The New York herald., 1868-03-02
OUR SHIPPING INTEREST.
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE OF the HERALD.

IRON works OF Renneys son q ArcnD0io-
Their Extent and Capacity-American Me-
CHnrER Pa, Feb 90 1858.
This town, situated on the banks OF the Delaware
river, and the line Of the Philadelphia, Wilmington
and Baltimore Railroad, almost within the shadow OF
the former place. like many Of s immediate but more
pretsntious nsighbors, has the honor or antiquity
and Is noted for the excellence OF its people
| and tho many departments of industry It con-
taina To the traveller. passing in one Of the
maoy trains along its borders, obtaining but glimpse
Of knot or sturdy looking males and pretty featured
asses that crowd about the during the few minu tes
Of their stopping, Chester presents but little attraction
but to the visitor its factories its shpyards and machine
shops evnco the Industrial qualities OF its Inhabitants
giving the that credabs aspect every thriving,
fourishing place Is stamped with. Prior to the year
1860 Chester had within its limits eleven cotton and
woollen mills three shipy ards aud ono machine shop
giving employment to nearly thousand hands At
present there fifteen or sixteen mills, yards
where vessels Of various descriptions be constructed
| and hvs mnshine shops. Tho cause OF this rapid
gswth in its Industrial departments was, that during
latter part Of 1860 the Messrs Reaney, long and
favorably known In the city Of Philadelphia builders
Of iron steamships and marine engines. with other
wealthy and influential gentlemen, removed to this
place. and investing largely In land. commenced imms-
dately to improve IT, the results being apparent
in The larger number Of factories but dwell
ings, that have been erected In the Intervening
years. and the greatly increased value Of surround
| ing land and real estate. AT this time there
slruced the large works Of Messrs ReaAey, Son Arch
bold builders of steamers and marine engines, to
inspect and learn tho capacity and facilities Of which
have stopped in this pleasant town. Yet before the
attention OF the HERALD's readers 10 turned to these
works, in demonstration OF lts repeated assurances
| that many, very many establishments are now
In operation whore tho productions Of naval architec-
ture and cngne skin are equal to the construction
OF vessels OF iron and propeller engines that wlil by
prompt action on the part OF our Legislators and capt.
taiss again give the mercantile marine OF the United
States name, moments observation OF The surround
ing establishment viii be Of interest, enabling me TO
prove thas Chester 10 really fourshng manufacturing
town.
In the year 1868 the gentlemen mentioned above In
conjunction with others built and sold at prices exceed.
ngIy low TO ihs present occupants large number OF
comfortable dwellings, giving The many mechanics
iaocrng IN the various works habtatons or character
that pleasant and family homo, win oppOr.
tunites OF asserting their Independence This seeing
and thoughtful drew to Chester super class
of workmen aud retained tnem thus Directly benefit
ing the generous employers who conceived and exc
cuted The idea OF asvatng some OF the nconvenisnces
| OF mechanics nfe Following these improve vsments,
other manui acurers psrceIvns the advan ages this
place presented made large purchases Of ground, and
al once caused tho erection Of suitable shops for
prosecution Of their respective work. Now the build
ing OF locomotives and OF steamers and clipper
ships with iron and bras oundres, rolling mills, iur-
out IN their practical way additional wealth Tor tho
town and for the nation But conspicuous above all
and charac OF the many manufacturing estab
| lsnmens in Chester are
THE PENNSYLVANIA WORKS.
Adjoining the upper shpyard OF Nessia Frick Co.,
whose facilities such that they construct wooden
vessels every character and SIZE, this large IRON
Aessrs issaney, Son 4 Archbod. Catering the prem
ses although the work at present is quite dun the VS.
is assonishd and grabbed at the aspect OF business
that every where meets his Along twelve hundred
feet Of ri, extendng back to Front
situated the buildings OF this r, the princi
pal ones being NJ lolows:--
Erecting SHOP Of brick 100 long, 90 eet wide and
"a feet nigh.
