AMERICAN STEAM PACKETS BETWEEN BOSTON AND LIVERPOOL. --- A joint stock company in this city contemplates establishing a line of steam propellers to run between this port and Liverpool. The pioneer ship is nearly ready, and may be expected here from Philadelphia about the latter part of next month, to load for Liverpool. The opening of the grand junction railroad, will unquestionably afford the Canadians the most expeditious means of forwarding their produce, over the complete chain of railroads from Ogdensburg and Buffalo, to the nearest Atlantic port, for shipment to Europe; and that such produce may be carried to its destination with despatch, is the object for which this line of packets will be established. Merchandise and passengers bound westward will also be forwarded in the same style. The projectors of this enterprise are determined that no effort shall be wanting to render their line of packets worthy of public confidence.
Their line will be composed of four ships, varying in size from fourteen hundred to two thousand tons register.
The first ship is named the S.S. Lewis, in honor of the gentleman who first suggested the enterprise. She is 224 feet long between perpendiculars, has 32½ feet breadth of beam, and 27 feet depth of hold. Her frame is of live and white oak, trussed together with diagonal iron bands, similar to those in the Cunard and Collins steamers, and she is also sheathed and planked with oak, and fastened in the most substantial style.
She has three entire decks, the lower one of which is designed for steerage passengers, and will accommodate about 460, or for cargo is the absence of passengers. The second deck is devoted to cabins and state rooms, and will accommodate 160 first class passengers.
The after part of the hold contains the boilers, engines and coal bins, leaving space forward for 5000 barrels capacity.
She has two oscillating engines, with 60 inch cylinders, and 44 inches stroke; and she will be propelled by a Loper's patent propeller, which is 13 feet in diameter, and has four fans. two hundred and fifty tons of coal will be sufficient for a passage across the Atlantic. Her motive power is very compact, and is estimated to propel her, is moderate weather, at the rate of 12 miles an hour.
Upon the upper deck she has a large house amidships, designed for galleys, store-rooms, and accommodations for the crew. In other respects the deck is entirely clear fore and aft, and is admirably planned for working ship.
She is a full-rigged ship, fitted aloft so that her tophamper can be easily sent down when going head to the wind. In her motive power and the style of her equipments, she somewhat resembles the steamer City of Glasgow; but her designers are sanguine that she will prove a far superior vessel, both in speed and accommodations.
Harnden & Co. will be the agents of this line on both sides of the water. The other vessels of which it will be composed will be contracted for at once, and built with despatch.
Transcribed by Lars Bruzelius.
Sjöhistoriska Samfundet | The Maritime History Virtual Archives | The Boston Daily Atlas | Search.
Copyright © 1997 Lars Bruzelius.