Iron from London, Greater London, England • Page 22

498 IRON. DBCBMBEB 4,1891. and Blakeston, of LondonTand Liverpool, under whose superintendence the vessel has been built. The cylinders are 26,43, and 69 inches, by 45 inches stroke, with extra large double-ended boilers, adapted for a working pressure of 160 lb. Two runs were made on the measured mile, when the engines worked extremely well at eighty revolutions, the vessel being light and giving a mean speed of over knots.

The Russian volunteer fleet liner Saratov, built and engined by Messrs. R. W. Hawthorn, Leslie made a preliminary trial of her machinery on November 21. At the termination of a series of progressive speed trials the engines were worked up to full power, and several runs on the measured mile made, when the mean speed attained under natural draught was 18f knots, the engines indicating 10,255 horsepower.

The engines ran perfectly at 101 revolutions, with no sign of heating or other difficulty in any of the working parts. Particulars of this vessel will be found in our issue of July 31, 1891. Tynemouth. November 28, this steam trawler, which has been built by Sir Raylton Dixon of Middlesbrough, for the Tyne Steam Fishing Company Limited, of North Shields, went for her official trial trip. She has been engined by the North-eastern Marine Engineering Company, Limited, of Sunderland, the cylinders being 11 inches, 17 inches, and 28 inches by 21 inches stroke, and throughout the trials these engines worked satisfactorily.

AN AMPHIBIOUS steamer which can be propelled on land by means of its own engine has just been constructed at the Ljunggren Engineering Works at Kristiansstad, in Sweden. It is intended for the traffic on two lakes close to Boras, which, however, are separated by a strip of land. Rails have been laid between the two lakes. The steamer, which lias been christened very appropriately Svanen (the Swan), can run itself across from one lake to the other. At a trial trip, if one may call it so, at the works, the vessel fulfilled the tests very well.

The engine is 10 horsepower, and the Svanen can accommodate sixty passengers. STEAMSHIP Peninsular and Oriental Company has decided to close its connection with Venice, and on and after January 15 next, will establish a special weekly service betwee Italy and Egypt, the steamers running in alternate weeks between Brindisi and Alexandria, and Naples and Alexandria, and vice Canadian Government has decided to call for tenders for a fast service of steamers between Canada and Europe, the minimum rate of speed to average eighteen knots an hour from port to port, or in the case of alternative tenders nineteen and twenty knots respectively the vessels to have a tonnage of 6,500, and to be equipped and furnished in the most modern style. The tenders are to be sent in by January 11 next. THE LARGEST STEAMER ON FRESH WATER is about to be built by the Chicago Shipbuilding Company, of South Chicago. She wul bo 350 feet long over all, 45 feet wide, and feet deep, and will carry over 4,000 tons in the lake channels at the ordinary depth of water.

With an increase of depth of water on the great lakes, as now contemplated, the now boat will carry "without trouble over 5,000 tons. She will be built for the Minnesota Steamship Company, and a sister boat of exactly the same dimensions will be built at the same time at- the Globe Iron Works in Cleveland. Both steamers will have triple-expansion engines capable of propelling the vessel at the rate of 14 miles per hour, and will be fed by threo boilers 12 by 12 feet. They will be ready for service at the opening of navigation next year. SCOTCH SHIPBUILDING IN two important respects the shipbuilding returns for November differ from the majority of preceding records.

The month's production a single heaviest of this year, and half the aggregate tonnage represents sailing vessels. But strange as both results may appear at the moment, each admits of an easy explanation. The heavy output indicates only the general desire of builders to complete with the old year as many contracts as possible, and the preponderance in the aggregate of sailing ships that the bulk of the new work, of which BO much was made a few months ago, is already in an advanced state. Although the orders placed during the month aggregate nearly 23,000 tons, none of the work is of more than average importance. From Scotch shipbuilding yards there were launched 34 vessels, of 44,231 tons, of which 20, aggregating 22,157 tons, were steamers, and 14, measuring 22,074 tons, sailing vessels.

To the total the Clyde contributed 19 steamers of 19,657 tons, and 11 sailing Bhips of 15,774 tons; the Forth 2 sailing ships of 3,500 tons; and the Tay a steamer of 2,500 tons and a sailing vessel of 2,800 tons. The following table shows how the 11 months' total stands compared with last year 1891. 1890. Tons. Tons.

Clyde 278,600 306,384 Forth 28,680 33,032 1S.953 21,382 Dee 6,179 8,828 332,412 369,626 Clyde builders launched 30 vessels, aggregating 35,431 tons, of which 19, representing 19,657 tons, were steamers, and 11, measuring 15,774 tons, sailing vessels. To the total Go van, Partick, and Whiteinch contributed 22,719 tons; Renfrew, Yoker, and Paisley, Bowling and Dumbarton, Greenock and Port- Glasgow, Fairlie, 21; and Troon, 1,000. The following table shows how the total compares with former November. 11 Months. Tons.

