The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-12-07
Ship Building In New York.

This great city, the centre Of the wealth. commerce
arts and civilization Of the western werld-from whose
harbor depart ships and every part
of the civilized globe-wl Ia a few years,
pass all other cities In the extent Of her mercantile
marine. Probably city in the world is admirably
adapted to ship building for everything
to success In that art Is found in unlimited quantities.
and of quality that cannot be exoeled Nature and
art combined have given to this city, Ia her water
nunicaon and railroads, such great facilities that, In
all time to come she must maintain her supremacy in
naval architecture Few persons form any idea Of
the immense quantity Of timber annually consumed in
structon Of single large steamship such as is
building in the yard Of Mr. VIM. II Brown or Jacob
Bell for Mr. Edw. X Collins's line of Liverpool steam
ships, it would take all of the best oak growing fifty
acres Of oak forestto say nothing Of the pine and
iocust-some idea may be formed Of the amount
nually required. To sustain this great demand for
timber the oak forests of and New Jersey
the pine lands Of Maine and Georgia. and the locust
Of Long Island and the valley Of the Hudson, laid
under contribution The white oak OF the Jersey and
Pennsylvania swamps is preferable for marine pur-
poses, to that OF more northern atudss, being very
Dense of great specific gravity and enduring for many
years when proper regard has been paid 70 It's sesc
tien ard such timber had become too old been
ected Oak grown far to the north Is lighter, po
rous and more destruotibls. In the rigging, but
the best Of materials used experience has proved
that the best article is the most economical An i'm
mense quantity of iron and copper il annually used
the amount Of which have means ef ascertainng
at present but will simply state that tho 200 iron bands
or braces, which connec. the timbers In Of the
steamships now building, (referred to sbove), and
which each other diagonay at intervals Of fsur
feet, are seven.eghths Of an inch thick six inches
Ia 49,
and weigh 700 pounds each or 10 tons and extended
In ST. ght line would reach distance Of about
mile and half the iron bolts and spikes weigh 200
TONS making aggregate Of 27o tons OF iron used in
the hull alone in addition to which, about 20 tons OF
copper are consumed in the shape Of braces bolts and
spikes, at an expense Of $4,000
Since the commencement of the California excite
mont near seven hundred vessels have left for
the Pacific, many OF which will revisit AZ. II
the the Pacific should increase to the
tent confidently predicted by those who
with the East India trade further demand for sailing
vessels will spring up from that quarter which will
give an additional impetus to ship building At
lsntic seabcard Some years eapse before naval
architecture be probably carried SAN Fran
cisco, ship timber being in that vicinity, as are
also ether materials equally necessary. Oregon has
sucioney Of excellent timber for the construction Of
vessels, but so long the gold excitement continues
In California her population could not be induced to
engage In the mechanic arts unless at rate of wages
entirely too high for the prosecution of any Legitimate
business. During the interval which will oap,e before
vessels be successfully built on tho Pacific tho
skifu and entsrprising chip builders on the Atlantic
must enjoy monopoly Of that business, and tho ship
yards OF this city will present of unsIsmpled
activity.
The policy of the government in regard to the
eta ,ffa
confederation, has been such interfere materially
with the construction of steamships this country
foreign account II this policy be persisted In, our
constructors must lose amount Of business yearly
which would afford employment 20 great numbers OF
our citizens. At tie time the government interered
with the departure Of the steamship United States,
an agent of a foreign power was about making q
contract with one Of our enterprising ship build
ers for the construction Of several steamships.
When the action CT the government became known,
this contract fell throuahths agent feeling compelled
to apply TO English builders The result OF this one
transaction hss been the loss of between one and two
millions Of dollars to Industrious mechanics. tits
hoped that more liberal and enlightened will
be pursued in future, and that every encouragement
will be given to the deveopement ofthis important art
instead of repressing It by antiquated laws made
time when ship buildin. in this country hardly
thought Of
few days sgo, visited the different ship yards In
THE city and vicinity with view of obtaining such
information a. could CLEAN by personal inspection
and inquiry. We found much contrarety Of opinion
existing among ship builders so far relates to the
construction Of steamships with regard TO speed One
gentleman, whose opinion 10 entitled 10 great weight
and who s conyerssnt with the subject ia all It's de-
tails stated that steamships faulty in several
points, among which that Of not having sufficient
leosth-tbst they too deep that they we're too
heavily sparred-that yards should be abolished aud
that they should be schooner eyed entirely. 10 lar
gusd that II vesols made % greater length with
proporonate sharpness and less depth OF hold there
would not be much water TO displsce, and at the
time would occasion decrease OF their carrying
capacity. Independent Of this yards stated to be
en- unnecessary weight aloftttSt any except fate
wind they npede prog and In addition tbs
vessel Co roll more or less in calm weather. and
that with fair wind square rails not superior to
fore nud ait sails. While ~th uuiavOrahe wind Hnd
for Keeping OF lee shcre they are decidedly inferior
Forc- and gft Urged steamships could have much
lighter mssts than those nov in use and a. the
weight would be more deck whom the sails NOT
in use. would consequently not be 90 top. hssvy-bs
sides such heavy mssts and yards act ~ many le
which tend 90 strain the vessel aud are an adj
tionsi unnecessary expense.
We give these suggesti0ns with view OF having the
subject invest gAted and eleinR further inform alton
az II true they are all i'm especially at present.
when contracts for building many steamships about
being entered into
been done since The Let Of January last and What 10
dong AZ prrsent VA the different yards will begin
with that Of Mr Thomas Coycr situated at the foot Of
Twebueth street East River and take up each la
order. they approach Corlear's HOOK. MIR JOliysr
hes built and launched three ttssmbosts Of 90
this year. lie has two the stocks Of sos
tons Of which n ready fer launching and has
her boilers and all her machinery board she 81
beautiful vessel and her model indicates great spsed
At this yard the tteamboats Joseph Beknap and Arme-
mia built neither Of WHOA have their superorsin
point Of speed model IN fact no boat Of equal
ten mage has speed sufficient TO keep M With them
Nil. GEORGE Jouyer who 10 cleo extremely suoeessful
~ builder Of fast steamboats,. launched ono steam
boat ~ STb tons fumetime since aud another % 1900
tons yesterday which IL 325 co IN length being next in
size 20 the New World Her uodsl II OF most eautit
proportions, giving her great buoyaucy. and st the
same time enabling ber TO large freight with but
light dram Of water Great expectations formed
relative Go her speed. II Il confidently predicted
that che will be the fastest boat adoet
Mr.. Vim. ii. Brown, the builder cf the 6rst steam
chip. (tbe kamschatks) has launched one steamship
(the Ausntic) Of 5000 ana steamboat q $50 tons
The IL nov at the Novelty Works, rcceiviag her
machinery. lie has nos the stocks one steam nip
(the Arctic ioe Mr.. n. Collins AID two steambtats
mai ata az a fpfa a.. L.