The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1847-02-04
THE IRON STEAM REVENUE CUTTER

4 'o>i BUILT IN RICHMOND.
. During our late absence we tnnk the onportu.
NIFTY. under the guidance Of the constructor "f the
Polk. Mr.. CAPEs, and the builder of the engine
+ Mf. IIGHTHALL. tn thoroughly inspect this beau
''iul and excellent vessel. huilt in Richmond ri
the Tredegar Works of JOSEPH r ANDERSON
Esq. OF all the iron vessels hniIt by the Gov
ernment, this is the only one vet finished that
will prove serviceabe. and al the same time cred
table I" the mechanical character Of our county
the simple putting together of the hull com
pared with the Legnre. now living al Rnckeu's.
rannnt hut strike the most superficial observer
bn the fact. that vessel has heen huilt. ont and
nu. in the heart of Virginia of Virginia materials
dug in their crude state from her bowels cut from
her mountain tops. and fashioned by our ingenious
and talented mechanics. will prove era of the
utmost Importance and interest in her history
The mind Immediately asks the question. to
whom are We indebted for this triumphant devel
"pment of the resources of this State? and memo
ry as readily paints To his Exrellency. The late
President TYLER. whose eagle vision saw that
which had hsen hid from all his predece ssors
and 10 lest the practcabiiy. he ordered the cut
! ter Legare To proceed Ia Richmond. 10 show the
country that tho James River was navpahle for
vessels of that class--a fact which, previnns tn
that lime, had heen lnnked upon ms Utnp;an. al
though these waters had ran To the sea from time
inmem"riai and, since we have been country,
onr merchant ships have borne, thnse very
waters our rich products To all paris of the earth.
II was President Tyler who directed the model to
he drafted and the contract he made for building
this vessel, and IL was his peio which placed ii
IN the power of President Polk 10 carry out as he
has nobly done, the original design of his prede
cessor. which was 10 give an impulse to Virginia
enterprise. and devenpe her mighty resources
We much indebted To Mr.. Polk for his carry
ing out, TO completion. the original Intention hat
an mnbounded gratitude is due to our own JOHN
TYLER. for originating the design and when his
faithful services to his native State re forgotten.
by any of her children. her sun will have set in
darkness. and her glory will be enveloped in
glnnn. We could have wished that the name of
&" J0hn Tyler" had been given To the vessel. hut
Shakespeare's assertion ''that rose by any other
name will smell as sweet" is equally applicable
here. and the Z" POik." wherever she floats, will
carry along with ker all the "reminiscences of her
birth. We return from this very natural digres
sion to our first intention. which was only to do
an act of Justice 10 our Virginia resources, and
those engaged in building The Polk, ny noticing
her particularly. which have not heretofore
done, having delayed from day to day. in The
hope thai she would, this. nave been in our
immediate harhor but we shall delay no longer,
although in a few days she will be here when
she will be transferred 10 the Navy, of which
we prophecy she will be the pride and ornament
Mr. Anderson, a, whose works. IN Richmond.
the =" Polk has been built. hill and engine, has
spared no expense To present every facility to the
! Constructors {" put up first class vessel and
there is not sheet Of iron. bolt brace or strap,
hut what has underwent thorough test befnre 1t
has been put It's destined use the " hole work
of The vessel. outside and in re- fleets the hiuhes,
credit on Mr.. Capes. The birth deck for The
men, ls celrd throughout. and the cabin and
ward room work is substantially and neatly fin
shed she is schooner rugged. with three masts,
and at a little distance. presents very much The
a PpearancP of a sloop of war Her draft of water
will he, when all is on hoard between and 9
| feet. The motive power is sails and steam. The
steam power will be obtained from two Of Light
balls Half Beam Engines. o, we believe, 100
horse pnAer each. They have heen constructed
under The superintendent of The paentee him
! self, and we feel satisfied that she will perform
: every thing That has been promised. Mr. Light
hall is most accomplished practical engineer,
and has never failed in fulfilling every prom
Use yet made and We feel perfectly satisfied tina.
he will far exceed his pledges on this case He
is also putting pair Of his engines ia the oval.
/ Kerr another vessel of the same class building
( At Plusbnrg, which we are assured will equaI,
( and perhaps surpass The "Polk" in speed.
4 We have before spoken of Mr.. LiohthaIl. and
( congratulated The Government ON its fortunate Sc
lecIon Of really capable man and practical
/ constructor of engines. and securing his services
/ Ia the nation, for il cannot he denied that manv
whn have heretofore been engaged and are now
paid high salaries, have little more practical
know ledge of the engine, than would enable them
to handle the "slarting bar" Of orr most common
engines but in LIGHTHALL, they have man
" hose " hole life has been devoted to the deveI
, opmeut Of this peculiar SCIENCE ard who has,
{ furthermore, been emnently successful, which is
the best Test Of his worth We may here, with
out improperly, mention that he has perfected
| still further improvements in his Half Beam
Engine. which gives him Gar greater power, Sc
cures the machinery, boilers and all, from injury
from The enrmy's shot, and materially lessons the
expense Uf building These are advantages which
, have never been secured by any Of the miserable
submerged propeller systems for they are only
like goose, their feet are under water, while The
boiler, or body, is exppsed to be rddleJ whenever
brought into action.
We sincerely hope the Secretary Of the Navy,
or the Secretary Of The Treasury will he author
lzed TO engage Mr.. Lighthall To fl the Legare,