Tons. 1S91 35,431 278,600 1890 26,600 305,680 1880 30,834 301,730 NAVAL engines and machinery of the first-class protected cruiser Blake, having been thoroughly examined since the vessel underwent her steam trials and everything found satisfactory, the Admiralty has decided to accept the engines from the contractors, Messrs. Maudslay, Sons new first-class war cruiser Blenheim, built by the Thames Ironworks Company, was delivered to the Medway Steam Reserve authorities at Sheerness on November 27, upon completion by the contractors. The Blenheim, which made a good run down the Thames from the Victoria Docks, is the largest and most powerful cruiser ever built for the Royal Navy by a private firm, and will be immediately armed and prepared for commission. She has a displacement of 9,000 tons, and has been fitted with engines designed to develop 20,000 horse-power with a speed of 22 knots under forced draught, and 13,000 horse-power with a speed of 20 knots under natural steam cruiser Scamew, which has been fitted with a new boiler, and has been thoroughly overhauled and repaired at a cost of £1,000, was passed out of hand at Sheerness on November 27 as ready for The new second-class cruiser Thetis, 3,400 tons, 9,000 horse-power, building under the Naval Defence Act, has received her armament from Woolwich Arsenal, and is ordered to undergo her gunnery trials off The Thetis, which was recently delivered from the works of Messrs.

J. and G. Thompson, has been equipped with two 6-inch breech-loading guns, six quick-firing guns, and nine 3-pounder quick-firing to a despatch from Valparaiso the Chilian Government has invited tenders for the raising of the warship Blanco Encalada, which was sunk in Caldera stem has been cast at Sheerness Dockyard for a new second- class cruiser, named the Forte, which is to be built at Chatham Dockyard. The Forte is to be built upon similar lines to the Apollo class, with the exception that she will have a greater length, breadth, and displacement. She will be 320 feet in length, and will displace 4,360 tons.

The engines' of the Forte are to be of 9,000 horse-power, and she will carry an equipment of two 6-inch, eight 4'7-inch, and nine 3-pounder quick- firing officials at Chatham Dockyard have received instructions from the Admiralty to make the necessary arrangements for the new first-class battleship Empress of India, which is to be sent to Chatham from Pembroke Yard, Avhere she was built, early in the approaching year. The Empress of India is of 14,150 tons displacement, and 13,000 horse-power, and has an armament of fourteen of the heaviest guns. On her arrival at Chatham, in charge of the officials of the Steam, Reserve, she will be at once taken in hand and prepared for her first construction of two new ironclads of 4,200 tons displacement each, has just been commenced at St. Petersburg, at the New Admiralty and the Baltic launch of the second ironclad built by the Vulcan Company, of Stettin, for the German Navy, will take place in a few days. THE NORWEGIAN STATE RAILWAYS, as will be seen from our foreign contract column, invite tenders for the supply of 126 goods waggons and 12 passenger carriages.

MESSRS. JOHN BROWN COMPANY have declared an interim dividend of 10s. per share on the ordinary shares of the company. This is at the rate of per cent, per annum. MESSRS.

WESTRAY, COPELAND, of Barrow, have received an order for putting quadruple-expansion engines into the Clan Munroc and Clan Murray and supplying new boilers. They have also in hand the tripling of the Clan Forbes. MESSRS. STRATTON, GENTRY, of Brentford, have secured the contract for the of 200 tons of best hard Welsh steam coal (Waynes Merthyr hard Aberdare smokeless) for the Richmond Main Sewerage Board. MESSRS.

BOLCKOW, VAUGHAN Co. are laying down at the old pit, Byers Green, with a view of meeting the demand for an increase of output of coke, an extensive coal washer, from designs prepared by their head manager, Mr. Robinson, of Howhsh Hall, who is the sole patentee. MESSRS. RALPH HEATON SONS, of the Mint, Birmingham, inform us that they have appointed Messrs.

Edward le Bas of 49, Lime Street, as their agents for the London, home, and export trade in their seamless copper tubes, manufactured under a new process, and their high conductivity copper wire for electric and telephone work. THE NAVAL CONSTRUCTION AND ARMAMENTS COMPANY, of Barrow, has secured an order to construct a 370 feet steamer for the West Indian and Pacific Steamship Company, of Liverpool, to be fitted with machinery specially designed by Mr. Blechynden to work with a boiler pressure of 200 lb. The company also has in hand the tripling of the Clan Maclntosli, the Clan McKay, and the Clan Graham for the Clan Line. MR.

W. S. SARGEANT, late manager of the Electrical and Steam Launch Works, Strand-on-the-Green, Chiswick, haB severed his connection with Messrs. Woodhouse Rawson United, Limited, by mutual arrangement. He is now carrying on business as an electric and steam launch builder, and is laying down plant and machinery for the construction of electric motors for water propulsion, and compound surface-condensing engines.

His offices are at Strand-on-the-Green, Chiswick. MR. ROBERT PEIRCE, Assoc. M. Inst.

C.E., has received the appointment of engineer to the Municipal Commissioners of George Town, Penang, Strait Settlements. Mr. Peirce was articled to the late Mr. R. Vawser, M.

Inst. C.E., of Manchester; but for several years he has been located in Birmingham, where he was engaged as resident engineer for the corporation upon the construction of cable tramways from the designs of Messrs. Pritchard and Kincaid, M.M; Inst. C.E. For the past three years Mr.

