The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-12-14
American Institute-Iron ship Building.

Inc weekly c0hcef>utboWe vi thA lneuiDeiS Vi Tie
American Institute, was upon a subject of deep inn
portance to the marine interests of this and the
other ports Of the Union, namely, upon iron as
material for shipbuilding. The chair was taken by
MIR. MAPEs, the President of the Institute.
The PRESIDENT opened the conversations by
brief view OF the history of iron shipbuding. The
first iron boat used in this country far he was
aware, was imported from England in the year
1876, by company at Savannah; and the first
built here was in 1888, when one was built In the
western part Of New York, which was now being
used upon Lake Erie, between Rochester and Bnf-
falo. He described the mode in which the Phia-
delphia and Delaware iron boats, which are built
in sections, are employed upon sea and canal, but
at too much length to be reported; after which he
stated that in 1888 iron steamer was first built
New York. She was put together entirely in this
port, with the exception of four iron seams, after
which she was sent to New Orleans, where she
was finished Every thing pertaining to her was
rolled at the Ulster Iron Works The largest iron
boat built in this country was In 1889 at Ptttsburg
She commenced running In the fall OF that year,
and she had ever since proved herself perfectly
snag proof in short, she had been entirely success
full. Subsequent to 1889 there had been a large
number of iron vessels built, concerning. which no
means existed of obtaining detailed information.
In England, the President observed that iron boats
could be built at the same cost as wooden ones; in
this country they cost something more; and with
count of one which, in coming lack from the East
Indies, struck upon rock, bow on, worked herself
off, and actually broke the point of the rock off and
brought the piece home. To wood vessel such
an event would have been fatal Besides, in iron
ships leaks could be entirely stopped with the great
est ease and safety
Mr.. MEILs enquired whether some of the steam
boats employed upon the Philadelphia and De-
aware Canal Were not employed in transporting
coal
The PRESIDENT replied in the affirmative.
Mr.; SERRELL mentioned that four large boats of
that description had been built in New York, upon
Nnrfh RIyer tbeU rIy ms him.
dred feet long by thirty feet wide. They had Erics
The PRESIDENT said that altogether eleven of
them had been built here. They carried 21O tons
of coal in fact they supplied coal for all the
Eastern ports, and through their agency coal could
be landed as cheap at any of those ports as at New
York. They took in coal and dlschargedit by
steam power, and they travelled, readily, SIX
miles an hour out of the canal, and between
four and five in it. The accommodations were
very great, whilst at the same time they had per-
fectly clear cargo space from stem to stern, !,
MIR. SERRErL stated that the first iron boat he had
ever seen was in the year 1921, and was employed
in running between Havre de Grace and Paris by
sea. Not many months ago be heard that the same
So, She was 40 feet long by IL or IS wide. She
was called the Aaron Mandy, from the name of
the engineer who built her. Subsequently to that
the British Government, had built several iron or
Seas all of which had been extremely successful.
Mr. CLOVES being called upon stated that the President
IN IN wn 10 the
was not known exactly when they were first built
Some he knew, were introduced before he was born
He had been asked to give account Of the durability
of iron for ship building but impossible for there
data, either in this country Europe, upon
which establish correct facts Vessels built before he
was born (and he 54,) still in existence
The Aaron Manly to which reference had been made
was built by the Horsley Iron Company. She taken
to London in pieces and put together there in such way
(Which he infinitely described) to make her perfect
solid In the 1905 he had the charge of keeping
30 feet long to be used in breaking ice They used
for that purpose in winter and in summer they laid
by. Those boats in existence STILL and still
in service And to the and tear of iron he would
mention the case of the steamer John Randolph. This
vessel was built in 1884, upon the river Savannah. In
August last according to statement in the Savannah
Republican, she was drawn out Of the water for exami
nation and after nine years wear and tear running the
whole of that time without ntermssion the plates Of
bottom little that it not possible per
ceiye any damage. No injury had befaen her during
were easily repaired This was the best evidence that
could be afforded that iron the material best adapted
for the ships upon our lakes and rivers Mr. Cloves
stated several other facts to show the superior durability
Of ron and he summed the advantages of that material
over wood in the six following points in lghtness and
repars-unknown neutrality-suspicious. safety from fire
and wreckes liability to total loss when cast upon
lee shore
Mr. CLARKE contended from the chemical properties OF
iron, that it must necessarily be superior to wood.
there was no corrosion either inside or out
iron vessels; but it necessary that they should be
kept in cGnstan, action They r1sed only when they
ton of the paint used for the protection Of the sides OF
iron vessels above and about the water line
Mr. MEIIs read O description of the iron steamer
built by the Great Western Steamship Company, called
the Great Brtain and Mr. CLOVES described in practi
terms the mode to regulate the action the
compass on board such vessels.
Mr.. sERRrL, with reference the safety of iron
sells from lightning observed that you could divide the
iorce OF any terrible agent you literally conquered that
agent Iron ships presented many points to divide the
attack of lightning. that was repealed Wood ships
could not do this the mast become the point of attrac
ton into the hull whereas in the iron ship the ship her
self became mass of points of attraction to deposit the
fud into the water: In this manner could reasonably
account for the greater safety of iron wood vessels
in storms OF lightning Iron ships too had every quality
as to cleanliness in proof of which he described the Iron
Queen Captain OBren recently in this port which, al
though three years built totally free from vermn Of
all kinds, and as tight as on the day she was built
Mr.. CLOVES, being asked to whether iron vessels
we're not liable to have their sides covered with ncrusa.
tons from the action of water replied that they might
iron vessel went from the sea into fresh water the bar
naces Q she had any fell from her and she went from
fresh into salt water the grass Immediately left her;
that she was continued clean and smooth
Mr. ME'L at the request Of the President read Profess
Arey directions for the correction of the compass
versaton the Importance Of the subject the meeting
was adjourned till Wednesday next for its farther dis
cussion.
The LATE MAIL RoBBERY.-Yesterday morning
William Hoff, the person charged with robbng and
rllng the mail from Albany for this city, at Hud-
son, during the night of the 9TH ult. brought to
this city in custody of officer Smith, in irons. The
prisoner was very much alarmed at his situation,
and suffered much mental anxiety while on his way
down. He has been married but few months,
and is about twenty-three years OF age. The case
will not undergo examination as is usual at the
United States Commissioners office, but will be
sent to the Grand Jury OF the District Court, now
in session, and will be disposed of at once-so that
should true bill be found against the prisoner he
will probably be tried and convicted at the present
term. We believe the punishment of such an Of
fence is not less than ten years over twenty-one
in the State prison.
ANOTHER GREAT r oBBERY.-We regret to learn
that Pomeroy IL Cos. Express was yesterday rob-