The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1850-06-04 00:00:00

NEW VESSEL ON MR. JORDAN'S PRINCIPLE
OF AN IRON FRAME AND WOODEN PLANK-
ING.

We briefly noticed, some time ago, a beautiful model of
a ship on the patent principle of Mr. Jordan, shown and
explained at a meeting of the Royal Mersey Yacht Club,
and which attracted much interest and attention. Several
questions were on that occasion put by gentlemen present,
as to the mode of fastening, &c. ; and the probabilities of
the wood and iron combined involving decay of the one
and corrosion of the other; and the comparative cost of
adopting the plan as compared with a wholly iron, or with
what is called a wooden ship. The representatives of Mr.
Jordan, (who was not present,) explained the whole to
the satisfaction of many present; though, as in all novel-
ties, others entertained a doubt, only to be removed by
the practical test of a regular vessel of adequate scale
built upon the principle. We are glad to say that this
experiment will very shortly be made, Mr. Jordan having
since received an order for the building of a schooner upon
this principle, from our respected and enterprising towns-
man, Mr. Josias Booker. This vessel is now nearly com-
pleted, by Mr. Jordan himself, at his new building yard,
near what was called the Herculaneum Dock, at the south
extremity of the town. Before noticing her particularly,
we may remind our readers, that it was stated at the meet-
ing alluded to, that the cost would be a large per cent-
age (say 30) under that of a first-rate wooden ship,—the
saving being in the substitution (as compared with such
ship,) of the iron ribs, &c., for an English oak frame of
well-grown and duly curved timber, which it is now diffi-
cult to find at almost any price. As compared with an
entirely iron vessel, Mr. Jordan is also of opinion that
his plan possesses several advantages in greater buoyancy,
and a saving from the great cost of plating, riveting, &c.
Time will tell all, and whatever the result may be (and we
hope and trust it will be successful,) it involves a great
national desideratum in the opinion of not a few of our
nautical men, who deem that,—the navigation laws being
now abrogated,—something new must be struck out to
enable us fairly to compete with foreign nations in the
great and vital department of ship-building.
The vessel under review, though small, is handsomely
moulded in every point, and is evidently of great strength.
She is literally " as strong as wood and iron can make
her." Her length, including a slight fore-rake, is about
50 feet, and she has ample beam and bearings. She ad-
measures little over 40 tons, but will carry 55 tons of dead
weight. Nevertheless, her fine bottom and extremities
will render her a fast vessel. The ribs are of strong angle-
iron, like those of an entirely iron vessel. The keel, stem,
and stern-post are of wood, and the vessel outwardly will,
when closed in, present the precise appearance of a wooden
vessel. The planking, now finished to about the bilges,
is of American elm. Above the bilges she will be planked
with teakwood. The two kinds of wood named aie se-
lected as amalgamating best with iron, without injury to
either material
.; and green-heart, as well as other easily
attainable woods, may be used in large vessels with equal
advantage. Two streaks of green heart will probably be
introduced in the top sides of the vessel, which will be
coppered. The garhoard streak planks are four inches
in thickness ; those above gradually decreasing. The keel-
plate (above the wooden keel) forms a strong double-
ridged kelson, and is continued into an iron apron for-
ward, and an inner stern-post abaft. Two water-
ways are cut on the interior of the garboard streak,
.close to the kelson, and running under the iron
ribs, so that the bilge water has free access to the
well. The manner in which the iron work of the
kelson, apron, and inner stern-post, are secured to the
wooden keel, stem and stern-post, is most ingenious, the
combination giving greater strengh than is possessed by
ordinary vessels. The plank, or wood-ends, both fore
and aft, are secured by a double row of bolts—one run-
ning up the iron work which is made precisely to fit the
sheer of the plank : and the other up the wood-work,
finishing as in a wooden-ship, and thus forming a double
security against " starting." The planks all along are
firmly secured to the flat part of the iron ribs by bolts,
with heads, terminating inwardly bynuts screwed on to their
extremities. These bolts are all coated with gutta percha.
Theheads arecountersunk into the planking to some depth ;
the cavity in the timber thus formed to be afterwards
filled up with guile percha, so that the vessel may be
coppered without the composition nails coming into con-
tact with the iron. Where but-ends occur in the plank-
ing, (and in this vessel there are very few,) the manner of
securing them, and maintaining a good strong flush joint,
even between the ribs, is simple and ingenious. On the
inside, over where the but-ends meet, is placed an oblong
square plate of iron, transversely with the vessel, covering
the seam of the buts, and extending across a part of each
plank above and below. This plate is screwed down with
bolts and screws at each side, over the buts, and also to
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the fastenings; and such is the stability of the whole
frame, (with wooden ribbons here and there while the
building goes on,) that the thick planks stated are with
great facility and celerity bent into their places, without
(as was supposed by some who saw the model) at all dis-
turbing the ribs, or the accurate contour of the vessel,
The deck will be of pine. There is an iron stringer all
round under the deck, peculiarly placed inside the tops of
the ribs, so that the deck stancheons may be inserted
between it and the outer skin without, as in common iron
vessels, perforating any of the iron-work.
It is intended by Mr. Jordan to fill in the spaces be-
tween the ribs with asphaltum, which is prepared in
square sheets of considerable thickness, so as to be
readily inserted and secured by the action of heat. This
substance is sufficiently elastic to withstand any vibration
or movement of the vessel's hull, and will prevent corro-
sion of the iron and leakage of the seams of the planking.
It will also serve as ballast without interfering with avail-
able stowage room, and it will form bridges of support
between the ribs.

