These policies had little effect on import.
By 1812, American timber represented over 60 percent of Britain’s total timber imports.
The new system still left American producers with an overwhelming advantage, and timber imports actually increased.
Prices of timber rose, wages improved and everybody rushed to the timber business.
On arrival, the huge cargo was to be unloaded and the vessel itself dismantled and the timbers sold.
In 1824, Charles Wood left for Quebec to supervise the construction of the first disposable ship,Columbus.
In size, she was immense300 feet long, 50 feet wide and 22 feet tall.
The ship was built as cheaply as possible.
The bottom was wider than the deck, and the vessel looked ungainly and crude.
Because of her uncaulked seams, the ship sprang hundreds of leaks as soon as she touched water.
The crew worked round the clock for seven weeks pumping water from the hold.
Columbussailed eagerly into the port of London with much fanfare.
In a single voyage,Columbushad conveyed across the Atlantic over 10,000 tons of timber valued at 50,000.
The venture was an immense commercial success.
Three weeks into the return journey,Columbusencountered a severe storm, broke up and sank.
In the meantime, a second ship calledBaron of Renfrewwas under construction in Quebec.
When it became obvious that the ship was not going to float again, the crew abandoned the ship.
Subsequently, theBaron of Renfrewbroke up and her timbers washed ashore on the French and the Flemish coast.
TheColumbuswas lost because the original plans were not adhered to and the vessel was sent on a second voyage.
TheBaron of Renfrewwas lost not because of structural problems but because of the ineptness of the crew.
Nevertheless, the loss of both ships marked the end of the brief era of disposable ships.
