The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1865-03-16

in iron steam vessels for the ocean,
and this IN her private yards alone.
We are not able TO build in all our
private establishments together more
than one-sixth part Of this tannage.
This is startling fact that Il Is we'll
for US to remember; but II is not the
only remarkable truth which has been
brought to our attention by the very
able and interesting report Of Chief
Engineer J. W. King, o. s. Navy,
and embodied in and published with
the last annual report Of the Secretary
ofthe Navy. Mr, King was sent lass
summer by the Department to exam
inc the Cock yards and iron clad es.
adjustments ip England and France,
and am glad to be able to say that
every facility was extended TO him by
the Governments of those countries in
the performance Of bis duties.
We learn from Mr.. Kings report
the fact that England IS far ahead Of
US in her ability to construct ocean
iron steamers in her private yards;
and that in hcr national establish.
ments Tor the construction and repair
Of armored war vessels she is beyond
all comparison superior TO us. From
bis report it appears that there are in
England seven naval dock yards.
Besides these national works for the
construction of fleets, the British have
vast resources in the shape of iron.ship
yards and iron works. II is seen that
on the Clyde are 80 iron-ship building
yards, the productions from which in
1868 were 40 iron vessels with an ag-
grcgato OF 100, 700 tuns. On the river
Thames during the same year III ,000
iuns Of iron vessels were built; on the
Mersey $4,000 tuns; on the Tyne 51,-
23G; on the Wear $4,000, and on tho
Tees Is, ,000-making total Of 4O8,-
99G tuns Of iron vessels built in 1868;
and it is estimated that during the past
year 1864, upward of500, 600 tuDs Of
iron vessels were constructed in the
British dock yards, exclusive of those
built for the royal navy. Some Of the
private iron ship yards have large cap.
/ itals, and are very extensive and COM
pIete in all respects. Mr.. Kings re-
port informs us that the constructive
capabilities of either Of the great
Thames yards are equal to $4,000 trns
or ten heavy iron vessels in hand and
progressing simultaneously. Such are
the facilities possessed by the British
for building and equipping iron clads.
The Admiralty there could, in the
event Of war, in addition to their own
extensive dock yards, command the
services Of more than forty private
iron shipbuilding yards.
Now, how are we prepared to build
sea going armored ships With re-
sources in iron and materials superior
to those of England, the few private
yards in this country are mere make
shifts compared with them. The COM
bined capabilities Of them all are not
equal to one such as are TO be found
on the river Thames.
il 4 +
The want Of at least one complete
navy yard near the Atlantic seaboard,
with these startling facts in full view
before us is a great national misfor-
tune. and its immediate construction
is demanded by every consideration Of
interest, prudence and policy. And
vet there are gentlemen on this floor
ready to vote defiant resolutions en-
bodying the Monroe doctrine, and to
march our armies into Canada, but
who can go quietly to their homes and
, tell their constituents that they have
faithfully discharged tho trust conf.
ded IN them, when they know that
we do not posses one single national
establishment in the whole country
:. for the construction of iron-clads. nor
! even the proper facilities for docking
and repairing the armored vessels
$ which now constitute our sole depend
5 ence, notwithstanding the Secretary
+ of the Navy has time and again urged
4 upon us the necessity of providing
5 these great national means Of pre-
+ sent navy and providing for the inev-
liable necessity Of its increase.