The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-04-18

also fired at this distance ana from guns OF uinereh
calibers against a target thus constructed and
made to strike against il within space of about two
feet by four; and these produced little effect as TO
leave Il in fit state to protect any thing in its rear
against n similar force Shells fired from the same
distance scarcely indented the iron, and both shot
and shells we're invariably broken into small frag
ments.
The above-named experiments were tried under
the supervision Of the officers Of the army and navy
At the last of these the writer who had just return
ed from Europe, was present and trials were 'leh
made upon the effect of shells OF peculiar consHuc
tion which were prepared by him. ihese sne,s s a,e
Theoretically sealed, and are ehectually securea rom
accidental explosion either from fire or from vioient
concussion they are perfectly safe, also, from IN
Jury by submersion in water Ihey are 20 cohs.Iuc'
ed as TO explode after having penetrated the oplect
against which they are discharged; and, being elon-
Gated contain three times much powder as the
co,nmon shell of the same caber; they do not re-
o,re the use Of mortars, but may be hired from the
euns in ordinary Out Of twenty OF these shells
which were discharged into timber, into banks OF
sand nineteen exploded in the manner anticipated
rendering their action sufficiently certain, and
eyincing the possession of properties not possessed
by any other shell, and producing effects which we're
actually tremendous
II will be manifest that steam vessel, or battery
fortified in the manner above described and furnish
ed with the means of rapid propulsion, would be able
to approach adversarys vessel 50 securely and so
closely as TO render 1t nearly impossible to miss her
with shells fired horizontally and it does appear that
vessel possessing the properties above enumerated
would be able to attack and destroy any feet OF
steamers or of sailing ships, now construct d.
which might be sent to attack city or to blockade
port The part Of such vessel through which the
guns are fred having thickness OF four or hive inch
es only might have PORTFOLIOS but little larger than
the muzzle of gun, and yet allow 1t to be fired at
any desired angle These PORTFOLIOS may be readily
protected from canister, grape, or other shot, by
means of movable screens, so constructed as to be
removed and replaced with facility.
single shell of large dimensions, and of the kind
prepared by the writer will suffice to sink the stout
est wooden vessel, if exploded within her sides, any
where near the water line The effect of such
shell upon structure Of wood was fully tested I'M
der his superintendent, upon Governors Island In
the harbor of NewYork upwards of twenty years
ago. The experiments were made by order OF the
Government in the presence of the late COL House,
and of several other officers with the following re-
suit: target of white oak was constructed IN the
strongest manner, by one Of the best ship-buders ;
it measured FIVE feet in thickness, and the tmbers
were secured together by iron screw bolts passing en-
tirey through the whole This target was perforated
by the explosion Of single shell, hole being made
in it through which horse might have passed Seven
tmbers of white oak each measuring IL by l6 inch
es were torn into shreds and scattered to great dis
lance.
The foregoing plan of constructing and arming
vessel with most of its Details has been matured for
many years. and the delay in bringing it forward has
resulted from conviction that period more favor
able its adoption than any that has heretofore
Cured would arrive, and it is believed that It has
notc actually arrived The advantage of being the first
to construct a vessel Of this description would be
very great, as it must render US secure, for long
time against the vessels of war Of other nations as
these would require to be built anew. AS means
of defence, il would be cheaper than any other and,
in time of peace, such vessel would suffer but little
from the rayages of time, and but few hands would
,.ralt al fnn for
Her ventilation would be artificial and constantly
and thoroughly applied In actual service, her crew,
of all grades would not, probably, exceed one hum
dred and fifty she would need no rigging with an
thracite fuel, she would not be rendered visible
either by smoke or by sparks, and would, therefore,
attract the notice Of enemy less, either by night
by day, than any other vessel.
Although vessel, battery, of the kind described
is equally adapted to the protection of all ports,
the harbor of New York will probably be considered
of those the best fitted to first experiment
with it, if experiment it may be called Its spacious
ness its great depth, and its vicinity to fresh water,
which will render it easy at any time to free the bot
tom of the vessel from barnacles, in pointing
it out as a suitable place for the purpose.
The knowledge of the existence of such vessel
would suffice to deter most commanders from rlsking
an attack with vessel of wood, where the chances
were decidedly against them.
ROBERT L. STEVENS.
WASHINGTON, January 25, 1912
The plan of Mr.. Stevens, if successful, will de-
prive foreign nations of many of the advantages in
assailing which they supposed they had obtained
by their improved construction and increase in the
size and number of their war steamers. The great
est improvement in this description of force consists
in having adapted it to ocean navigation, whereby
these vessels be transferred the Atlantic
with certainty and rapidity such as TO require a
state of perfect readiness every where and at all
times on our part this being now more necessary
than when enemy's motions were governed by the
uncertain favor of wind and weather We must
therefore, increase the number of our defences, or
augment their force
Buoyancy is an an essential condition to a sea-going
steamer. To insure this, material must be used
that is combustible, weak, and penetrabe to missiles
If these defects be in part remedied by thckenng the
bulwarks, it must be at the expense of buoyancy,
tvty and speed thereby neutralizing properties of
the greatest value. Unless we can, therefore, i'm
prove upon the European models of construction and
armament so as to obviate the above objections, we
can only place cities and military establishments
in state Of security by having at every prominent
point force equal at least to that likely to be brought
against u.s. To do this on the old plan would call
for large preparations and vast expenditures of mo-
ney. With the navy proper, and in building some
important forts, something has already been DONE
To complete the system of Notifications is work of
time France many years earnestly engaged In this
undertaking; at the time, too, when she made great
exertions to enlarge her domain. In the event of
war, vessels supplied by commerce would afford toll
cradle substitutes for men of war; but, as for war
steamers, we have but one or two deserving of the
name-our efforts until of late having proved sigma
failures, the unfortunate Fulton will bear witness.
From inattention, we have made very cautious and
deliberate progress in the preparation of steam YES
sells for warlike purposes. And this deliberate adj
vance may in the end prove wise; for, if present
antcpations are realized, many of those ,esses
structed by foreign Powers may be regarded as al
III ost encumbrances and the enormous sums expend-
ed in their construction useless outlay of money.
Mr.. otevenss sci will possess many advantages
which it is unnecessary here to detail Some ofihen,
however, will be briefly adverlcd to- She will
ly present vulnerable point TO the fire OF the enemy,
while those constructed ON the old method have a
large surface exposed. The hull being low, will
cause it difficult hit her. whereas the lofty sides OF
seventy -four will make her fair mark. Being able
to approach within point-hank shot, she fire shells