50 EVOLUTION OF SCREW PROPULSION IN THE UNITED STATES. 



also include the commander and his officers within the scope of this supe- 

 riority and efficiency. 



As the overland travel began to increase the usefulness of the clipper 

 in the California trade began to wane and lines of fine paddle-wheel steamers 

 were placed on each side of the Isthmus. Later on the clippers stopped at 

 Peru for a return cargo of guano. All of this aided in prolonging the exist- 

 ence of the side-wheeler and of retarding the introduction of the screw. 



A number of paddle-wheelers later extended their trips to Australia 

 and China, but the machinery, which did not function well on short trips, 

 failed on these long trips. 



A trip along the wharves of the East River during this period was an 

 interesting one. Besides the large packet ships and steamships there were 

 to be seen the skysail and moonsail yards of the large clipper ships, a note- 

 worthy sight. 



In addition to the ships there, one would see a captain of one of these 

 ships in all his glory; he was the cockiest looking man to be found; he was 

 always handsome and well built, well dressed, and looked his part well. 



The great character and high standing of these ships, with all 

 relating to them, began in 1853 to lose that important position they had 

 acquired before that time. There were many reasons that contributed to 

 their impending downfall. The introduction of steam and the inability and 

 neglect of our people to take proper advantage of the correct methods of its 

 application, and the introduction of iron in the place of wood were the 

 principal reasons for it. The profitable traffic in the carrying trade was on 

 the retrograde, owing to the increasing facilities and falling away of demands 

 due to the approaching civil war, and when that war commenced there was 

 an end to that part of the shipping industry, as the Government bought at 

 liberal prices most of the steamships that remained. If the shipping mer- 

 chants and steamship companies of New York, as well as the engineers of 

 that place, would have encouraged the start made by engineers in Phila- 

 delphia, the destruction would not have been so complete. 



WARSHIPS FOR NAVY. 



As soon as the civil war had begun, shipbuilders began to replace some 

 of the vessels taken by the Government and devote their energies to contracts 

 with the Government for navy and transport services. The Navy Depart- 

 ment, through Assistant Secretary Fox, concluded to build a number of 

 armored vessels, in view of what had been done by the French in the Crimean 

 war, and what the British had been doing since in the way of building them. 



