The New York herald., 1868-03-03
OUR SHIPPING INTEREST.
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE os THE HERALD.

Iron Steamship Building In PhiInd ndeIpbia-Tbe
so.thwnrk Foundry-Tts Extent and Capa.
city-Evidcnces Of EngIneerir Skill.
PHLADELrrIA, March 2, lS6s
Philadelphia has given up the pretentious claim Of
being prs-cmneny the commercial metropolis or the
country but Its citizens need give mp the aures its
manufacturers have gained, they remain undspnted
There are many natural causes why this city should bo
an extensive manufacturing, emporium, prominent
among which arc her position geographically corsid
cred, afordng great facilities for distribution;
her internal and very easy access
to the raw materials used. It Is claImcd
by leading here that because OF the States
inexhnnstibe mines OF wealth In coal and iron well
directed enterprise can produce many articles more
economically than elsewhere In tho Union. But bo
this as II may, there in the midst Of this elegantly
and regularly laid out city many extensive Industrial
departments OF iron and machinery that excel in
every particular OF completeness OF arrangement,
capacity and facilities for the execution OF tho largest
conacts In these departments Tneso establishments
not only ornaments to tho city. but they are tho
busy machines that have bands Of gold about It
and brought Its mecha1ica skill in contact with the in
babanis OF every portion OF the globe. There
could be no more fitting place in many respects
for tho construction OF tho feet OF iron sioa-
ships supplied with improved screw engines destined
TO be erected In this country to wrest from foreign
bottoms the monopoly now enjoyed by them In our
ocean carrying trado than in this city tho now
existing riumphs OF its naval architects and marine
engineers havc demonstrated ina! their superors do
exist in the range OF mechanics Among the largest
and most complete OF tho many OF its industrial estab-
lshmcnts whore vessels and engines OF the largest
dimensions havo been constructed ia the South wark
Foundry, owned by Messrs Mcrrick Il Sons These
works have been established for many years. their
owners winning crsditable ronown as architects and
engineers Their magnitude, with their principal build
ings aud tho lasting evidences OF their aimos. unap
proschabls skill are herewith noted.
ras SOUTHWARK ForsDny-MEssR3 MgRRfcS AND eors.
Mr Samuel " Merrick, In the year 1885, established
this foundry and Its subsequent growth 10 identical
with the growth Of this city. Az that time Mr. Megrck
associated himself with Mr. J. H. Towne also a leading
citizen, and the works adapted TO the contrucoa
Of massive steam machinery. The object accept
large government contracts at this period the forna
tion OF steam navy had been determined upon From
ard ponderous engines they have have been
uniformly successful. The Southwark Foundry, with
the nestsst exterior OF like establishment in the coun
try, occupies an entire block IN popaous part OF the
city, bounded by Washington avenue Federal. Fourth
and Fitth streets The prnepa buildings are
Second erecting shop Of BRICK $50 feet long oy "a feet
| wide.
Boiler shop, Of brick Is2 fec, long By "a fee. wide
Principal iron foundry, Of brick lis feet Ions ey loI
feet wide
Second iron foundry OF brick os feet long BY 50 feet
| wide
Pattern shop and stores two sorss 2Os feet long by
40 feet wide
Joiner shop, 5s feet long by 40 feet wide.
Second joiner shop, 80 feet long By "a feet wide.
Besides tneso the numerous sheds for storage OF PAL
terns cover an OF 200 square feet The total
area occupied by tho buildings enumerated above
o2s square feet and that OF the yard room 90 IL
SQUARE feet the whole OF the works being IA 700
SQUARE feet In addition 10 this Mcssrs &errck sons
own tract OF land on tho Delaware river which is bu,
three or four blocks distance from their principal
works u exont 400 feet BY 110o feet, anordng ample
space for an extensive iron boat yard Tberc a. this
sectio ~ land commodious pef 90 feet In width ana
$50 feet long, also large boiler shop, whero muoh Oh
the larger description o boiler work % coassracssa