Daily national Democrat., 1860-01-06

IRoN VEssELs.-Harlan, Hallingsworth &
Co. Of Wilmington, Delaware, builders of the
new steamship Champion. give the following
information respecting iron ships, as com
pared with wooden built ships
First, as TO the huoyancy and capacity for
cargo. The iron vessels built from the same
model is much lighter in draft of water than
the wooden ones, and the iron vessel will
carry from l5 TO 20 per cent more cargo than
the wooden vessels, both loaded to the same
depth The tonnage capacity or cargo room
inside is very greatly in favor of the iron
vessel, where they are both the same outside
dimensions.
Relative strength.-Wherei iron vessels are
built properly, there is hardly any compari-
son as to strength They are much stronger.
and will endure hardships and service with
out injury, mparatively, that would ruin a
wooden vessel.
Relative cost-We estimate that an iron
ship will cost but very little more than first
class wooden one of the same tonnage. copper
and copper fastened and with iron and
wooden vessels of the same class, the iron
hull will be so per cent. stronger than the
wooden one, speaking safely.
Durability of iron vessels-If the iron YES.
sci is properly cared for, and painted, we are
within bounds in stating they will last acifh.
oau repairs Except they meet with an acci-
dent) for from 20 to 80 years We know that
we are safe in making this assertion. They
will outlast from two to three wooden hulls
while at the same time they save the very
annual expense which is necessary to be nut
upon wooden hnlls-caullIing, replacing de-
fective timber, etc.
Among the many other advantages claimed
for iron vessels, we may name very impor-
tant one-the facility with which they can
be divided into water tight compartments by
iron bulkheads, and thus in ease of an acci-
dent causing either section to fill, the vessel
would be buoyed up and kept from sinking
by the remaining compartments, and thus not
injure the goods in any but one section.
The iron ship draws less water after she
has been in use, and as the lumber in the
decks and upper works season and get lighter,
whilst the wooden hull becomes water-soalz.
ed and heavier, thus causing gradual in
crease in her draft of water.
The above are some of the leading advan-
tages in favor of iron vessels.
Donald Mckay, the famous Boston ship
builder, writes as follows from England:
Iron and steel are the principal materials
used here in shipbuilding and, as expert
ence has proved that they are more economi
cal than timber in the long rub it is high
time our shipbuildng merchants turned their
attention to this subject We have iron and
Goals enough, and plenty of mechanical
genius, to enable us, in II very few years, not
only to overtake England, in this department
of the mechanic arts, but to pass her.
GEESE PICKED BY MAcnINERY.-Th Scien-
tifc American announces a machine for pick.
ing geese, the result of a number of years.
labor and one of the most ingenious pieces of
mechanism ever seen. 1t not only plucks the
feathers, but separates the long ones from the
short ones, while passing through the ma
chine. 1t will pick forty five geese per hour
and must materially affect the price of feath-
ers.
MARKET REPoRTs.-Mrs. Partington says
she can't understand these ere market re
ports. She can't understand how cheese can
be lively, and pork can be active, and leath
ers drooping-that is if it amt raining or
how whisky can be steady, or hops quiet, or
spirits dull, she can't see neither how lard
can be firm in warm weather, nor iron unset
tied, nor potatoes depressed, nor flour rising
-unless there had been yeast put in it-and
sometimes it would not rise then.