Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1853-03-09
IMPORTANT CHANGE-sHTP- BUILDING.

IMPORTANT CHANGES BUILDING.
Late foreign papers bring us intelligence of
very important change in shp-building' which
can not fail to interest the mercantile reader
The Improvement consists in idispcnsing aoith
tiubers. the vessel being all solid panking.-
The Peninsuar and Oriental Company have just
launched a steamship at Cowes, constructed by
Messrs. John and Robert White, on what Is
described their patented improved diagonal
principle" The new steamship called the Wee
lis, of 100 tons burthen, is intended to form one
of feet of steam packets, upon the new con-
tract, to carry the mails between Marsellles and
Malta.
Il appears that the introduction Of iron ships
into the navy and large steam companies OF
Great Britain, threatened for while the annihi-
lation of wooden ships altogether To meet
the requirements and demands OF the various
steam companies, and to counterbalance the adj
vantages which iron ships possessed over those
of wood, some improved method in the con-
struction of the latter was necessary in order
TO render them stronger and more buoyant, and
to enable them to carry larger cargo, in pro-
portion to their tonnage, with equal speed. 10
attain these objects, the Messrs. White set to
work. After making series of experiments
and models, at no uncomfortable cost, they sat-
is6ed themselves of the practicability of their
plan, and undertook to build ships of any mag
nitude, and any degree of sharpness, combined
with all the requisites Of speed and internal ca
pacity-and this by a combination of planking
without the necessity of ribs or frame timbers
Their new mode Of construction will enable
them to produce vessels whose sides are only
as thick as an iron ship with ribs and ceiling
The frame being entirely dispensed with, great
err buoyancy is Produced and the ships will
consequently be enabled to carry from fifteen to
twenty per cent more cargo with equal speed;
or the same quantum Of cargo as an ordinary
built ship, but with greater speed in consequence
Of being enabled to have finer lines. In the
mode of construction, viz Two thicknesses
of diagonal panking, and longitudinal planking
outsde-greater durability and safety are effec-
ted over the old method, and by the exclusion
from the bilge-water, or dirt collected in the
openings, the plan is rendered more healthy
Moreover, in the new method, there is freedom
from rats and other vermn>; and, above all, the
plan is particularly adapted for men-of-war, from
there being no iron strapping orion knees and
the sides being solid, there would consequent
ly be less splintering from shots, and particular
ly healthy in warm climates. These improve
ments were thereupon patented by the Messrs.
White, as an improved practical method of build
ing large vessels more than as n new scheme.
If the new method here described should an
swer the confident expectations Of the invent
ors, twill likely effect revolution in the mode
of constructing ships. Of its practcabiIity we
are not prepared to speak ourselves, as we pos
sess no practical knowledge of such matters.
The change, to say the least of it, however, is
worthy the attention of shippers and ship-build-
ers, as evncing a spirit of Improvement in ma
val architecture Savannah Republican.