[2] It would have needed something like 800,000 acres of
land on which to grow the timber for the ships annually built in
this country for commercial purposes. And timber ships are by no
means lasting. The average durability of ships of war employed
in active service, has been calculated to be about thirteen
years, even when built of British oak.
Indeed, years ago, the building of shipping in this country was
much hindered by the want of materials.
The trade was being rapidly transferred to Canada and the United
States. Some years since, an American captain said to an
Englishman, Captain Hall, when in China, "You will soon have to
come to our country for your ships: your little island cannot
grow wood enough for a large marine." "Oh!" said the Englishman,
"we can build ships of iron!" "Iron?" replied the American in
surprise, "why, iron sinks; only wood can float!" "Well! you
will find I am right." The prophecy was correct. The Englishman
in question has now a fleet of splendid iron steamers at sea.
The use of iron in shipbuilding had small beginnings, like
everything else. The established prejudice--that iron must
necessarily sink in water--long continued to prevail against its
employment. The first iron vessel was built and launched about a
hundred years since by John Wilkinson, of Bradley Forge, in
Staffordshire. In a letter of his, dated the 14th July, 1787,
the original of which we have seen, he writes: "Yesterday week
my iron boat was launched.
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