New Orleans Republican., 1871-11-07
lron SteaWhOags and Dorses,
Prom the St. Louis Democrat.1

The president Of the Exchange, Mr.. &c.
rard B. Alien, called the members together
at noon yesterday, to lay before them the
resolutions concerning the establishment
somewhere upon Western waters of yard
for iron hull building under government
patronage. These resolutions had already
received the iodorsement of the board Of
tanned at length in our columns Yesterday
morning. 1t will not therefore be necessary
to more than state that the nature of these
resolutions were explained to the Chamber.
and, upon motion, it was unanimously agreed
that Congress be urged to take such acton
In the premises as was suggested in the
resolutions.
The United States government has
about concluded that the greater part Of
@ sneir naval work could be done at much
less cost to the government each year, if it
were done in private building yards,
than it done in government navy yards.
But that such yards may possess the neces-
sary facilities for successfully and skillfully
performing the work at minimum rate Of
expense, necessitates . greater outlay of
capital than private individuals in the West
can afford to expend, 80 the government is
to be asked to loan it's aid in fitting up a
back in annual installments. Once the
yard is located and properly equipped, a
company formed of Eastern and Western
men, with half Q million cash capital, are
ready to take possession and contract for
iron hulls as cheaply as can be obtained
anywhere.
The government has signifed its willing.
ness to do this. 1t proposes to assist in the
erection Of yard upon Eastern waters to
assist in establishing one at some suitable
locality ON Western waters costing 42,00O,-
600. Of course, st. Louis people would like
very much to have such yard located here,
but as all that is to be hereafter determined
by q naval committee to be appointed for
the purpose, we need only express our hopes
in that direction at the present time. OF
ore thing, however, the entire West may be
assured, that no matter where that yard is
located, St. Louis will want an indefinite
number of boats and barges built there,
just as quick as operations can be effectively
begun. She is growing heartily tired of her
magnificent (!) wooden hulks costing for
tune to build, fortune to run, and Oftener
breaking than making owners.
Pittsburg, Cincinnati, Louisville. Mem
phis and New Orleans are all clamoring for
iron boats, and we believe that large fleet
of them would be Immediately wanted for
Missouri rivers. For the upper river service,
boats Of 1000 tons capacity and good speed
may be constructed to run on twenty inches
Of water, loaded. This amount Of water
can be obtained on the very worst places
between Dubuque and St. Paul all the year
around, and thus uninterrupted navigation |
to that point would be assured In case
any company, like the St. Louis Northern |
Line Packet Company, desire to run their |
boats clear through from St. Paul to St. |
Louis, they might have them all built of |
he light draft mentioned, and then have |
some small iron barges constructed for these |
boats to tow. In this way all the traffic
,fered between this city and up river points |
;Ould be successfully served.
New Orleans has made an effort recently |
o establish line of iron barges and iron
Owboats, and has subscribed about $4,000
N basis of 81 100000. What success they
will meet with in obtaining the balance is,
# course. prOblematical, but if thorough
anvass Of the city is made, we imagine
nOugh can be raised to put the line in Oper-
ltiOn. Suppose five barges to constitute the
Ow, We believe that they could be built of
500 tons burden each at $4,000 each. This
would be $4,000 for the barges. A tow
'oat capable of handling these five barges
With ease could be built for $6O.OOO Thus
'l4O, 900 would represent the investment of
ach tow of one towboat and five barges.
from here to New Orleans is distance by
iver of eleven hundred miles, and our
resent barge line. on a fair stage OF water,
makes the round trip as follows:
Days
unning time down. Observation-Disclosures. 5
5 |