The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-12-30
ships and Ship Builders.

American ships and Ship Builders.
The Hon John Mcleod Murphy State Senator elect do.
hvered exceedingly interesting lecture last evening" ct
Clinton Hail. ON "Amercan Ships and Ship Buldersn be-
fore crowded and fashionable audience Tho lecture
was IN every respect scientific without
being In the least degree heavy and full without being 70
prolix as TO rcnder II tedious
Mr. MURPHY began by sketchng the general character.
scs or American naval architecture the salient points Of
which, he said, were safety, capacity and speed ina
American models had always challenged the admira-
ton Of the world and by the full development Of speed
ships had also maintained their deserved character
for superiority AS builder OF yachts and fast shs the
late George Steers had prominent reputation among
ship builders and his models Of the Niagara and Adrac
such should enttle him 10 the very highest dig
ncon. would be impossible for him (the lccturer) ia
essay wade through the mazes or shin bnd,n0
and gather out Of them the whole mystery Of the art in
such way as to bring clearly before the minds Of his
audience but he would glance at some Of the names
that had figured 10 the history Of naval architecture ths
country Henry Ecsord was the father Of present sys
tem He born in Irving, Scotland, in t775 and settled
first in New York. In 1896 where he worked for one dollar
per day at ship yard in Dover street. During the Of
1872 no constructed the squadron the lakes ana at
subsequent periods built for many foreign
countries, Venezuela and Turkey among the number In
the latter country to which he had been invited by the
Sultan, he died. and was buried in the family csme-
terry Ut Hampstead Long Island Tho application OF steam
ferry bouts was OF the principal instruments in the
rapid growth Of Brooklyn which, previous 1924
be conveyed between Brooklyn and New York in scul
boats and other equally inconvenient vessels. Mr. MUIR
ply next alluded 10 that INDUSTRIOUS failure, the Great
Eastern, and explained the which had led 10 it's
success. In all the discussions which had taken
place within the last few years, he said American ship
builders had RETAINED from all harsh criticisms tho
hope TINT eventually the undertaking might prove great
success but now that It had become admitted in England
that tho vessel failure would be improper
express our concurrence in this opinion, and for US
Americans TO state our reasons for believing After
stating what he believed TO be OF the reasons the
lecturer remarked that the Great Eastern was 80 large
that while che would be loading and preparing another
smaller vessel could make the voyage. The draught Of
water be said ten feet too much and the great
sstarce which her hull presented above water was
another serious difficulty n her construction Then there
and her screws, and other radical defects her model
and machinery, which could only be remeded by total
reconstruction Though he prophet nor the son
of prophet yet he believed he not far wrong in
predicting that the time not far distant when mon
ser vessel far surprising the Great Eastern in every
spect, would be launched 10 this country but keel
would not be laid until should be clearly demonstrated
fects naval STEM which he said consisted in our
vessels being badly commanded and worked by inexpe
renced seaen Judging by the past he said the future
Of American greatness 10 naval matters brilliant and
promising. II was 10 be regretted that government
had not established some school for the education Of
youth this important branch Of national education, but
competition would IN due time bring out ali that yet
NAMED undevelopsd. The boundess OF this
country ample for all the requirements OF navy,
certainly there would always be plenty of good rusiy
to guide vessels the deep the cause OF
humanity and freedom. The lecturer concluded with
eloquent account Of his only going experience and eat
down AMIDST loud and long continued plaudte