Volume Eight - Pre-Victorian to the present day - more aspects - To dredge the River Ely - 1860's

The vessel moved a few feet, and then stopped. The cause was easily ascertained. Gravel and mud had been washed upon the ways, and that stopped her progress. Mr. Mitchell resolved to make some alterations in the "ways," and to launch her in the evening, but we have not heard whether that was effected.

We have often had occasion to state that Cardiff requires more varied employment for skilled and unskilled labourers, to secure for it more general and enlarged prosperity ; but that can only be done where there are enterprising men to employ their capital, and hopes of success corresponding to the degree of enterprise. In this instance we have an establishment where fifty men are employed, and if it can be proved that Mr. Mitchell is profitably using his skill and capital in works of an engineering character, there will be the opening up a branch of industry which we may hope will be equally advantageous to Mr. Mitchell and the port.

When launched, the vessel will have to be taken to Bristol to have her boiler put in, as there is not a crane at present fitted up capable of lifting so heavy an article. That defect is about to be remedied by the Bute Trustees, but the crane will not be fixed in time for Mr. Mitchell's purpose. Incidentally this illustrates the fact that the trade and commerce at a rising port like Cardiff, we generally find the absence of adequate appliances until their want is absolutely felt.' Cardiff Times [019] 29th March 1861.

Incidentally, Mr. Richard Henry Mitchell's shipyard and engineering company situated nearby the Bute Esplanade was named the Bute Docks Steam Shipbuilding Company. The company was subsequently bought by Sir John Gunn and became the Mountstuart Shipbuilding, Graving Dock and Engineering Company. Mr. Mitchell was truly an engineering trailblazer in that in 1857 he built the tug 'Lady Bute', this being the very first steam vessel to be built at Cardiff.

Continuing our story, another newspaper reported the launch event:

Launch of an Iron Screw Propelling Steam Dredger - 'The launch of the first iron screw propelling steam dredger built in Cardiff, took place last week at Mr. Mitchell's yard, near the Bute Esplanade. It was intended to have launched her on Thursday morning week, but in consequence of a quantity of sand and pebbles being washed into the "ways," the ceremony had to be postponed till another time.