The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-11-25 00:00:00

IRON SHIPS

Notwithstanding the iron trade of Great Britain is one of
the greatest in the world, it is still capable of more ex-
tended development. The production of ironstone is inez..
haustible ; flux is easy attainable, and we have fuel wee_
sible at an easy and moderate rate. We, by no means,
wish to underrate the energy or capabilities of our iron.
masters, or depreciate in any way, the monster works they
have undertaken, or the successful manner in which they
have carried them out; there is sill ample room for itn.
provPment, and a wider range of enterprise before them.
The introduction of iron, for the purpose of ship-build.
ing, is o fa comparatively modern date ; and although we can
point with pride to the many ship-bui'ding yards on the
Thames, the Mersey, and the Clyde ; while we acknowledge
all that has hitherto been dote by engineering skill, and
indomitable indu,try, combined with great perseverance,
yet it is to be honed . that something further will yet be
done, in order that the prejudice that exists at present
against iron ships may be removed.
It would appear that complaints have been made against
the defective construction of our iron vessels, and that they
are considered more liable to-accidents than ships constructed
of wood, and hence a feeling of insecurity engendered. It
is true that several lamentable and disastrous occurrences
have taken place in iron vessels but taking the proportion
of these with those of wood, allowing for the greater
number of the latter, according to all received accounts, they
are not so frequent. It would appear that the Arabia,
which has just arrived from the United States, had among
her passengers several scientific gentlemen, who visit
England purposely to obtain information regarding iron
ship-building ; if this information should be correct—and
we have no reason to doubt its authenticity—it would seem
that our " go-ahead" cousins are alive to the fact of the
great superiority of metal ships over those of timher.
and the result of their enquiries may probably lead to their
extended introduction on the lakes and rivers of Columbia.
Mr. John Clare, of Liverpool, states, that the cause of
the losses of several of the iron ships may be traced to
ignorance; and sulgests that the manuf;cturers should call
a meeting, then appoint a deputation to the Board of Trade,
the ostensible object being, that a scale should be laid down
only upon which iron ships will be allowed to be built. He
is of opinion that where there is one ship constructed now,
there will then be fifty; if properly built it would be an
imp, ssibility that they should leak ; and, consequently,
from their increased sr curity, would monopolise the greater
portion of the carrying trade of the world.
How iron ship building has progressed in the kingdom
may be judged by the construction of the Leviathan by
Messrs. Scott Russell and Co. It would, in our opinion, be
difficult to lay down any definite rule on which these vessels
should be constructed ; in every ship some defect would be
found ; these, in due course, would be remedied. No govern-
ment regulations have so much efficacy as individual
enterprise, aided by mechanical and practical science. There
is no question but that these vessels could be built hero cheaper
and better than in any country in the world, and that the
make of them is rof so great as it might be. It is not our pro-
vince to dictate to any trade in what manner or branch they
are to extend their operation., of this the manufacturers
themselves are the best judges; it is, however, a subject of
great importance—the development of any material branch
of industry. In drawing attention to the subject we have
only fulfilled a simple duty, and we trust that those who
are more directly interested will pursue such practical mea-
sures as they may deem most befitting for the advancement
of this branch of our staple trade, so as to make it one of the
great elements of our national wealth.—Mining Journal.

DREADFIft DEATH OF TWO CHILDREN IN LONDON.—Two
accidents terminated fatally on Sunday ; one to Mary Ann
Davis, 4 years of age, who residf..,d at Dnekhead ; and the
other, to Itchert Gilmour, aged 8 years, Drummond street,
Euston square. In the first case, the child Davis got on
the fender, slipped, and pulled a kettle of boiling water over
her. In the second case, the deceased was playing near the
Are, and got his clothes ignited, when he was burnt to death,