The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-10-19
OUR MACHINE SHOPS.



| ~ ,as ton Of business.
A tour of inspection through the principal iron
works OF New York reveals the fact that although
considerable activity prevails In certain branches
the trade generally is far nom being In as flourish
ing condition as it was In the good old ante oell,.m
times, or as In view OF the rapid extension Of
American commerce now going on, 1t might and
ought to be. The iron shipbuilding trade Is but
just recovering from the stagnaton caused by the
disastrous maritime results OF the rebellion, ana
considerable time must yet eapse before the extern
sye works the banks Of the East and North rivers
can again compete with those Of the Mersey or the
Clyde in the building Of hulls or the construction
OF engines for first class steamers. There Ia
no lack Of enterprise on the part Of the
proprietors Of the shipbuiidiny establishments
on this side OF the Atlantic, or of skill on the
part OF our naval architects and engineers. On the
contrary 30 far as legitimate enterprise goes are
far ahead Of our friends over the water and In many
points their superiors in skill. The commercial ma
rine and the navy OF England equally indebted
to us, Tor their best steam merchantmen and most
formidable iron-clads are built upon American
models In ilegitimate enterprises like the con-
struction and equipment of such peculiar craft "a
the Alabama and her piratical sisters the English
builders have facilities which are never likely to be
enjoyed in countries where national honor and in
tegrity is held In higher estimation than the inter-
ests of INSCRIPTIONS merchants and graspng capt.
talists.
The great advantages which English ship builders
are now enjoying those OF the United States are
solely attributable to the lamentable fact
that during the rebellion our foreign con- cor,
erce hau 70 pe caife" under foreign flags
Ic-aav '.'.sorean capitalists exercise controlling
interest In all the principal lines OF steamships plying
between this port and the marts OF the Old World
and as natural consequence, nom the construction
OF vessels to the execution of the most trifn0
repairs and alterations all the work connected with
| this important trade Is done in English yards.
| present engaged almost exclusively in domestic
WORK, such us the construction OF vessels and en-
| gnes for American lines and the manufacture OF
! machinery for our factories, mills, mines and the
endless requirements OF the different branches OF
! trade ana, taking broad national view OF affairs,
they could not be more probably employed. 1t Is
much to be deplored that our commercial marine is
moment as could be desired, and also, that foreign
ers In the enjoyment OF temporary advantages have
shipbui.dng trade; but moment's rejection
will result In the conviction that there Is no surer or
speeder way q remedyng these evils san py de
country to the development Of Its illmitable re-
| sources. Not day passes but some new craft Is
added to the countless feet employed upon our
| rivers and lakes, the number Of steamers engaged
plying between the different ports on our vast sea-
board IL rapidly increasing, and as regards ocean
win come when New York will be the centre OF the
with Europe on the Atlantic, but control the vast
commerce OF China and Japan, and lord 1t over the
| broad bosom OF the Pacific.
THE NOVELTY IRON WORKS.
Stunned by the incessant rattle OF heavy ham,
upon sounding sheets Of metal ana the sides .,
roaring furnaces and the fiery rain Of sparks the visit
tor to the Novelty Iron Works at the foot OF Twelfth
street. East river finds IL hard to realize the fact
that the establishment is not in "rull blast" How
ever although they have the facilities for doing
present the proprietors Of the Novelty Works are do
Ing exceedingly wen. In the backsmiths depart
Tubal Cain were hard at work forging engine shafts,
levers, bolts rods, and fashiOnny endless varieties
&C., out OF sheet iron. over 100 men are employed
In the extensive Iron foundry making brass ana iron
In The machine department and a. many more in the
| boiler shop. In all 100 men are employed ON the
Works the Rrncnal w9rss now c Il, a are h
Pacific Mall Company's steamer America and the I'LL
ing OF large orders for iron buildings from various
During the war the Novelty Works supplied the
government with the gunboats Unadilla Ottawa
| Seneca, Pembin0, OwascO, Kennebec ArO0st00k
Sebago, Port Royal, Sonoma and Conemaugh, the
!. frigate Adirondack and the sloop-orwar Wampa
| ton0mOh were constructed at this establishment as
also the machinery and engines OF the Pacific
Colorado, Henry Chauncey Great Republic, China,
Japan and Alaska. ~
which situated at the foot OF Thirteenth street.
North river, are now in fun operation Over 400 men
employed at this establishment the majority Of
Among the most Important works now on hand are
OF Providence, the building Of machinery 1' icr
screw towboat for Cuba, machinery for o
steam towboat intended for the Erie Canal,
and the construction Of several stationary boilers.
The iron caorc yacht vermland, Designed by Captain
Ericsson, and built at the Delamater Works Is now
in the foundry Of this establishment, where large
order Is being filled for Irregular shaped pipes for
large number Of propeller wheels ore constructed at
these works. Mr. G. II. Reynolds, the superintend-
ent, has recently invented an improved pumping
machine, the main feature of which Is the OF
wire rope to make the connection between the engine
a quarter OF a mile or even more Two sets OF this
machinery are Just being completed for the Lake
Tie facilities OF the Delamater Works have recently
been largely increased by the erection OF q black
smiths shop los feet in length and SO in width, and
long and three stories high, and further improve
ments and extensions are In contemplation.
cover considerable ground at the foot OF East Ninth
street, East river and are owned and managed by
Mr.. John Roach, the Vanderbilt Of iron workers and
machine builders. Having recently absorbed the
Etna and Neptune Works. the Morgan IL the most
extensive establishment on the East river. About
would be required were the establishment working
up TO Its fun capacity. Four large boilers are now
on hand for the steamboats, Connecticut and Wander
bit; number OF improved cotton presses are being
constructed, several OF the river and Sound steam
ers are being repaired, and new engines boilers and
machinery are beng constructed for the works them
selves.
4 THE FULTON IRON WORKS,
which are located on Cherry street, are owned and
| managed by Messrs. James Murphy and w. J. Pease
| THIS extensive establishment, which covers about
twenty lots, Is almost In full operation from $50 Ia
400 men being employed. Among the importan,
| works now In progress are the construction OF q
| ferryboat engine and boilers for the Union Ferry
Company, engine and boiler for the steamboat OF
| the Commissioners OF Charities and Corrections,
| two low pressure locomotive boilers for the
| Coast Wrecking Company's steamtug Relief,
boilers for the Brooklyn ferryboats George Law and
| George Washington, two high pressure stationary
n
| boilers for the Eighth Avenue Railroad Company.
| The steamer Granada OF the New York Havana and
Vera Cruz line, and several other steamers are now
| being repaired at these works.
| THE QUfNTARD WORKS.
The facilities and resources Of the Quintard Works
| are now turned exclusively to the Manufactured Z
| machinery for the manufacture Of toys.
BROOKLYN PARIS.