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Economical Steam Boats. 15 
Should not this and other such testimony silence prejudice, and 
awaken the attention of a commercial community. The Brindleys 
built the Rochester Indiaman of four hundred tons measurement, ca- 
pable of carrying nearly eight hundred tons weight, and many others 
in the new way, till the navigation interest in general declined in Eng- 
land, as is well known to have been the fact of late years. Proof 
was both accidentally and intentionally given of their abundant 
strength. 
The principle is to place all the materials used in the position that 
gives strength to the fabric. Accordingly every piece adds to its 
thickness and tightness. ‘The whole ship is bound together with iron 
bands like a cask. But instead of being a cask of one thickness of 
staves, it is composed of a number in succession ; and not only suc- 
cessively bound on each other, but bolted successively through and 
through, and drawn together by numerous screw bolts. ‘Then, as 
every successive coat or thickness of plank is caulked and pitched, 
the structure is a solid mass of wood and iron and carbonaceous im- 
pervious imperishable substance. ‘The keel is secured on external- 
ly, and instead of being a cause of danger from its exposed position, 
serves as a defence ; because it may be even knocked off or ground 
to pieces by violence without causing the destruction of the hull. 
Within, there is a kelson and floor timbers to receive the loading. 
The liability to spring a leak is diminished in proportion to the num- 
ber of layers. Loading increases the strength of a ship while she 
floats. 
Insurance and custom not so much influencing construction of steam 
boats as ships, this method is peculiarly suitable to them ; because 
they ply principally on our fresh waters and in the heat if summer, 
when their upper-works are very liable to shrink and admit the weath- 
er. Ofcourse the causes of decay, heat and moisture operate as 
powerfully as prematurely. But if the sun can have no effect but on 
the external coat, all the others will remain sound. The Messrs. 
Brindleys observe that their mode of building is very economical, not 
only because it takes less timber, but requires none that is crooked, 
which costs twice or thrice as much. Is not this fact worthy of the 
attention of a naval power? Might not the method: be fairly tried 
by government in one instance on a moderate scale? For it is the 
premature decay, and necessity of consequent repairs that makes a 
navy so very expensive even in ordinary. 
