gers and machinery, and which remain
in the same position. whatever may be
the motion of the ship. In the work
ing model there is a cog wheel in the
centre of the lower interior surface,
working in a cog which entirely belts
the interior, and is the motive
power propelling the rotary pro-
gress through the water. 1t is now
designed to build vessel of
forty feet diameter, into which
will be placed two steam engines of
fifty horse power each, and with that it
is expected to make a speed of from
forty to fifty miles an hour. The vessel
will draw, when lying still, not more
than ten or twelve inches of water, and
the draft will be reduced when the ma
chinery is put in motion. On the out
side surface will be paddles set two feet
apart, beside which there will be four
keels, one at each end, and two at the
centre. These keels are intended TO
prevent the vessel from drifting in high
wind, and to protect the paddles in the
event that the ship should strike upon
the bottom. The new revolver" as the
style of vessel has been called, will be
OF three hundred tons burden, and be-
sides freight, will have capacity for
about three or four hundred psssen-
gers. Her steering apparatus consists
of small inclosed boat, the bow of
which is worked by pulleys attached to
two beams running from the centre
shaft around to one side, or the stern
of the ship, and it is claimed that she
can be turned in the space occupied by
her length in the water. A number of
gentlemen in this city have taken hold
of the thing, and will push the new
vessel to completion, 80 that she may
be ready to make trial trip on the 4th
of July. A model of the new wonder
is at the office of John S. Selby, No. Il
Second street, where it may be seen by
those who feel an interest in the sd-
yancing science of the age. The small
draft OF water will render the vessel, if
successful, of incalculsble value for the
navigation of the rivers which pene-
trate the heart of the great West, while
its speed far outstrips that of any other
ship. ] be same principle may be ap-
piled to land vehicles on ordinary roads,
and may be guided as easily as those
drawn by horses. Some prominent en-
gineers who have examined the princi-
pie declare it feasible, and much Gu
Tious desire will await the advent of the
new vessel in the Patapsco.