Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-10-29

decays would not have happened. think all
vessels of war ought to be secured with copper
fastenings and no iron ought to be USED Whef
il can possibly be avoided.
have seldom used the live oak in the con
struction of vessels, as it is hard to work, anu
too heavy for merchant ships: greatly prefer
the timber Of our bay-white oak, LOCUST, ceuai'
and yellow pine. use the white OAK ior lis
frames and for plank from the keel up to ana
including the bends. From the bends 10 the up
per deck, form the frame OF locust anu .ea
cedar an equal number of pieces of either kind,
alternately distributed. The sides quick '"oik,
| decks. upper beams and carns, are iormed Oh
the heart of yellow pine. Latterly, lhaVe IDS
tened the sides and decks with copper.
NV vessels have generally been employed on
long VOYAGES, to the East Indies ana South A'le-
RIGA; and to guard against delay ana acciue.i w,
on such VOYAGES, | have fitted them out IN the
! following manner: They are copper fastened
then sheathed with yellow pine boards one men
! in thickness put on with copper nails ol two IN
ches or two inches and halfin length; layer
of strong paper, dipped in tar, is placed between
the pine boards and the bottom OF the vessel;
and another layer of paper, prepared in IKE
manner, is placed between the pine boards ana
the copper The copper sheathng that use
weighs from % to 81 ounces the square loot
In this way the vessel may be said to have five
bottoms-two of wood, two of paper ard one oil
copper. They are so tight that it is necessary
to have cocks, through which the water may be
introduced intothe hold to keep the vessel sweet
An additional advantage is, that they may De run
with safety two or three years longer man they
could do if they were coppered on single bot
tom OF wood
One of my vessels ran seventeen years ana
wore out three sets Of sheathng-copper before
removed the pine boards fearing then that
the main bottom might require some attention
in consequence of the decay OF the oakum, |
stripped off the sheathing boards, and discover
ed, to my surprise, that the bottom and seams
were in perfectly good order-indeed, it appear
ed as if the water had never penetrated to the
main bottom and that the sheathing of wood
might have remained on with safety Tor many
years longer.
The wear before the breaking on. of the late
war with Great Britain, commenced building
fine vessel, and had her frame raised, her
bends on, and bottom planked, when determin-
ed to proceed no farther. erected shed over
the vessel, under which she remained four years
before concluded to finish her. All possible
J care was taken Of her. yet some OF the large
pieces of timber were found defective, especl-
ally the transoms-timbers Is inches square
we're found to be entirely destroyed by dry rot,
although the interior exhibited no SYMPTOMS OF
unsoundness. 1t was owing to this circumstance
that resorted to the above rected plan OF Dor
ing the large timbers and filling the holes with
salt.
For the preservation of vessels Of war, the
method which have pointed out and which
have pursued would be of great consequence:
it would save millions annually to those govern
ments which from choice, or from necessity,
keep fleets in commission
The only difficulty in the way of its introduce
ton arises from the prejudice against the use oil
salt, under the impression that it causes 100
great degree of moisture in the place allotted
for the accommodation Of the officers g. crews.
Ihave experienced no inconvenience in this res
meet. when the cabins are lined with dry boards,
attached to the inner ceiling. Nor have |, IN
any instance found that any damage has hap
pened to the cargoes, in consequence OF the
moisture.
To overcome any Inconvenience that might
be apprehended, il is only necessary to prepare
the accommodations for the officers and men IN
ships Of war, by fastening strips of plank an
. inch thick up and down, to the sides OF which
strips, sheating Of dry boards can be attached.
This will effectually prevent the escape OF the
moisture. The northern and eastern fronts OF
our country houses are sometimes secured in
this manner-from north east storms.
have mentioned bay salt as the only KIND
that ought to be used for the preservation OF
vessels, owing to its quality Of giving in moist
weatber-dry slowed salt does not possess this
quality, and is therefore unsuitable.
have some experience with fast sailing yes
sells, vulgarly called Baltimore clippers, and
have witnessed their rise and progress IN TWO
wars. Some of them have performed wonders
1T is only necessary to say that they require
great care and judgment in their construction
and equipment, and that they should be COM
manded by men trained in their Management
WILLIAM PATTERSON.
Baltimore, 26h Feb., 1884.