New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-12-11
AMERICAN SHIPPING INTERESTS.
HISTORY or IRON SHIP BUHDlNG-ITS PROGRESS
~ ENGLAND-SOME OF THE SPECIAL AID
MANAGES OF IRON VESSELS.

| HISTORY or IRON SHIP BULDING-ITS PROGRESS
| ~ ENGLAND-SOME OF THE SPECIAL AID
| yANTAGEs OF IRON VESSELS.
The present interest in the subject of Ameri-
can ship building and the necessity for the construction
of iron vessels for seagoing craft may be regarded as
sufficient apology for presenting some data In reference
to the history ship building The first record OF
an iron IL the construction OF an iron canal boat IN
England 1884, about - years ago. but from some cause
iron did not grow into favor. In August, 1885, small
pleasure yacht built OF iron was launched at Liverpool
but she lived only for very brief period She disap
pearcd I'm very mysterious manner and Tor long time
no trace Of her could DO found Some time after her dis
appearance It became necessary let all the water out
Of tho Dukes Dock repairs and the iron yacht was
found imDedded in tho mud bearing evidence OF ma
lcous In 1918 the same builder constructed
an iron life boat This disappeared also, but afterward
was found imbedded In the sands Mt dead low water
holes having been drilled into the air chambers In 1871
tho first iron steam vessel completed and named the
Aaron Mandy. She was shipped Ia sections from En-
gland aud put together nc Clarendon, near Paris and
was employed In navigating the river Seine In 1888 the
John Randolph. Of go tuns was built for trade with
Savannah. From this date the progress OF IRON snip
building was very rapid. and IL soon became apparent
that iron vessels destined 10 supersedc those bnilt
of wood France early encouraged iron ship building.
and OF the French built IRON steamers OF the pres
Ont time will compare iayoTaby with those punt III
England, after having much practical experience
on last admitted the superiority OF iron vessels In 1851
there we're built aud registered In the United Kingdom IS
sailing ships aud steamers representing 49, tuns In
1869 Tie number had increased 2l9 vessels and lOGg7
TINS SO that In eleven years there increase OF so
per cent the uunage OF iron vessels In TINS same pc
Rod there decrease Of IL per cent I'm the tundge OF
wooden vessels There thirty one establishments
the Clyde for iron spbuildng. Tho total orders on
hand the st OF January 1865 were Tor lJO ships, or
l5I2i tuns On the lat Of January. 1869, there
orders for ia ships. representing l2) 400 tuns The mum
Der of vessels launched IN 1865 was 2' or 1890 tuns
The figures show TO what extent iron ship building has
grown IN England within the past few years Wood az
material Of construction seems To have received It's DOOM
for neither In 1867 IN 1903 has the clyde added single
wooden steamer to the Royal or the mercantile navy. In
tho department OF sailing vessels OF when thele were y
launched during 1868, wood was used exclusively In the
construction OF hut H. whose average tunnage was hut
100 uus each The average tuDnage OF the wooden
sells launched IN 1867 was 2jI tuns.
over wooden is that while strength obtained
In the bull. the weight IL materially lossened IL Is
on rocky coast after having remained aground for
n considerable time. were ron ones. Inc steamship
Of resisting damage possessed by iron vessels although
she was stranded nearly twelve month IN Dundrnm Bay.
and during that time subject 20 the severe strains
caused by the bueDg Of the waves and heavy weather
upon very exposed and rocky coast She ultimately
drawn off IN safety aud found capable Of perfect re-
pair The sheer OF the vessel along the glnwale was
preserved unmpaired throughout showing the thorough
stiffness Of the structure whole. Her damage was
entirely local being mainly confined 10 holes In tho bottom
plates. wood ship would hardly have lasted three
weeks long that In Si5 the steamship Vanguard
went ashore In Cork harbor She pounded Tor some mo
on a bed OF rocks The bottom aud stern much dam
aged but when foated her frame had been 10 little i'm
paired that her engines addel worked AS wen as ever
She repaired The West India mail steamer Tyne
went ashore IN fog the south coast OF England She
remained the rocks for several months and through
Of Winter gales but uay got OF and made
good large portion Of her keel was torn on,
yet IN general form she not altered by the accident.
While iron ship building rapidly developing
in England the Cunad line did not incline to use metal
ships AZ last the Persia built on her first voyage
she preceded by the Pacific, OF the Collins line.
wooden vessel. Both OF these vessels fell IN with ice.
The Pacific won't down with hergreat living freight with
one left to toll the sad tale. The Persia ron encoun
tered small iceberg when running at full speed, and
split II la two, receiving injury except by the faI
that Oated into the wheels and broke several of
the noata The iron steamship Caledonia, built the
clyde and OF 1854 tuns register went ashore on Cape
God the lat Of January 1863 while her passage from
Portland 90 NewYOrf. Part OF her cargo having been
discharged ut the former port che light amdshlps,
both and stern being heavily laden. IN gale that
followed her stranding, aud while resting amidshps she
burst open with report like cannon, breaking In two
from the gnnwslos TO tho garbOards the keel bending
upward OF "a inches from straight line The iron was
torn asunder like CLOTH several frames broken. and
her shear was thrown out OF shape on both sdes Tho
stern fell OF, and tho opening at tho top or he rent
measured five feet. She was condemned and sold To
Messrs Nlokerson Co. Of Boston for $4,000. They
pended $4,000 moro her, and finally tho hull was
pumped out aud In October 1868, she arrived NJ East
Boston, having been ashore the outside OF Cape Cod
nine months Owing 10 tho want of proper dry DOCK
IL not I'LL juno H. lo6+, that sho d0cked aud
blocked and pat In the hands OF tho Atlantic Iron Works
for reconstruction ON tho cad Of October OF tho same
year she out of the dock good new. bho ~
mn ma. hal lar duDllCnta