Daily national Democrat., 1858-12-03

The New WAR STEAMER AT MARE ISLAND.
An appropriation was made last summer
by Congress, for the construction of several
additional war steamers The contracts for
furnishing the machinery were awarded
for the ship building at the Brooklyn navy
yard, to the Fulton Iron Works, New York
for that building at the Pensacola yard, to
the Morgan Iron Works, New York for that
building at the Portsmouth IN. H. yard, to
Woodruff d Beach, Hartfort CT; for that
building at the Charleston yard, to the Bos.
ton Locomotive Works. for that building at
the Philadelphia yard, to Merriek q Sons,
Philadelphia.
At Mare Island, in this State, preparations
have been on foot for some weeks for the
construction of Government steamer
probably one of those provided for by the
appropriation-to ply in the China seas. The
contract for the machinery has been given to
Messrs Goddard IL Co., of the Pacific Foun-
dry, in this city This will be the first steam
ship constructed in California, public or
private, and we shall look for her completion
with great interest. Great preparations have
been made to have her worthy representa-
tive of the skill of our workmen and the ex-
cellenee of the ship building material in Cal.
iforna. The frame of the ship is already
shaped, and is now being set up at the navy
yard, where all is hustle and activity. We
have not learned what is to be her name.
She will be constructed mainly of laurel,
novel material for the frame of q ship, but
unquestionably the best that can be obtained
in this State, and pronounced greatly superb
or in durability to the white oak of the East
ern States.
The San Joaquin Republican states that
large party of men were employed cutting
the timber upon the Nevada ranch, a few
miles west of Petaluma. Several small crafts
have been built of it in California, which
have worn well, and it is stated by Gen Val
lejo that "A schooner which was built of that
wood has been in use as many years as most
vessels that visit our ports, and quite long
enough to satisfy any one of the dura
bility of the timber. The oak furnished from
Santa Cruz has thus far been used for ship
building purposes. IIenceforth the laurel
will be mainly used.
1t is matter of great importance that this
war steamer should be fine specimen Of
naval architecture, for should she meet all ex-
pectatons it will be an ianalinducement
for the Government to have others built. In
case of war between the United Sta es and
any formidable maPatime powers, one Of the
hlsb SuVPS VI our hHGtgoulSJ WOulu be W
station large fleet to hover along this coast
and harass our commerce. In such an event
it might be found not only expedient, but
absolutely necessary to construct fleet in
harbor to meet the enemy. Certainly the
first action of the Government in that war
would be TO increase the navy with all posi-
bic dispatch, and to that point the construc-
tive energies of the country would be bent.
Economy as well rs safety would dictate that
instead of building ships and steamers (des-
tined for the Pacific st ,tion) on the Atlantic
coast, they should be built here, where every
facility exists; where seamen and marines
could be at once procured ; where the guns
Of the harbor fortitications would afford am
pie protection to the works, and where the
ships would not be subject to be cut off in
detail by the superior fleets of the enemy,
if separated on a passage around Cape Horn
from the Atlantic IS. r. Times.