EVOLUTION OF SCREW PROPULSION IN THE UNITED STATES. 55 



one, we could not have been better received, and this will apply to the 

 Admiralty and their dockyards as well. 



The building of these four iron ships, between 1873 and 1874, was an 

 event of much importance, particularly as the ships were propelled by screws 

 and the engines were of the John Elder type of compound engines. The 

 ships were subjects of much consideration on their arrival in lyiverpool, many 

 of the principal shops sending their draughtsmen to look up the flanging in 

 the boiler heads and fire boxes of the boilers; no flanging of these or any 

 other part of a boiler had been done before in Great Britain. They also 

 took some trouble to examine the white metal in the bearings of these 

 ships. We afforded them every facility in aid of their investigations as 

 to flanging methods, the use of white metal, and in every other matter they 

 interested themselves, as a return for tlieir favorable reception. 



The names of the vessels proved to be of considerable interest to two 

 I/iverpoodlian "wharf rats," who saw the Ohio puUing into the dock. 

 One said to the other, "What does that beastly name spell — a ho and a 

 haitch and a bloody ten?" The other could not inform him so they gave 

 it up. 



JOHN ROACH. 



The works of Reaney, Son & Archbold at Chester were afterwards 

 taken up by John Roach & Son in 1872. Mr. Roach, who was an engine 

 builder in New York, by profession an iron founder of prominence, had 

 built there a number of engines for the Navy during the civil war and a short 

 time after. He was bold and fearless and was in possession of great mercan- 

 tile and commercial instincts. He became a conspicuous advocate of screw 

 propulsion and he handled his old fogy neighbors, the paddle-wheel advo- 

 cates, without gloves. 



He induced two steamship companies to add new screw ships to their 

 old ones. The Pacific Mail ships were still operated by certain interests 

 outside of the shipping business, but under a style much reduced from its 

 former lofty standing. Mr. Roach built a number of screw ships for that 

 company. The final elimination of the paddle-wheel engine in New York 

 was largely due to his efforts. 



Mr. Roach's removal to Chester practically ended important hull 

 building in the New York district; although he and others continued to 

 build marine engines. 



