Rensselaer Union, Volume 1, Number 10, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 December 1868 — The Fastest Ocean Steamer in the World. [ARTICLE]

The Fastest Ocean Steamer in the World.

Tho Brooklyn Union of Friday morning baa the following; “On Monday J, noon, steam Was got up on the United States qefe# steamship Neshaininy, for the purpose of testing the powerful machinery with Which has recently been fitted. Tho ship lies moored off the wharf adjoining thejilry dock in the'navy yard of thw c it y “ and has been an objegt of no little curiosity and interest since. Th<{ Neshamiuy forma ons of tho five gjg. ter ships ordered to be built during tielato war. The depredations of tho Alabama, th o Florida and other privateers, their extraordinary speed, which enabled Mr. Raphael Semines aud hjs brother corsairs to laugh at the vary fleetest of their pursuers, as well iui the blockadmunningfoatsof the nimblest fleet of craft that oversailed from the Clyde or the Mersqy, bothered Uncle Sun somewhat, and the construction of five ships, in which speed should lie the chief result aimed at, was determined upon. There are, besides tho Nesliaminy, the Wanpanoag, Ainonoosuc, Mtubwasca and I’ompanoosue. Nashamiuy is piero rd for sixteen eleveninch gnus, will carry a pivot on the forecastle,' is of six thousand horse imwer, and can make seventeen knots—tventy-one miles? or, at ti pinch, twenty-two miles an hour. This is two knots an hour faster than the fastest ocean steamer afloat. If calk d into active service she will bo barque rigged; but after tho present contract trial of the machinery is over, it is the intention to lay the vessel up.in ordinary, “The designs for tho Neshaminy win made at Washington, under the direction pf Mr. Lenthul, chief construction. She is of about three thousand two hundred tons. Mr. B. F. Isherwood, Chief of tho Bureau of Steam Engineering designed the machinery, which was made by John Boach A, Son, of the Etna Works, New York. She has two engines a one hundred-inch cylinder, with -our feet stroke, the screw revolving twice as fast us the eniuk-sliaft, There are eight main boilers and lour super-heat-ers. Tho services of ten engineers and hbout a hundred and sixty coal passers and firemen would be required if the vessel should ever bo put in commission. “The totid length is 335 feet 160 feet of which is occupied with the engines; width over all, 15 feet, and depth of hold, 22 feet. .Under full steam, tho vessel will require 120 i to 110 tons of coal daily. At the close of' the trail the engines were reported us working its near perfection as it seems possible tu attain.