Notices of American Steam Boats. 313 
_ statements, which may eine to gain currency, of the attainment of 
“greater speed in more open waters, by steam vessels, possessing less 
_ comparative efficiency, on routes either overrated in their extent, or 
affording great occasional advantages, from the strength and rapidity 
of the tides. It sometimes happens, that, owing to the inadvertence of 
a compositor, or some other cause, a mistake of an hour finds its way 
into the published accounts of the passage malls by a favorite steam 
at. 
In addition to twelve steam botis which are employed on this river 
in the various lines of transportation, and on short routes, there are 
ten boats of the first class which have been employed in daily trips 
for the conveyance of passengers between New York and Albany ; 
viz. the North America, Albany, Novelty, Erie, Champlain, Ohio, 
New Philadelphia, De Witt Clinton, Constitution, and Constellation. 
“Of these, the five first named depart in the morning at seven o’clock, 
and perform the passage in nine and a quarter to thirteen hours; the 
latter five, depart usually at five in the evening, ,and accomplish:the 
passage in nearly the same time. Passengers in the former, may en- 
joy airy accommodations, and the interesting scenery of the Hudson, 
_ together with their accustomed repose at night; and by means of the 
latter, men of active and provident habits, are able to transact their 
_ daily business at will, either in our commercial metropolis, or in one 
mF the flourishing cities at the head of navigation; the intervening 
_ space of one hundred and fifty miles being passed over during the 
“hours of relaxation and repose, with no other discomfort, than attends 
_ the occupation of a good matress with clean linen, in a steam boat usu- 
ally loaded with passengers. ‘The price of passage is commonly fixed 
_ at three dollars. 
_ Most of these boats have undergone a material change in their size, 
ten, and general outfit since their first construction, in order to 
_ maintain a successful competition for the business of this noble river. 
— It will not be necessary to give an account of the various efforts of 
: - professional skill, by means of which these boats have attained to 
- their present degree of perfection and efficiency, but a general, and 
ee somewhat definite description of one of the number, may prove ac- 
: ceptable to the readers of the Journal. 
: ‘The De Witt Clinton, having been twice enlarged, is now of the 
_ following dimensions, viz. entire length on deck, two hundred and 
_ thirty three fect. Breadth of the hull at the water line, twenty eight 
feet. Projection # wat deck or. ee on each side, — 
Vou. XXIil.—N 