Machine shop Of brick. two stories high. $50 feet
Boiler suop $50 feet long by co feet wide. with wing
Blacksmith shop, 1850 feot long, 60 feet wide and 30
Foundry 100 feet long, 60 feet wide and 50 feet high
Finisbink shop 2oo ieet long by % ieet wde with
These building, with the mauy Offices. engine and
shop and brass foundry, are tho line OF, street.
but beyond around tho boat ysrd others aos,
numerous 10 meoton in which, to execute The work OF
their various departments seen the neav sst and most
improved machlnery.
In the erecting or fitting up shop The largest machines
every where noted Placed at positions convenient
for the work are three travelling cranes capaoe OF Int
iug me neas weights Inc oiacSsmiln shop con-
ment three steam hammers Two OF them OF tho "doube
u rng" prnciple, eacD Of which IL capable Of the
greatest amount OF work. and IN their operation give
evidence OF the magnitude OF tho that be
oduced Tho foundry also has two travelling cranes and
cupoas capable OF making castings or thirty and forty
weight. in the buildings around the boatyard
the punches shears rollers, presses and furnaces
heating and bending machines angle rim cutsr- and
ali the atngs to make the largest marine engines and
construct the largest iron steamships
The successful work that Messrs. ReaneA Son Arch
bold sent from their establish mentvln matter
of marine engines. both OF the propeller and beam de-
scripton, IN nearty fifty vessels of large tonnage,
while the iron huls they havo fdrnsncd the govern
ATTEST their skill, aud foreshad what they can
produce the opportunity offered. Connected with
sol o, very large TONNAGE Vessels are compheled hero
In every detail there facilities to
produce IN manner not inferior 20 the finest steam
ships aloai. The work now hand is much less than
at any time during the past six eight months, but
there rs hope expressed that soon the great
load that depfesses them alike with AL the builders OF
steamers ana machinery in the country viii be thrown
aiue by the privileges that the Legislators VI
try bestow thus giving thcm opportunity to
pare their productions with British buili steamers
Mr. ArchboId, OF this arm, formerly Engineer
in.Chier OF tho Unltsd states Navy, and by none
has the great depression in American commerce been
ieit more keenly AZ loss 20 conceive why tho
has continued for several years he, OF course with the
seaor members Of inis nrm Is willing TO adapt any
marno Of the nation 10 regain some OF It's
lost prestige the ocean "Iron steamships" say
they, must take tho place Of wooden vessels for the
carry ng tradc OF tho new and improved ship
building Interest must be inauguraIcd hns Of iron and
engineering SKIN n this country need havo greater
proof OF attaining In tneir productions the merit OF
great superiority than wnat has Already been Effected
In evidence OF this the list OF Games thai encirce
the record Of previous marine glory Of wooden
vessels architects have been the OF the GLOBE
aud in iron the construction OF government
vessels and OF mercantile steamers built In this
section OF the country. ranging from one thousand
to fifteen hundred tons, Win such steamships the
Nississp ppi and hsnimacs. built in 1sg2 and
now IN successful operation quite sufficient The LAT.
800 feet Ia length 40 feet In breadth, 2S
feet depth, and OF 100 tons burden In tho
sruccn Of the nulls of these steamships superior
gineerng skill has besn evioced. The wrought iron
plates Of the hull inch 20 x inches thics, equal
In thickness 10 the plates Of OF tno largest British
vessels The motive power has been tested Tor many
years and OF very superior character The
engines OF the direct acting description, each vessel
being fitted with two cylinders OF 81 incnes diameter.
This 10 enough to abli-k that Americans can build
both In hull aad machinery, vessels equal IN sze and
| ccopomy ever constructed"
"Witn encouragement" they added, "wo can put
anoat feet OF iron vessels that will IN every respect
be equal The ocean, and that will be the
wonder OF naval architecture In this land, proving he
triumph o, commercial. enterprise" fp this manner