The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1843-02-17

itoN w All slilIS.
The subject OF iron ships has, OF late, occupied
I much public attention. From the numerous expert
ments which have been made ia ia material, II Is
proven To be the strongest and for ships Of war the
| eapest which can be used National yesseis, has-
ing occasion 10 visit all climates much annoyed,
IA The tropics, by yermp the excessive heat shrinks
and cracks tho decks and pIansing, which causes
premature decay.
In Government Navy Yards, where ships are some
times long on the stocks, they are frequently partial
~ rebuilt before beng put ~ commission, source OF
immense waste of public treasure, as well uucer-
talny as The ultimate durability OF the vessel In
stores OF timber have 10 be kept IN the various
yards, brought from distance, which, for seasoning
and prevention OF dry rot, are handled at much en-
penscall which difficulties would be greatly diminish
ed BY substituting iron for wood in the construction Of
ships Tor the navy. tn like every Other improvement
IS slow o working IFS way i.to the public mind still
feel happy 10 see the Secretary OF the Navy Judge
Upshur take the lead in this mighty change: Indeed,
il is from such that great public works OF utility
ought proceed, as from them alone they be
brought TO successful issue. 1t is refreshing 10
such minds embark the calm Of mechanical
science, and ausurs well for the pcrmaneDcc of our
institutions. One such Improvement brought to light
and fostered by him, viii outlive in the minds Of a
grateful nation all the political chickering's and heart
burnngs of the age. The steamship now being
built at Pitlsburg, owes its origin 10 the enghle cd
individual at tie head OF the Navy Department, and
il Is 10 be hoped that no palms, EXPENSE will be
spared to make her what she ought to be--a model
in every point of view. Recent events have shown,
however, such the sinking of an iron boat on the
Eng sh coast, and the snaggng Of two II the Misss-
sippi that their present mod Of construction is very
defective Various experiments have been mede,
both here and in England, 10 improve them in this
partieular-amobgst The latest hat by MIR Kerr and
others of Pi,tsburg The pres in that quarter speaks
IN very hatterlng terms OF tieIr Improvement and
thinks II deserves theIGoyernmenis attention. The
Pi'isburg Gazette says, in giving short description
of its p .rticulars:
1.-The vessel being built in the ordinary manner an
inner lining is introduced between the ribs and ias-
tened to them by screw bolts ryets tins lining Is
from two to three inches apart from the outer cover
Ing, thereby rendering the spaces between the ribs
complete set OF iron boxes. As the inner sh, ahng
is ma waler-lght, as well as the outer, however
much the outer may be damaged the inner will still
Keep the vessel sale, aud the lea only extend to
the space between the rib or ribs Immediately inur-
ed, great amount OF outside damage would ca,ee
but small leakage. The patent lining being attach
cd TO the upraised limb Aanch Of the iron rib BE-
fore IT can be InJu ed, the ribs must be torn apart
but, 10 sunder them should say, next to impos-
sible from the substantial manner in which they are
held 10 their places the inner lining; but even
should any partial damage occur, the bolt, being east
" got at, any leakage could be quickly stopped
Considerable stress has been land on the supposed
extra weight added by the introduction of the patent
Lining, but on full Investigation of the matter find
that the weight OF iron boat, lining included, fails
lar short OF that OF wooden one, such as are built
Tor The Navy out Of live oak-as series Of cacula-
lions which have seen on the subject, made by
gentleman fully conyersant with The matter will
.ow 4 axe, for example, ten square feet out of
The hui oil d boat Of each kind the one made wood
will weigh 1888 lbs. averduposc the iron one 625U
lbs ditto VIZ her ribs will weigh 300 bs her out
side sheathing, of 3S iron, 1900 lbs her lining of
3l6, ioO los; making allowance for laps and rly
cts of Jul lbs. Now II can be easily ascertained by
any one conyersant with figures that the wooden boat
Is put down lighter than war steamers are usually
built The iron one is put down with ribs as heavy
any that has been b, lit the outer covering is
sixteenth of an inch thicker than the English war
steamer Nemses, and if made Of our Juniata iron
(Which equal to the best Swedsh) will be as strong
as if eighth tucker If then to this we are able to
add the additional safeguard of the patent lining,
which must SO materially strengthen boat and that
too with decrease in point Of weight of nearly one
third question must be set ut rest of an ron boat
being heavier than wooden one. In addition to the
point OF stren.,h safety gained by the manner in
which Kerr Co. put in their patent lining at small
expense may, by the newly discovered process be
galvanized, which will render it imperyious TO rust
and make IT healthy and clean; and from the close
contact Of the lining (when galvanlzed) TO the outer
coating as wen as to the ribs, they also will be free
| from corrosioD.
| know not whether the attention of Government
has ever heen directed to this invention | should
say is worthy OF fair trial. being as II is the only
feasible plan that has yet been proposed and as it is
an invention of our own, it should by all means be
tested; the Navy Department can do il at small ex-
pense. Should ii answer all the purposes it holds
out, new will arrive in ship building, and an
impulse DC gwen TO The mineral resources Of iron
and coal country, heretofore unknown
! Trusting that the foregoing observations may be
the means Of drawing hers better able to discuss
/ the matter into the field, and throw additional light
on the subject am, Sc