New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-01-24
INDUSTRIAL ENGLAND.
ny ROBERT p PORTER. MEMBER OF TIE LATE
TARIFF COMMISSION.
,sHIp-BUILDING ON THE CLYDE.
,rRoM A SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE

SHlP-BUILDING ON THE CLYDE.
IFRoM A SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBuNEl
GLASGOW, Scotland, December 90
The CLYDE has long had sort of classic
interest in connection with the two comate
arts of ship-buildiag and marine engineer.
ing and no river in the world has done more
to bring them to their present high state OF perfec
ton Iron ship-buidiug at present thrives most on
the Clyde Glasgow the Tyne (Newcastlel, the
Mersey tBirkenhead), and the Wear (Sunderlahul'
while it also prevails to a great extent at Hull
Bristol, Chester Southampton and other ports III
Great Britain 1t is the shp-building OF the Civde'
however that will be made the special topic Oh TINS
letter As early az s35 progress had been made in
shipbulding on tbs Clyde, and during the next h'e
wears the trade began vigorous infancy. PREVIOUS
to the time of Henry Bell ship-bulidlng was not
unknown on the CIyde but his vaiuaoie eii' W 'he
world in the way of demonstration OF steam haVIea-
ton was the means of instituting shlp-Cuiiulhg
and marine engineering as industries, which III
few wears came to be regarded as especially belong
ing to Glasgow and the Clyde. The pioneer steam
ers of the Cunard Line, founded In 1870 were built
at Port Glasgow and Greenock. Robert Napier
was one of the first builders and during the Crimean
War he built his first iron-cad. the Erebus. In
1852 John Elder, now probably the largest ship
buider in the world, VINO had been an apprentice
with Robert Napier, Joined with Charles Randolph
and laid the foundation of a business which this
year turned out nearly $4,000 tons OF iron vessels
and employs more than 5000 men.
Many circumstances have contributed 10 make
Glasgow and the Clyde famous for the position
which they have attained in the application of iron
bodybuilding. Skill in mechanical construction has
become almost an inherited faculty, as evidence OF
which one can refer at least to two If not to
three generations Of Napiers, Dennys Dun
cans Elders, Nelson's. ETC., III the industries
in ouestion. John Mayer. in his sketch of
the engineering and shp-buidng industries
of Glasgow and the Clyde, divides the
history into six periods. OF the first period
beoan with the Comet which commenced to ply
IN 1919 between Glasgow and Helenshurgh, and
VIVA designed by Bell and her rate of motion about
five miles an hour. The second period was inaugu-
rated by David Napier and was the beginning OF
the practical adaptation of the steam vessel for
dcep-sea traffic. The third period, 1920. brought
many changes mostly in the engines, and brought
m the speed to ten miles an hour, Most of the
vessels built IN the fourth period, 1S3O-4O did
some remarkable work, especially in regard TO the
regularity aud speed with which they performed
tier voyages. The next period produced the
famous CuIiarder Britannia" which made the frs.
voyage from Liverpool to Boston IN fourteen days
eight hours. and opened new era of commerce. The
sixth and present period is that of John Elder and
the compound marine engine, the period OF the
Arizona the Alaska and the Oregon.
What will be the next eraf "
Perhaps in turn the highest apprentice of Elders
hops who the other day remarked to me with
pride as we looked at a magnificent engine almost
ready for the steamer, That's the Governors own
engine" may yet so economic power that the At
lanic will be crossed in five instead of seven DAYS
Or perhaps the next step will be twin screws in
stead of the single screw while, instead ct sixteen.
eighteen or twenty knots hour will be the normal
speed
The following IS a comparative statement of the
gross tonnage built the Clyde during the last five