The Somerset herald and farmers' and mechanics' register. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 183?-1852, 1845-12-02
Iron War steamers.
FROM THE PITTsBURa MORNING POST. NO
vEMBER l3.

A few weeks since, in directing pub
lie attention to the advertisement of the
Postmaster General inviting proposals for
mail service between New York and
Galveston, Texas, we took occasion to
urge upon the boat-builders of this city a.
Others the importance of securing the con-
tract IL building the required vessels. The
vessels, lit will be borne in mind, are to be Of
the most substantial kind, e. so constructed
constructed that they can be used by the
Government, when necessary, as war
vessels. OF course it would be best TO
build them of iron, and would give anoth-
er opportunity for display of Pittsburg
skill in the construction Of iron steamers.
We remarked at the time that the iron
vessels already built by our enterprising
and ingenious mechanics had done much
for Pittsburg, in proof of which we take
great pleasure in directing the attention
of our readers to the remarks Of the edi-
tor of the ".Niiifary and Naval Chroni-
Gle" paper printed in New York city,
aud devoted exclusively to military and
naval affairs, The editor, il would seem
has recently been in our city, and whilst
here visited the iron war steamer now
constructing under the direction of Capt,
Hunter. The compliment paid to the
capacity of our friend Captain Hunter is
well merited; he is highly esteemed in
this community as a gentleman of extend
ed scientific requirements and greatly de-
voted to his profession. But let the edi-
| to. speak for himself;
IRON WAR STEAMERs,-We have on
several occasions called the attention Of
our numerous military readers to the i'm
| portance Of this class of vessels for the
protection Of our prominent harbors, not
only on the Atlantic coast, but also on the
shores of our great inland seas.
We had the qualification Of visiting
not long since, while sojourning at Pitts
burg, in the State of Pennsylvania, the
iron war steamer now being constructed
under the direction of Captain William
| w. Hunter, of the United States Navy.
1t is contemplated that this vessel will be
ready for sea in the early part of the
spring of 1916; and it is hoped that the
Navy Department will direct her COM
mander to visit all the principal cities on
the Atlantic coast. in order that the peo-
pie here may witness the capabilities, to
some extent, Of that great section of coun-
try lying west of the Allegheny Mount
aims. 1t would indeed be novelty TO
behold in the waters of New York q
large sw0r steamer Of eleven hundred
tons burden, barque rugged, built on the
head waters of the Ohio, more than two
thousand miles from the ocean. Her
model is of surprising beauty, and we
hazard the opinion that there are few il
any vessels now in our navy that will
outsail her, even while under canvass
without the aid of her steam power.
"When completely equipped for SER
vice, armament all on board, her draught
of water will be thirteen feet, enabling
her to cross the bar at the mouth Of the
Mississippi at all times. On her spar
deck are to be four sixty-fo Founders,
mounted on carraiges, fitted in open box
es, which revolve on pivots, enabling
them TO bear upon any quarter Of the
compass in an incredibly short space OF
time. The guns are Paixhan, and will
weigh 10000 pounds each. The gun,
deck is pierced for side battery of thir-
ty-two Founders. Her machinery and
motive power are below the water line
and consequently completely protected
from the fire Of the enemy. She is to be
provided with Captain Hunters sub.
merged propcllcrs, including the recent
valuable improvements added thereto by
the talented inventor. We are not of the
number who believe that steam can be
applied to men of war as TO entirely su.
persede the use of sails, lIom the fact o
the impossibility of carrying sullicien
fuel for long voyages; but we do not per
ceive why sails and steam may not har
monize with Hunter propellers, the
buckets being SO constructed that they
shut into the sides of the vessel so soon
as the engine is stopped, retarding not in
the least the headway Of the vessel while
under canvass.
"Captain Hunter is gentlemen of eS
tended information; arrived at that period
| T.. =, Al