OF STEAM NAVIGATION. [SECT. x. 



5 feet on each side, in the same manner as in boats for the accommodation of 

 passengers. 



660. Much has been said respecting American steam vessels ; and these 

 vessels as far as excellent workmanship, neatness of fitting up, and convenience is 

 concerned, do appear to be superior to our own. Their best engines however seem 

 to be not more than equal to the British ones, if so good, as many of the reports 

 respecting them carry internal evidence of their inaccuracy. The best I have met 

 with is that of the steam vessel called the ' Chancellor Livingston,' constructed by 

 Mr. Fulton for the Hudson River, from New York to Albany. It is one of their 

 largest vessels : the keel is 154 feet long; deck 165 ; breadth 32 feet ; draught of 

 water about 7 feet 3 inches, and burden 520 tons ; the principal cabin 54 feet long, 

 7 high : ladies' cabin, above the other, 36 feet long, with closets ; the forward 

 cabin 30 feet long, and 7 high. The number of sleeping-berths, in the principal 

 cabin, is 38 ; in the ladies' cabin 24 ; in the fore cabin 56 ; in the captain's cabin 

 on deck 2 ; in the engineers' and pilot's 3 ; in the forecastle 6 ; and for fire- 

 -men, cooks, &c. 6 ; being a total of 135. The engine is of 60 horse power ; 

 the diameter of cylinder 40 inches, length of stroke 5 feet ; the boiler is 28 feet 

 long, 12 broad, with 2 funnels ; the paddle-wheels 17 feet diameter ; paddle- 

 boards 5 feet 10 inches long; they have 2 fly-wheels, each 14 feet diameter, 

 connected by pinions to the crank shaft. The machinery rises 4 feet and a half 

 above the deck. Average rate of sailing is said to be 8 and a half to 8 and three 

 quarter miles an hour. With a strong wind and tide in her favour she has made 

 12, but with wind and tide against her not more than 6 miles per hour. As for 

 low pressure steam the engine is estimated at the greatest power of the cylinder, and 

 it has been imagined that the vessel is moved by less power than the British vessels 

 of equal magnitude. 



The fallacy arises out of erroneous methods of measuring vessels to register 

 their tonnage. 



To ASCERTAIN THE REGISTER TONNAGE OF A STEAM VESSEL. 



661. The breadth is to be taken at the broadest part of the vessel, whether it 

 be above or below the main wales, and is to be from the outside to outside of the 

 plank ; the length is to be the horizontal distance between the back of the main 

 stern post and the fore part of the main stem, under the bowsprit ; and calling this 

 length /, the breadth b, and r = the length of the engine-room, the rule is 



(- jgg-* *) *>* = the tonnage. (Sect. 59th Geo. III. cap. 5.) 



