Steam Power in maintairiing a Ferry. 73 



backward movement of the engine with certainty and ease.* At 

 all events, it might be tried or something better proposed. 



And I may add, that the subject would be a very interesting 

 one to experiment on ; and it might well become some public 

 trust to give the system a trial, even though not altogether con- 

 vinced of its paramount advantages. The expence would be 

 trifling, and the risk none ; for the steam-power employed in the 

 experiment might be hired ; and a good passage-vessel, were it 

 even only to be used in fine weather, would be a desirable ac- 

 quisition on any ferry. On the other hand, if the views here 

 contemplated are in any degree correct, they will apply to many 

 other branches of steam-navigation, besides the mere mainte- 

 nance of ferries ;— the several establishments of these are at the 

 same time rapidly wearing out, and it would be desirable to as- 

 certain meanwhile how best to replace them, without, if pos- 

 sible, again incurring the enormous expence which already in 

 many places presses heavy on local and individual resources. 

 And there is a third application of the subject, which, to some 

 minds, may be more interesting still. It is not probable that a 

 steam-engine can ever be embarked to advantage in a man-of- 

 war ; the room it would occupy, and the casualties to which it 

 would be there exposed, seem to forbid this. But in every future 

 war, steam-towing must enter largely into naval tactics; and a 

 new interest is thus thrown over the arts of peace, when im- 

 provements in them may be made to conduce to the maturino- 

 of principles and practice on which the defence of all they give 

 us may yet in some degree depend. "• I^orsqu''un nouveau 

 genre de forces mecaniques s'introduit d^me maniere utile dans 



• The American method is still simpler. Two iron rods are secured, one 

 to each bow of the passage- vessel, so as easily to play up and down ; and their 

 other extremities are brought together, as in a triangle, and are jointed and 

 pivoted on the taffrail of the tug. This does not impede, but does not assist 

 her steering ; and in so far only may be considered inferior to the above me- 

 thod, — but it is said to answer very well notwithstanding. 



As general principles, the nearer the two boats are kept together, the 

 smoother, the lighter, and the more manageable will be the draught. And 

 inflexible rods, besides their convenience for backing and keeping the boats 

 apart, will transmit the impulse undiminished ; whereas ropes act like springs, 

 and a considerable portion of the power is exi)ended in merely stretching 

 them. Hawsers, however, may be well employetl as preventers, to take away 

 even the possibility of accidental separation. 



