The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1873-04-05
IRON SHIP.BUILDING.

! Fob l, ls73-23w
IRON SHIP.BUILDING.
THE YARDS ON THE DELAWARE RIVER
PROGRESS OF THE TRADE.
A correspondent of the N. Y. Times,
writing from Wilmington, Del, gives the
following interesting account of Iron Ship.
Building on the Delaware river.
The great industrial interest of iron ship
building is developing colossal proportions
upon the Delaware, and at Wilmington,
the busy and enterprising city of the Del
awareites. During the last five years the
construction of iron vessels along this
stream has increased almost an hundred
fold, and every year the industry is ad-
vancing with such proportions that it is a
common prediction that the Delaware will
in time become the Clyde of the world. All
the great establishments and yards situated
at Wilmington, Chester, and Philadelphia
are crowded with orders, and may have
more work upon their hands than can be
executed. The peculiar location of the
Delaware renders it an admirable and ma
tural depot for the building of iron vessels.
Situated as it is within easy access by rail
to the greatest iron and coal producing re-
gion of the world, and almost at the very
threshold of the largest and most celebrat-
ed foundries and iron mills in the country;
and taking into account the remarkable ad-
vancement of the industry, the predictions
which the savants foretell as to it's being
the centre of the worlds iron ship building
in coming years, are not impossibilities,
but plausible conclusions.
Your correspondent has recently made
visits to the largest establishments, and
found that at Wilmington, at one of the
yards, fine iron ocean craft is under con-
struction for the Metropolitan Steam ship
Company of New York. She will be en-
ployed in the Southern coastwise trade be
tween the Metropolis and New-Orleans.
The vessel is being built under the super
vision of Capt. Winters prominent ma
rine constructor, and we'll known in New
York City. From the yard of Pussy & Jones,
at the same point, first-class screw-steam-
er, for one of the Southern steam ship lines,
was launched few weeks ago. Whining
ton is the centre of an extensive iron ship
building interest, and her yards have ac-
quired an enviable fame. At Chester,
about eighteen miles below Philadelphia,
the extensive establishment of John Roach
6 Sons is situated, and is known as the
"Delrware River Iron Ship-building and
Engine Works. This is a New York firm,
who took hold of the yard few years after
the war. Their predecessors were Reaney
& Sons, who became insolvent, which was
owing largely to bad management.
On Thursday there was launched from
this yard the iron steamship Colima, of
the Pacific Mail Steam ship Company.
Her dimensions are: Length on deck, 315
feet; beam, (molded,) 40 feet; depth from
hurricane, 36s feet; tonnage, (old measure
ment,) 1878 tons; freight capacity on
dead weight, o,100 tons; draft of water, 10
feet. She will be bark-rigged, and spread
300 yards of canvass in her plain sails.
The engines are 1900 horse power, and
are compound; accommodations for 200
first-class passengers, and for $50 second
class. Her consort was launched some time
last Fall, and the firm have orders and will
lay the keel shortly for another vessel of
the same model, and for the same company.
Also at these works the Reading Rail-
road Company are having built two power
full steam iron GOLFERS for the coal survice
of the company, who intend to build 4
fleet of these vessels to transport their Goa
from the Richmond coal wharves, Phila.
delphia, to any point on order. The vessels
now being constructed by John Roach &
Sons will be ga feet in length, with 80 feet
beam, and 1900 tons register. The first
will be ready for launching about the mid.
die of April. A powerful iron ferry boat, the
Tippecanoe, is also under way for New
York ferry company. The craft will be a
model of marine architecture of its kind
Also at these works, is being built first
| class and commodious iron steam ship, 70,
Japan trade. The United States revenue
steamer Manhattan was also recently
launched from this yard. 1t is currently
rumored that the owners of the larges
ship building establishments in East Boston
are seriously considering removal to some
point upon the Delaware, and entering
upon the building of iron vessels exclusive
ly. At Kaigh's Point, N. j., directl,
opposite Philadelphia, the Kaigh's Poiu,
Ship building Company have constructed
several iron vessels, and are doing a grea
deal of Government work. At Messrs
Cramp & Sons, ship-yard' Kensington, tn,
four ocean steamers for the America,
Steamship Company are being built. Tw,
of these-the Ohio and Pennsvlvania-hav,
already been launched, and the remainin,
two-Indiana and 1llinois-are still on the
stocks. The former is now ready TO
launching AS soon as the ice in the rive
breaks up, These vessels cost by contrac
|
ocean steamers now afloat. The Pennsyl
vania will be ready to 60 on her trial tri,
about the LIST of April. 1t is the intention
of the builders to take the vessel to SCI
three days to test her capacity and sea
worthiness fully
"A petrified frog in the Greeley (Colora
do Geological Cabinet was shattere,
with Ratchet by some wanton boys til
other day, and, wonderful to relate, an oil
Aztec coin dropped out. The date canno
be deciphered, but the figure of head il
plainly visible.