Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-03-12
ANCHORS AND CHAINS.
a HEAVY Load In Themselves. and Why
Second Hand Ones are Preferred.


New York Mail and Express.l
Several large piles Of rusty iron an
chor-chains filling the sidewalk in front
OF shipsmithing shop near South
street caused Aad aud Express re-
porter to step within the building and
ask how many pounds of iron vessel
usually carries as part Of its outfit.
" Many vessels said the proprietor,
whose shop is one Of the oldest in the
city, carry as many as $4,000 pounds
each. To landsman this naturally
seems pretty big load in itself, but it
forms an essential part of ships make
up. Of this, $4,000 pounds are usually
in chains and $4,000 pounds in anchors.
The Henry b. Hyde, a large ship built
in Maine, carries two anchors. one of
which weighs 1000 pounds, and the
other 5000 pounds. Every vessel, as
well as steamship. is obliged to carry
five anchors, spare one and two stream
anchors besides the one in regular use.
Our largest anchors weigh 5000 pounds
each, while We have them as light as
twenty-five pounds. Some Of the
largest chains are composed of links the
iron of which is two and halt inches
in diameter.
" Yes. we only deal in secondhand
material. but We have fitted up some
handsome vessels all the same. The
George W. Curtis, new clipper-ship of
l,S00 tons. has our anchors. as also has
the Albert q. Ropes, $500 tons, and
the Henry B. Hyde. We make spe-
cialty of secondhand material Of this
kind because we find that there is big
demand for it. One reason is that
frcights are low and ship-Owners are
obliged to economze like other people,
and another and more important one is
that a captain prefers secondhand an
chorS and chains because they have been
fully tested. 1t won't do on shipbOard
to have defective rigging of this kind,
and there is no real way of testing an
chOrs except by use. Consequently we
find il a rule that thoroughly-tested Sc
cond-hand anchors and chains find a
ready sale.
New Workers would open their eyes
in surprise were they to know to what
extent the business has grown. Why,
We alone have on hand at this time lis
tons of l-inch chains and between GOO
and 700 tons in anchors. besides tons of
other secondhand iron material used on
shipboard. The stuff YOU see in here
and out on the walk, large as it seems.
does not comprise but small part of
the stock. for over in Brooklyn we have
a lot of 100 feet square filled with it.
DO insurance-men have anything to
with a ship outfit? should say they
did. Why. no anchor can be put
aboard ships nowadays unless it suits
the requirements of the inspector Of in
surancc. They are very particular
about this. and ship or steamer must
have just so many shots of chain and
Just so many anchors, Of weight and
size to compare with the size Of the
vessel. or things are no go. \ number
of vessels have lately taken to the use
of a patent anchor which the insurance
companies allow. This is one third the
weight of the ordinary anchor and has
more power, for the crown is movable.
being on swivel. The reason an an
chor'S chain is always in sections o.
ninety feet is to enable the captain tC
know Just how much Of it he has cas-
/ out"