The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-11-18
rRoSl-1iND rRoS IND WOODEN SHIPS.

IRON IND WOODEN SHIPS.
Their Relative Mcrtts-Activity In tn
Building OF Wooden ships.
When iron ships were first introduced, nov
twelve years ago, 1t was expected they woult
drivsn wooden ships from the ocean, ant
bring about such revolution In marine archi
lecture that timber, for shipbuilding would be
come one Of the things of the past. These ex
pectations were founded upon what appeared
then very correct data, for 1t was readily de-
monstrated that an iron ship would carry CON
sIdersbly more than q wooden vessel of the
same outside measurement, also that tney
would last longer and that the possibilities OF
fire we're materially lessened. Iron Vesssls
were Immediately constructed, and as Iapiu,S .h
as possib!e, thatah might at once snaIe lug
profits of the commerce which IL was ueile'eu
they were destined to command.
AS these vessels left the shipyards tney
were given By the various Lloyas tne very
highest classification, and were rateu III heuy
instances tor twentS-one years;
Owing to various causes tnls INDUSTRY mas
never prospered In the United states, and
under the supposition that it would no longer
nav to build wooden ships. to compete with
tbe iron vessels of other nations this branch
OF the industry has also been neglected, and
In consequence our shipyards have been Idle
for nearly ten years. Within the past year,
however, there has been q change. and many
Of our shipmssters have resolved to 60 back
toWooden ships and construct them as for
merly, without waiting for the time when
they can produce Iron ships which will COM
pete IN price with those BUILT on the Clyde.
Numerous circumstances have been conducive
to this result, but It has been brought about
chiefly by The fact that many OF the iron yes
sells that twelve years ago were rated for
twenty-one years, are ROW worn out and
worth nothing more than their weight as old
iron.
It iss well known fact that the instant iron
is taken from the furnace 1t begins to oxydize,
and that this processis accelerated by the ac-
ton orseaewarer. Is evident. The outside of the
vessel5 5howeVer, can be protected by constant
painting, and kept comparatively free from
rust, but on the Inside, where there is always
q moisture created by the vessels own sweat
ing, the plates and bolts are gradually eaten
away. Paint and tar are always freely used,
and all accommodations OF water promptly re-
movedI4 q but the bllge Is always wet, and the
ultimate destruction OF me iron 10 :, mere sa,
ed through greater difficulty still is encount-
cred In the attempt to'repair 1t Each rivet
must be-eut out, aud when the plate is finally
removed 1t Is seldom that the adjoining metal
ID In condition to, hold the new one: Thus
other plates must be taken out, and, as In an
Instance that" occurred recently at this port,
the entire bottom must be removed. In the,
case referred to this was necessary, and when
all the repairs were effected It was found they
amounted to almost as much as the original
cost, OF, the vessel. These circumstances have
induced many of the leading shipping houses
to turn their attention to woo6en sbips, and
more orders haveIbeen sent to the Eastern
ehtn,,o x,IfhJu h,a mast ak months than In
as many previous years. ,,.
There are, however, many conhctlng opln.
ions relative to the rival merits OF WOOD ano
iron, and each material has sits own support
ers. who press its claims aud condemn the OPP
nosition. Notwithstanding facts demon
strsted by experience, each party hods 10 its
oxnupfnions, and refuses to concede to the
5sfSrIaepreierence Wooden ships are held
bymanYt to be, out of date and too cunoer-
some nd,unwIeldy TO be compared with iron
ships, and In support of their theory urge that
Iron vessel will carry several tons more
freight and from hundred to one hundred
and ffty barrels more than wooden vessel
Thfs isof course great desideratum to- the
shipper, because all the additional freight q
ship wllt hold is so much extra profit. 1t IS
also claimed thstan Iron ship Will command
better rates for freights, and that in general
they are more profitable. In relation to the
AeSS
many iron ships rated for twenty years are
now worn out, It Is said that the vessels were
CONSTRUCTED hastily, and that poor quality OF
iron was used, while, with better material, re-
pairs weuld not be needed.
Those who favor wooden chips combat all
these points, and claim the preference lor
reasons which they urge experience has de-
monstrated. In the first place, they point TO
the original cost of wooden ship. which is
one.thlrd less than that Of an Iron ship, aud
,ur9e that as an iron vessel can only be Insured
against total loss. the additional expense Will
more than counterbaIance the higher rates OBJ
tained for freight and the extra carrying capa-
CITY. A we'll built wooden vessel Will last from
twelve to fifteen. years, and the necessary re-
pairI canbe made upon her In short space oil
fime and q. small expense. The danger to
be spprehended from collision or other acc-
dent Is alsoless than.wlth an iron ship, for tae
accident that would make q wooden ship
8pripY q leak would break q hole In an Iron
ship, oEat least. do her 80 much damage as TO
rendet hersdangeroas' to life and property.
An accident to a wooden ship may at times De
readily9repafred even; while at sea; but the
sides OF an iron ship preeludes the use OF ham
mee and nails; and unless q hole can be stop.
pedby yStufang, she is bound to 60 TO the bot
'oi mnstSabis instance of this difference be-
twseh,the two materials occurred q short tlue
ago. "A wooden vessel, L while. in aStoregn
portt settled at,her moorin2s owing to an e1-
tremelyl low tide.E' She leaked slightly on the
v6sase, and upon arriving atthis port was put
upon ai dry dock tor repairs. IL was tnen
found that she had settled upon large bou-
der, which was wedged into her wooden Dol
voyage, and that without any particular 1ncon.
yenienoe. Such an occurrences to an Iron snip
vofiid f1foIbtedlY have Been disastrous. II
may Us said that good iron would have settled