The Daily Dispatch: April 17, 1862., [Electronic resource]

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Iron.

There can be no difficulty in procuring iron and more than iron enough for shielding gunboats, if the Government will only call upon the people of the Confederacy for all the old iron in their possession. Every family has more or less of it in various shapes, which is at present in their way. We know families in this city, and we dare say that every family in it has a large amount of the article in their possession, which they would be glad to give to the Government, if the Government will only point out to them how it is to be done, and who is to receive it. The authorities would be astonished themselves to learn the amount which can be obtained in this way. Besides this, there is a large quantity of railroad iron, miles of it in fact, some of which cannot be made use of while the war last, and the rest of which is unnecessary to its present uses.--This matter deserves looking into, if there is really any need of iron. The sources we have indicated will furnish enough, and more than enough, to employ all our workshops for six months to come.