Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-13
"OLD IRONSIDES' RESTORA ALTON
MASTERPIECE OF SE1IPCRAFT
Naval Architect Replaced IS Per Cent of
Decayed Material in Rebuilding
Old Frigate.

When Mr.. Joshua Humphreys under
took the construction of the Constitu-
ton in 1894. his was the problem agitat-
ing the brains of naval architects OF to-
day; the designing of a ship embodying
the three important characteristics OF
speed, armament and protection.
Such a type familiar to us as cruiser
was the frigate of old. To the Govern
ment In the 1790s-appalled at the cost
of "ships-of -the-line," frigates able to
make rapid attacks on an enemys
maritime commerce-lone wolves of the
sea independent of fleet or fortified base
support were the types of ships con-
sidered the logical answer to the ques-
ton Of naval organization.
In the splendid aggregation of sails
meaning speed; battery Of flfty-Six "a
pounders-meaning reach and sides OF
% inches for protection, Humphreys ex-
ceeded expectations and created beau
tiful lighting ship. Immune, though she
was to shell or capture, peace brought
disuse; with security. age began its
deadly disintegration.
The history of the old ship for the
last hundred years is the history of
man attempting to arrest decay. A
Pharaonic obelisk must at last crum-
BILE. or a Declaration Of independence
fade. if neglected.
Restoring Naval Classic.
Again the ravages Of time were more
apparent than ever on the Constitution.
In the slow procession of years the
rugged old boat eased along in her
normal period of existence has YEARLY
seen the rapid declension of wooden
ships and rise Of strange. steaming
craft of quite another pattern
Apprehensively, the observers in the
Navy Yard contemplated the evident
fact that to save "Old Honsides" con-
siderable expenditure Of money would
be needed.
The passage of years has brought loss
of material and departures from early
design and equipment.
The Harvesting of the guns would
present a problem for most students.
At one time a charitable Government.
permitted and encouraged the disposal
of these cannon. Where are these cam
non today?
Lord Chosen as Director.
A commentator, issued from the
Office Of the Secretary of the Navy on
July g. 1880. reads as follows
The rebuilding Of Old Ironsides' Is
an historic and outstanding achieve
ment in the art of wooden shipbuilding
a notable feat that required tech
nical knowledge and experience in
wooden Shipbulldlng practices. TIE
work which has been accomplished in
restoring Old Ironsides' thus far is a
great success, and it has been accom-
plished as the result of the untiring
physical effort. careful study and long
hours Of work on the part of Lieut..
John Able Lord"
From Maine Lieut. Lord obtained %
men, among whom were Is first-class
shipwrightS and caulkers; also sundry
old-style devices-among which Is a
'"futtock saw"-all stragglers in the de-
cadent art from the days when ship
building in wood was leading industry.
From afar were obtained lengthy
Douglas frs from which new masts
were to issue. All sections of the ccun-
try were drawn on for lumber; from
the Commodores Pond at the Naval
Air Station, Pensacola, Fla, great, solid
oak timbers that reposed for as many
as so years, entirely submerged in
water. were brought north to share in
the re-establishment of the iron
sides.
Dry-Docking the Ship.
Within the drydock a cradle of blocks
had been provided, shaped to conform
to the bullying sides of the hull.
Settling gracefully and safely into its