618 



REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1890. 



portant American seaports, the credit of being the first to inaugurate a 

 transatlantic steamship line. 



The Savannah was equipped with one inclined, direct-acting, low- 

 pressure engine of 90 horse-power, the diameter of the cylinder being 

 forty inches and the stroke five feet. Her engine was built by Stephen 

 Vail* at Speedwell Iron Works, near Morristown, New Jersey. The 

 boilers were built at Elizabeth, New Jersey, by Daniel Dod. The paddle 

 side wheels consisted of eight radial arms, held in place by one flange, 

 and were arranged to close together like a fan. They were furnished 

 with a series of joints so that they could be detached from the shaft and 

 taken in on deck when storm or other circumstances required it. Her 

 shaft had a peculiar joint at each end arranged for the purpose. The 

 wheelhouse was made of canvas, stretched over an iron rim. It is 

 unfortunate that no detailed drawing or accurate description of the 

 wheel or machinery is in existence. The vessel carried seventy-five tons 

 of coal and twenty-five cords of wood. The total cost was about $50,000, 

 including engines and all rigging. 



An account book containing a record of the original charges made 

 against the Savannah for machinery, etc., by the proprietors of the 

 Speedwell Iron Works, is now in the possession of Mr. John Lidger- 

 wood, of No. 2G Liberty street, New York City. 



I had the privilege of examining this interesting relic a short time 

 since. The following is a transcript of the account : 



Steam Ship of Savannah, Dr. 



1818. 

 August 1 

 27 



October 28 



Nov'br 



5 



11 

 17 



To paid Eno9 Bonnel 8 dollars for carting a ccllender from E. Town 



To boaring a 40-inch cillender, 5 feet 5 inches into it, and it proved bad, and cast- 

 ing of sinking head, $100-00 



To paid caiman three dollars for carting the air pump from E. Town 



To two lbs. of candles at ls.%d 



To one peston rod, at 420 lbs. beforo it was turned, at 1*. 6cl, 18c 



One air-pump rod at 205 lbs. before it was turned at Is. 6<2 



To bearing a40g-inch cellinder, 5-foot stroke at 4,200, 3 hundred at, say, 4707, at 

 5c 



To boaring one air pump 5-foot stroke, at 17, 2, at, say, 1,974 lbs. at 5c 



To one load of pine stuff for patrons as per bill, $14, 121 carting, $3 



To lengthening the peston rod with 98 pounds of iron after it was part 

 turned there being a mistake in the draft that Mr. Dod had made and sub- 

 mitted to me, $22.37^ 



Lengthening air-pump rod as the peston rod 8 inches with 30 pounds of iron 

 and work to do it $8. 62£ 



To carting air pump to E. Town 



To one patron the pillow bl ock to rest on, on the outside of the ship 



One large pillow-block patron 



One brass patron for do , 



To Wm.Daglisb, 2 days with patrons for the ship at 24s 



Carting patrons to E. Town poin t 



To paid for carting 2 centers from Dod's and 12 flanges for the water wheels.. 



$8.00 



100. 00 



3.00 



.42 



78.81 



38.44 



235. 35 

 98.70 

 17. 12J 



22. 37£ 



8.62i 

 3.00 

 15.00 

 10.00 

 2.50 

 COO 

 2.00 

 10.00 



*Afterwards distinguished for his connection with Morse in the invention of the 

 telegraph. 



