Gunboat Building at St. Louis

We have already stated that contracts have been secured for the building here of two and probably three large iron boats, at a cost each of $320,000.

We have now the pleasure of adding that Messrs. Brown, McCord and Sanger, of this city, have contracted with the government, for the building of three iron clad gunboats, at an aggregate cost of $450,000.  These will be constructed on the plan submitted by them, and approved by the Board of Naval Construction.

The iron mail for these boats will be furnished from the works of the well known firm of Chouteau, Harrison and Valle.  This will cost $100,000, besides which the same house furnishes the iron used for the machinery of these boats.

This machinery, which is now in a very forward state, is being constructed by Messrs. McCord & Co., of the Franklin Foundry, and will cost some $70,000.

Two of the hulls are on the stocks at Cairo, and are nearly completed.

The whole work for the largest of these boats will very probably be done here; as we understand the question, as to the cost of furnishing the timber required, will be decided favorably; and it is to be hoped with favorable results as to other boats, the whole of which might and ought to be built here. – {St. Louis Republican.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington Iowa, Saturday, May 24, 1862, p. 3