The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-05-23


few heavy guns would be able 10 pursue or es
cape from the enemy at pleasure, cut off his sup
plies, attack, with groat advantage his ships wher
scattered by gale of wind, from any other
and destroy them with impunity when disabled
either in action or by the storms Of the ocean. Thus
annoyed by this Parthan mode Of warfare, II would
be difficult for any feet however large, to remain
| long on our coast These steamers might act sing
| ly, or IN concert as circumstances should require
Our rapid means OF communicating intelligence, by
railroad and magnetic telegraph, will, at all times
enable US TO ascertain the movements and position
of an enemy, and to direct the movement q
OF this steam force 10 cut off the supplies and
| communications of blockading squadron, and &C.
tually attack II IN rear, IL he should attempt the
bombardment Of any Of our towns or fortresses.
This mode Of conducting the war would compel an
enemy to concentrate his ships in large fleets which
could only be maintained at vast expense, and in
the constant apprehension Of disaster from enemy
whom he could not oyerake, and from whom he
could not escape. The adversary would thus be
prevented from attempting the blockade Of any con-
siderable number Of our ports at the same time.
The moment he should scatter his ships for that
purpose, they would be cut off in detail leaving our
harbors open TO the of neutrals affording
ample supplies Of fuel and munitions of war for our
steam navy, and opportunities for our prsateers to
bring in their captures for adjudication, These are
some Of the advantages TO be hoped for from prop
ery constructed steam ships Of war, and which have
led your committee TO the undertaking conclusion
that 1t is tho first duty Of the government provide
as soon as practicable, force Of this description
sufficiently large To meet any exigency which may
arise.
Il 10 now proper to consider Of what material
and in what manner, these steamers should be con-
structed.
The first great objection which presents itself TO
the employ Of wood the material, is its per-
ishabe tendency, which requires, after very few
years, a large expenditure for repairs II is, per
haps, not an oyer-estimate TO say, that much
ney as has been expended in the repairs in the
construction OF our navy, Notwithstanding most Of
our vessels have been kept In commission, which
renders them less liable TO decay than when laid up
in ordinary Some Of our 74's have literally rotted
at the wharyes Ii is quite evident that in time Of
our navy would be increased far beyond the
force necessary for the protection Of our commerce
in time Of peace. This increase, your committee
are Of opinion, should principally consist of war
steamers as already indicated. The expense OF
maintaining them In commission in time Of peace,
and the fact that there would be little employ
ment for them, would undoubtedly cause them to
be laid up in ordinary, where, if constructed OF
wood, they would soon decay, far as to become Of
no value, or TO require extensive repairs, which
would be equivalent to building new vessels The
employment of iron, as material for ship-buildng,
possesses so many advantages over wood, that there
to be difficulty in deciding in its favor II is
true, that until recently many objections were urged
against its in the construction of ships of heavy
the results Of experience and scientific skill. So
much has this material grown into favor, in Great
Britain, with the government and persons engaged
in commerce, that in the month of February last,
in the dock-yards on the Clyde, there were twen-
ty-six iron steamships being constructed, and not
one of wood Two Of these ships were steam
frgates for the government, Of 1000 and Of
| 300 tons burden. Several other war steamers
Of this material also being built at the government
dock-yards, and the indications that wood
will soon be abandoned material for this
description of ship-buding. The superiority
of iron over wood, and some of the ad-
vantages attending Its employment, may be very
briefly shown and stated. An iron ship, when thor
oughly painted, may be moored in fresh water, or
hauled out on marine railway and placed under
any sensible deterioration. The plates used in the
construction Of such ships may be prepared at any
or all Of the rolling mills the country which in
I short time could produce enough to construct any
number of ships which might be required, thus dis
tributng the government expenditure more equiably
over the whole Union. These plates could be read
lily transported to the navigable Of prnci-
pal rivers and the ships put together in safety from
! the annoyance of an enemy. These ships may be
fastened in such manner that they may be easily
taken to pieces and placed in warehouses, where,
with little care, they may be preserved for in
definite period OF time. 1t is believed that, of the
material prepared in this manner, any desirable
Der of ships might be put together and be in readi-
ness to meet an enemy within the space Of sixty
days. The fact however, that these ships could be
moored in fresh water, and that coat Of paint oc-
| casionaly would keep them in a perfect state of
preservation for half century more, would prob
ably render it unnecessary to take them to pieces.
;. Thus moored and preserved, they would at all times
be ready to receive their armament and could he
| prepared at almost moments warning to meet an
enemy 1t is estimated that the repairs of a timber
built steamer, rendered necessary by decay alone
will, in the course of ten or twelve years, have
eoualled her first cost, while an ronbult steamer in
that period, from that cause would require no re-
pairs at ALL 1t is also undoubtedly practicable to
use iron and dispense with wood altogether in the
construction of such ships, which would render
them perfectly secure against fire.
Grantham, In his able work on iron vessels, thus
sums up some of the advantages Of iron as a mater
al for bodybuilding: Strength, combined viii
lghtness; great capacity for stowage safety; speed
economy in repairs; cost; draught Of water"
r The invention Of Paixhan or hollow shot, it ia
supposed by some, has produced new era in nava
warfare Experiments have shown the destructive
effects of these shot when lodged in wooden struc
lures, and it would appear quite possible that sin
gle shot Of 10 IL inches in diameter, exploded
the water line might produce leak sufficient to sinl
frgate, or perhaps seventy-four gun ship. 1t il
beloved that the destructive effect Of these shot ma,
be in great degree obviated, if not entirely avoid
ed, by the use Of iron as material for ship-builh
II ing II is quite evident that shot Of this descrip
ton would not lodge in the thin side Of iron ship
!, If it should strike the ship within the ordinar,
range, and with full force, it would pass throug
both her Sides leaving smooth round hole, which
o could be easily stopped, and consequently be NJ
more destructive in its effects than an ordinary so
I shot. IL spent ball were to strike such vessel,
would recoi from the side and fall into the water.
in addition to these particulars, it may be SAT-
that the interior of iron ships ia more cleanly, an
: they are consequently more healthful than thos
. built of wood. In answer to the objection whic'
z IL f~.I