Peirce has been employed as assistant to Messrs. Pritchard civil engineers, of London and Birmingham. THE DOWLAIS STEEL AND IRON COMPANY has placed a contract with a Stockton-on-Tees firm for the erection of extensive rolling and other plant at their new works on the East Moors, Cardiff, at a cost of £180,000. The intention of the company is to roll plates for shipbuilding. At present all large steamers for Cardiff have to be built on the Tyne and Clyde, but when the Dowlais Company has completed its works, and the Bute Docks Company its new dock on the foreshore, merchants will be able to build steamers at Cardiff.

THE FAIRFIELD SHIPBUILDING AND ENGINEERING COMPANY has received an order from the Victoria Steamboat Association, Limited, for the building of a fast shallow-draught paddle-steamer for their Thames passenger service. The vessel, which is to be 300 feet by 22 feet by 11 feet, will be fitted with every modern requirement, and will be more sumptuously decorated and upholstered than any similar steamer afloat. The guaranteed speed is 18J knots. THE NANTYGLO AND BLAINA IRONWORKS COMPANY'S (Limited) ordinary general meeting was held on November 30 at Westminster Palace Hotel. Mr.

Wootton Isaacson, M.P., who presided, stated that the. net amount which had been received during the year from royalties and wayleaves was £31,363, and from rents, £3,707. Two instalments on account of arrears of dividend had been paid upon the preference shares, amounting to £17,500, since the last report, and the debenture holders had been paid the year. They had also paid off fifty 4J per cent, debenture bonds of £100. The output of coal had been 1,252,884 tons.

EARLE'S SHIPBUILDING AND ENGINEERING COMPANY, Limited, of Hull, issued its twentieth annual report, which shows a profit for the year of £35,163 13s. which with the amount brought forward from last year, £3,002 15s. makes a total of £38,166 9s. Id. to be dealt with.

The output of work has exceeded that of last year, and the directors report that there is still in hand a sufficient quantity to keep the establishment well employed during the ensuing twelve months. The company has been successful in obtaining an important contract from the Admiralty for machinery of 9,000 horse-power for II.M. ship Charybdis, now building in Sheerness Dockyard. MESSRS. ROBERT BOYLE SON'S, Limited, annual general meeting was held at the City Terminus Hotel on November 25, when a dividend of per cent, was declared on the ordinary and deferred shares, one-sixth of the profits being placed to the reserve fund, and a balance of £266 lis.

5d. carried forward to next year. Mr. Robert Boyle, the chairman and managing director, drew attention to the fact that the foreign agencies continued to be satisfactoiy, the system of ventilation being successfully applied to an ever-increasing number of leading public buildings in Germany, France, Russia, Belgium, Italy, Spain, Holland, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, and also in America and Australia. Mr.

Boyle is contemplating a fourth circuit of the globe in the interest of the company. MESSRS. HOWARD FARRAR of 69, Cornhill, London, inform us that the partnership between Sidney Howard Farrar, George Farrar and John Percy Farrar, trading as Howard Farrar having lapsed by effluxion of time, the Transvaal branch at Johannesburg will be carried on by Sidney Howard Farrar and George Farrar for their sole account, and the colonial branches at Port Elizabeth and East London by John Percy Farrar for his sole account. In both cases the previous style of the firm will be retained. The London business and offices have been transferred to Mr.

Fredrick Arthur Robinson, for many years manager of this branch, who will carry on business under the style of F. A. Robinson Co. at the same address, upon his own account. Mr.

Robinson will act as the English agent for both the above-mentioned firms, and will also liquidate the current business for Howard Farrar of London. She mxft 4MI taite. BARNSLEY AND SOUTH YORKSHIRE All things considered, the finished iron trade holds well up, and both ironworks and foundries are fairly off for orders and work. Colliery requisites are still largely produced, and at Thorncliffe a fair business is done in gas apparatus of various kinds. Boilermakers and repairers are doing a good business.

The works at Penistone, devoted to the production of Bessemer steel rails, tires, are not over well employed. The house coal trade is quieter, and although colliery proprietors keep up their quotations, purchasers are able to obtain some concessions. The demand Silk- stones is not over active, and quantities can be procured at from lis. 6d. to 12s.

per ton. softs are obtainable at from 10s. to 10s. and good steam coal makes about 9s. to 9s.

6d. per ton at the There is a very fair tonnage of all kinds of house coal sent by rail to London, but supplies at the depots are large, and unless some severe weather sets in a quiet trade may be looked for. At some of the pits a good deal is stacked, and an abatement of one or two working days per week has of late had to be made at some collieries. The thin seam pits are pushing a good deal of small coal into the market, so that locomotive and engine fuel can be purchased for less money. The export season which is drawing to a close had been a very good one.

A large tonnage is still sent to Hull and the other Hum' ber ports. Prices are for the most part ruled by contract rates, 10s. per ton. At some of the pits a good deal of gas coal is being stocked, in fact, the quantity thrown down is much larger than is usual at this period.