Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1854-11-10
The New Steamers for the Navy.

pratlOn for the construction OF SIX steam trIgates-
This addition to our national marine was much need
ed, and we trust it will be followed by similar
acton on the part of Congress, and by thorough
reform in our naval system, which will restore its
usefulness and efficiency to the high standard OF
1912 and 1914.
The hus- of the new steamers will be built by the
government but the machinery for five Of them will
be built at private foundres. One of the vessels will
be built at the Washington navy yard, and her en-
glnes will be fashioned at the same place by the
ployees of the government The other five vessels,
with the engines, will be constructed as follows:
One will be built at Boston with machinery from
West Point; one at New York with machinery by
Pease & Murphy; one at Philadelphia with machine
ry by Merrick & Son; and two at Norfolk, Virginia,
with machinery by Anderson. Delany & Co., Of the
city of Richmond.
OF course, there was a great deal of competition
for these important machinery contracts, and of
course those who failed to obtain them were some
what disappointed. There some who think that
two OF the ships, with their engines, ought TO be
built in Virginia, but think that the Secretary
the Navy acted right, and that he deserves credit Ol
resisting the dictates of narrow prejudIces. has
rarely happened that machinery Of any kind for the
OF the government has been ordered the South
Hitherto, the has been that extensive foun-
dries and machine shops did not exist at tue South
But that excuse Is no longer valid. Anderson De.
lany & Co. control one of the largest establishments
in the country, and they have ample resources for
executing the work they have undertaken, or any
other work in their line of business. We feel cont
dent that any candid mind must admit they were
fairly entitled to the two contracts which have been
awarded them even the idea that government work
should be equally distributed between the different
States In addition to this understand that the
proposals of Anderson Delany & Co., were lower
than those of their rivals and that their plans were
fully and entirely approved by the Board Of Eng,-
ncerS appointed for that purpose
The mechanic arts are beginning to spread through
the South and we have full faith that the engines TO
be made Virginia, will prove that there is no need
or the heavy taxation which the peope of the South
have so long submitted to by failing either TO pro-
duce purchase those mechanical contrvances
which add much to the productive labor of peo-
pie. The steam engine ITSELF is almost entirely un-
used on the farms OF the south and nearly all farming
operations depend on the sheer strength of men and
horses. But this cannot last long. A few more en-
terprlses like that of Anderson, Delany & Co.. will
give new feature to the city of Richmond and to
the vast country which is commercially connected
with It, | he James River furnishes unlimited water
power Coal abounds in the immediate neighbor-
hood, and iron of rich quality can be easily oh
tanned. little of the spirit of enterprise is all that
Is needed, and the contracts which we have men.
toned we'll calculated not only to nfuse that
spirit but to mpart confidence TO capitalists in max
ing investments of character. In this point of
view, the services rendered by the able and efficient
representative of the Richmond district in procuring
those contracts for his city, of the import mi
character, for they may lead to the most important
results. He has performed his ddty 10 his constitu-
ens, and Mr.. Dobbn has, under the impulse of sound
Judgment and just discrimination, given, as far as he
could give, an impulse to a most interesting move
ment.--IfGShlngton Sentinel.
PRESIDENT PIERcE.--We are rejoiced to learn
that President Pierce is rapidly recovering from Sc
we're attack of fever. No greater calamity could be.
fall the country at this time, than would be his death
Disappointed asplrants to Office may denounce him;
demagogues may revile him to their hearts content
European emissares may scoff at, and presses pur-
chased by foreign gold, may strive to render his
mlnistratlon obnoxious; but intelligent lover of
glorious Union can doubt the fact that Franklin
Pierce is the man for the impending crisis. Our gov
ernment needs some at its head who will not
shrink from the discharge of duty when our nation
al prosperity is endangered-some one who will ex-
ert his influence in allayng sectional strife ono
who will remain calm and determined-who will hold
the helm of the ship OF State with a firm hand,
though fanatlcsm and treason may dash in their
widest fury against the noble vessel Tha, man is
franklin Pierce. His courage is as unyielding as are
durable the granite rocks in the mountains OF his
native State. His antecedents have shown, and his
sequents will prove, him equal 10 any emergency that
may arise.-Penn Patriot.
The DUTY ON CoAL-Unless we are greatly mis-
aken before the end of the second week of the ses-
sion, Congress will repeal the duty coal, come
from whence 1t may, making 1t absolutely duty free.
This impression e entertained by the public men OF
all parties here and grows ont of the very unani-
nous sentiment of the country iu favor of that poll
cy, as manifested by all the newspapers no. mmedi-
ately in the interest of the miners OF Pennsylvania.
! The capitalists of Pennsylvania may thank their
greed, displayed during the current season, for
the eyes of all TO the folly of taxing the community
at large-the poorest, heaviest according to means
for their especial profit Wash. Star