Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1869-11-11

THE FIRST AMERICAN lgoN SAILING VESSEL
DRsoAIprIoN OF THE BOAT AND HER COST.
Considerable attention has been attracted
for two or three days past by vessel lying
at Pier No. ., East River. 1t is the first iron
sailing vessel built in this country, bark of
$50 tons register, l56 feet long, 81 9-l2 feet
beam and Isl feet hold, called the Iron Age.
1t was constructed by the Harlan " Hollings-
worth Company, OF Wilmington, Del, for
Tupper g. Beattie, of this city, and is intend
ed for the carrying trade to Europe and the
East. 1t is said by its owners to have cost
no more than wooden vessel OF the same
capacity, and to be far more serviceabe, on
account of requiring much less repairing,
lasting far longer and being insured ut lower
rates, The hull is constructed wholly Of
Pennsylvania iron, which is said to be the
best in the world for the purpose, and the
woodwork Of the interior is Of American
oak and ash. The only imported material
is that of the outfit of rigging, pumps
chains and anchors. A neater or handsomer
piece of work is rarely.to be seen, and it is
claimed that 1t cannot be surpassed Tor
workmanship liz any part Of the world.
The cost Of this vessel at the ship-yard in
Wilmington is about $50 per ton Tor the
hull and Sl5 per ton for the rigging and
outfit, making total cost of 500 per ton,
while the cost Of English vessels OF cores
| ponding size and quality is about Sot per
ton. The largest item in this difference IS
| in the cost of the outfit, which, ON account
of the heavy duties, is Slj u ton here, while
| in ENGLAND it is only IS or 80. Notwith-
standing the high price of Pennsylvania
| iron, due To the heavy protective tariff on
the importation OF this metal, the cost ol
the hull differs hardly dollar to tho ton
from the price in English ship yards. Messrs
| Tuper Il Bcattie first consulted several Eng
| lish and Scotch builders, and received oilers
| from them, but found that they could MOI
have their orders filled for several months
on account q the pressure Of business, ant
so determined to try what could be done II
this country They are satisfied with the
[ result, and claim to have demonstrated tina
the day of wooden ships is past.
They do not believe the quality OF thu
work can be equaled in any British establish
ment, and declare that if the duty on mate
rias was removed, and our currenc
brought to gold basis, we could defy a.
competition in the art Of building iron yes
sells and obtain our full share of the carryn
trade of the world. This belief is tounde,
on the superiority Of our iron for plating,
being serviceable, one-eighth of an inch les
in thickness than the English metal, til
greater skill and intelligence OF our wofi
men, and more perfect adoption of mt
chiuery to the various processes require
) in this important branch Of manuiactur,
) There arc but four or five establishments
this country adapted for the construction
such vessels, but it only needs certain nsea
: ures ofreliei, for which these are anxious
, looking, TO start growth oil busy sh
wards along our whole coast line that W
support the immense commerce which oug
: to be the heritage of country with SUI
:, vast material resources as ours.-N-
a Times