The keel of this vessel was laid so lately as the Ist of
May, and she will be ready for launching early next week.
The vessel is intended to run, with passengers and
goods, from place to place on the coast, and on the inland
waters of Demerara ; and such is the confidence of her
owner in her strength and capabilities that, we learn, he
would not hesitate to take his passage in her to that
colony, in which he possesses estates, and where he pur-
poses to become a resident for a short time, to pursue an
improved principle of cultivating cotton for our home
market, so as to render us less dependant for that article
upon the United States. She will be handsomely rigged
as a clipper schooner. We are informed that several
nautical men and shipbuilders, who have before doubted
the practicability of constructing a vessel upon this new
principle of great strength and great durability, have, on
seeing and examining her, either relaxed or abandoned
their former opinions.

COMMERCIAL AND MONETARY REPORT.

Monday Night.

The accounts from the Continent are of a most satisfac-
tory nature ; the peaceful disposition of all parties is
becoming daily more developed, and, as far as our own
diplomatic relations are concerned, we have got out of a
bungling business better than might 'nave been expected.
In consequence of this auspicious state of affairs, the mar-
ket for public securities on Saturday was exceedingly firm
for a considerable period; but some silly rumours about
the recall of the Russian ambassador, supposed to have
originated in the vicinity of the Paris Bourse, checked
the rise in prices, and Consols, which were done at 961,
receded to 961 It will be seen by our latest intelligence
that the bubble has not ye'; exploded.
We have again the satisfaction to report a further con-
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advance. As might have been expected one or two of the
bears have been swept away by the advance. The mar-
ket to-day is steady, closing a little less buoyant than at
the opening, and a large business has been done at the
quotations, which we annex :—Leeds Fifths, 92 11/3 d. ;
Liverpool and Crosby, sd. ; London Stock, 107, 61, ;
Ditto, 1-shares, 1/3 p par 1/3 kd ; C quarters, 5/8 p ;
Midland Stock, 37-; Ditto 2-shares, 26 k d; Dovers, old,
15 ; Newcastle pref., 6 s d ; Dutch Rhenish, 2 8/9 ; Fire
and Life, 1 16/3 p.
We find from a table published in the monthly circular
of Messrs. A. F. and D. Mackay, that there is a falling
off in the import of Timber this year, compared with the
last ; and the circular further states that,—" The advance
in prices so eagerly sought by holders and others, has not
been realised, but on the contrary, owing in a great mea-
sure to the large quantity of old Timber, &c., held for
years, being forced upon the market at low rates, has had
its effect in bringing down the price of the fresher de-
scriptions, even below the current rates at the close of the
import in February last, which the sales will show.
Should the import this• season be restricted, bet-
ter prices will be paid ; but if large quantities of Timber and
Deals continuo to arrive, regardless of the consumption,
as in former years,,then it would be unreasonable to ex-
pect other than exceedingly low rates."
There has been a good demand for Sugar since the
publication of the Brokers' Oreular, and although we do
not hear of any sales, higher prices have been asked, and
there is more doing in Molasses. Some inferior Havana
Molasses were sold on Saturday at 155., and some Barba-
does at 175., which is an advance of ls. on late prices.
That mad expedition, of which we gave notice last week,
has sailed for Pine Island, according to the last received
accounts, to the extent of 10,000 men, from which point
it is intended to make the descent upon Cuba. This in-
telligence has caused several holders here to ask higher
prices, and in some cases to withdraw their Sugar altoge-
ther from the market. In fact, the probability of a gene-
ral self-emancipation of the slaves is a topic of general
conversation, and parties interested are anxiously awaiting
the further information expected by the next steamer.
The step taken by the Cuban invaders is quite indepen-
dent of the government of the United States, who have
determined, if possible, to arrest their progress in transit;
but, of course, as they are out of the American territory,
this will be found a veil difficult task. Be this as it may,
if the project of invasion should be carried to a successful
issue, it will be more in favour of West India property
than any other circumstance which could possibly occur.
In the Tea market, a good inquiry exists for commou
Congous, and very few can be had under 10d. per lb. In
Rice there is little doing ; and the fine weather has so far
influenced its value, that it has nearly gone back to pre-
vious low prices. We have to report a sale of Jute, of
1000 bales, which went off with spirit, at firm prices ;
this article is attracting considerable attention at present,
as its applicability is becoming more extended.
There have been no transactions worthy of note in our
rum market this week. Brandies are without variation ;
transactions, however, are very limited, but the deliveries
both for duty and exportation are large, and must shortly
act upon the stock of wince ; a fair butinees has been