namgating the Hudson Rwer^ '"9 



rather ecceniric pins, in wheels upon the axes of the water- 

 wheels. This plan has the disadvantage, that more power is 

 lost by obliquity of action, than when a lever-beam and a 

 connecting rod are used, as in the engine of Watt. When it 

 is used in the body of the vessel, it has the advantage of com- 

 pactness, occupying far less room. 



In order to give you a proper idea of the velocity of the 

 North America, some other circumstances require to be stated. 

 The distance from New York to Albany has usually been esti- 

 mated at 160 miles ; the post-road between the two places is 

 little less than this, as has been found by a recent measure- 

 ment performed by the post-office department. It is, how- 

 ever, alleged, that the course on the river is not so much, and 

 the surveyor-general of our state has recently published a state- 

 ment of actual surveys on the river, that reduce it to less than 

 150. These, however, are the shortest possible lines that can 

 be drawn from point to point over the several reaches. As 

 steam-boats cannot follow these lines, but frequently cross the 

 river to stop at landings, I cannot consider the actual distance 

 as less than the first estimate ; I shall, however, assume it to 

 be 154 miles. The average passages of the North America 

 for the last year, including stoppages, were performed in less 

 than twelve hours ; on one occasion in little more than ten. 

 The delay at nine stated landings cannot be taken at less than 

 an hour, which leaves eleven hours for a distance of 154 miles, 

 or 14 miles per hour. As this average is taken from passages 

 both up and down the river, any difference arising from the 

 different rate of the flood and ebb tides, which at some sea- 

 sons is perceptible, and any effect of current whatever, may be 

 left out of view, and fourteen miles per hour be taken as her 

 average speed through the water. 



# ^ * » * * 



