The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-04-03
Live Oak and the Frigate Constitution.
To the Editors of the NJ Y Courier f. Enquirer:
Nruu ynpv March o6 1870

New YoRK, March 26, 1850.
Your correspondent, '.Pro Tempore," the able
writer Of this days article on the steamers OF the
United States, will, trust, think it no trouble TO
explain whether, in apparently limiting the dura-
ton of live oak to fifty years. he is guided by hxed
fact or mere indefniteness of speech as for one,
have been all along under the impression that 80 To
speak the death Of live oak since its first adoption
in the navy has in no instance yet occurred and that
its timbers in the Constitution still perfectly
sound, although her plankng and outer works more
have been renewed. He will farther oblige me by
informing whether the Constitution was the first
ship built of live oak, and in what year.
To the above query, it gives pleasure to reply
that had no intention whatever of limiting the du
ration of live oak timber to fifty years; on the CON
trary it is my opinion, and from conviction speak,
that the above named timber will keep perfectly
sound, planked over and coppered as the frame oil
ship or stored beneath an enclosed shed, for ages
The live oak frame of ship will wear out three or
four plankings of her bottom Of white oak panks,
but after that the floor tmbers and futocks OF the
frame are generally too much cut up and splin-
tered by tearing Oh the aecayed t ,nS and
| to be longer available. Besides, every time yes,
sers bottom is newly planked 1t has to be squared
of fore and aft and lines run Tor the proper Forging
of the planks in regular ORDER to produce regular
seams for caulking.
Thus the timber is dubbed away until il is no
longer of the required thickness so 1t was with the
| frieate Constitution, when she was thoroughly re-
paired in 1884. She was nearly hall century Old
AZ that time vet the timbers taken out Of her frame
were with very few exceptions, perfectly Tree from
rot, especially those from beneath the water hne'
| but yery much cut up by having long copper bolts
driven through from the outside plank 10 the sealing
of the hold If could obtain planks too, OF live
oak, ship would, probably, last a hundred years,
n well cared for and require very little repairs; but
that is impossible, for the tree docs not grow tall
and straight like the white oak, but generally
branches off in most beautiful crooks, forming foor
tmbers breast hooks futtocks, &c. for the hull OF
a vessel have seen live oak tree felled in East
| Florida which measured nine feet in diameter
through the butt, perfectly sound TO the core, or
heart, which is most apropoe; and tnat tree, nave
no doubt had been growing there three or four
centuries; sided and squared, as 20 take on all
the outer sap, and placed under cover, that live
oak timber would grow hard and harder until time
itself could hardly bring II TO decay In the states
| of Louisiana and Texas there magnificent live
| oaks-cvergreens that, seemingly, have lived ior-
ever. Their giant limbs stretch OIL In every di-
rccton from the body OF the tree, covered with
clinging moss, beautifully festooned and forming
a most delightful shade during the extreme heat OF
the MONDAY sun In the low swampy land oi
| the Southern States-n what are termed the live
| oak hammocks-the tree hourishes most exuber-
antly and have no recollection OF ever seeing
decayed live oak except on the high, dry, hilly
land or rather sand. Of Florida; and there the soil
is not strong enough for its growth, and II decays
| by becoming hollow at the heart; but even there,
believe, il takes century 20 die. that is to Kill II
| effcctually.
The acquisition of Texas, for its live oaks alone.
| If for no other consideration, was worth all the
trouble we have encountered with Mexico since.
The frigates Constitution, United states, and
President were built In 1874; but how often the
white oak planks have been ripped off the Consti-
tuition and replaced by new, IL is impossible TO as
certain except by reference TO- the archives In tho
Navy Department.
| The Constitution was thoroughly rebuilt, from
keel 10 hammock trail, in 1884 and S6 and her hno
old fashioned model retained, without altering a
single curve, and she s still one of the fastest Ira
| gates cruising on the ocean.
As the above were among the first vessels built by
our Government, after achieving our independ.
cnce il is fair 10 premise that they were the first
built Of the live oak timber from the southern states
| Pro TEMPosE.