Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-06-02
= : nI1rIrp KINC,s REPORT ON

m;uee OF the House OF Representatives
Mr. Thomas Butler King, OF the Naval Com,
mi,tee of the House, made very eiapora.e ano
important report this morning upon Inc suDee. y,
increasing The navy, the substance OF whlC Cn
have taken from the report and send you. NJ
report was also accompanied by oili, !.
ON account oil The extensive eu'Pioy 'le". =.
steam in naval armamenls oy 'he siea' po". :,
~ Eurone. the peculiar and decided advahtaS &c IL
I'll rive 10 ali those who employ il over those
mho do not our extensive and exposed coast
on The Atlantic The Lakes and the Gull OF Mexi-
co, the perec, protection which may be gwen 70 II
by an efficient steam navy-also the iaciil'ies loi
constructing and managing this description Oh
force, induce the Committee 10 concur WIN lhe
Executive in recommending course OF policy
which our interests seem to demand.
Various and cogent reasons are given why our
war vessels should be built with view TO speed;
They mention the fact, that me application o.
steam power 10 sailing vessels OF war was nfsl
made in this country, the Princeton oelnS OF 'naI
kind They think il very important tnat our
steamers should be so constructed lhat me ma,
chinery and paddle wheels or propelers snoula
be below the water line, so as 10 DC entirely Sc
cure from the guns Of the enemy Ihey DO mol,
however. think il advisable 10 combine steam
mower with sails as the best models lot SAILING
vessels are moi the best for steamers, and because
they look upon the paddles and propelers as Ike,
" very much 10 retard the vessel when propelled
by wind and sails. They come TO the conc fusion,
therefore, that different system should oe auoP'-
ed by our government. ain time OF wal" say Inc
committee, "our Navy should be scattered as
widely as possible over Inc oceans o. inc @orlu,
for fine purpose OF meeting or seeking the enemy
in single combat, destroying his commerce and
cutting off his supplies" "To secure the greatest
success in this mode Of warfalc our ships of war
should have the greatest speed" Another object
Of speed is al all times 10 escape from an over
whelminely superior force, and overtake and en-
gage 10 the greatest advantage an equal or IN
ferior force as we'll as 10 be capable OF The most
rapid concentration for attack or defence al any
particular point.
For the defence of our coast, now SO exposed
as 10 invite the attacks OF enemies, the commit
lee recommend large and powerful steamers, un.
incumbered with sails and rigging. Our rapid
means Of communicating intelligence by the
Magnetic Telegraph and by railroads, would ia
ciilate this mode of detence-io ascertain the
movements Of an enemy, and SO direct The ope-
ra,ions of these steamers as 10 enable them 10
concentrate in a short space OF time upon any
given point and cut of The supplies of or attack
a blockadins squadron This would compel an
enemy 10 concentrate his ships IN large fleets, and
prevent The blockade OF any considerable I'M
Der Of our ports al The same time. The commit
tee, Tor these and other reasons, have come 10
The conclusion that il is the first duty OF The Co.
vernment TO provide as soon as practicable
force OF This description sufficiently large TO meet
any exisency which may arise.
As 10 the manner in which The steamers should
be constructed, the committee take Just and en-
lightened views. In the outset they object to The
use of wood which consider wise suggestion.
They speak of the rapid decay of this material,
and the enormous expense the Government IN
ours in keeping vessels constructed oil il in re-
pair Some OF orr 7i's they remark, have lite
rally roiled al their wharves. Vessels laid up
in ordinary as many OF our war ships must be
in time ot peace, soon decay and become OF no
value. la the place of wood, the committee re-
commend The use Of iron, and stale that lis use in
Great Britain has become so genera that in The
backwards on the Clyde in February last, there
we're twenly-six iron sea mships being built OF that
and no, one OF wood. One oil The ad-
oil iron ships mentioned is, that they can
be so put together as 10 be easily taken apar, and
laid up in warehouses when not needed for use,
and could be readily put together again, when re-
lured, and in a very short space Of time. Gran
ham on iron vessels is quoted, who sums up the
advantages Of iron as material for ship build
INC 10 consist IN strength combined with light
ness-creat capacity for stowa9e-satety, speed,
in repairs cost and draugnt OF water.
Another advantage OF iron Is, that II Will IN
considerable degree obviate the destructive effects
Of Paixhan. or hollow shot. Taking all these
matters in view, with others not mentioned by
me. the committee come to The unhesitating con-
,!usion 10 recommend iron as The proper mate
rial 10 be used hereafter by the Government OF
he United States in the increase olthe steam ma
Nrhe Committee are Of opinion that economy
md efficiency can best be secured by having ships
hereafter built BY individuals under contracts
This policy is now being pursued by the British
Government. Strong and very sound reasons
are given to sustain this opinion, which have
not time nor space TO report. The rules 10 be OBJ
served, or slipualions 10 be made in the construc-
lion of these vessels are laid down in substance as
follows:
Isl. Speed in ocean navigation under ordinary
of steam and weather fifteen miles
per hour.
Cd. Boilers below The water line and machine
~ secure from an enemys shot.
81. Capacity TO carly an armament equal al
least to six of Treadwell's wrought iron guns OF
- inch calibre, and from two 10 four smaller
guns OF the same manufacture
4h. To carry al least Is DAYS fuel under full
pressure of steam, and which would enable them
10 remain 30 days al sea, under light pressure,
9Th. Models OF The ships TO be left 10 The Judg-
ment and skill of the contractors.
As 10 the mode OF propelling, the commi1ee'en-
terrain some doubts After stating the arguments
in favor Of paddle wheels and submerged proPel,
lors ,bev express The opinion that it would be wise
IN an,borise The employment Of both modes, and
n have such trials instituted as shall test their re-
specive merits.
Various PROPOSAL. have been made to construct
s,eaners and models, and drawings OF The YES
sci machinery, &c. &c, have been suomitted,
and are attached 10 the report. Among others,
Canaan Ericsson offers TO build steamer OF
200 tons with his submerged propeller ior 39o,-
600 dollars, with all her armament complete.
One OF the advantages OF steamers mere IS IN
our anthracite COAL which throws out no smoke
10 discover the steamer to an enemy at distance.
The committee say tina, one hundred, or per-
hans iGy war steamers OF the description indica-
led in this report which would not probably cost
more than would be expended in one campaign
with Grea, Britain, would forever put 10 flight the
idea that she would under any circumstances en-
gage in hosilities with the United States.
The committee recommend the passage OF the
bill reported which provides for the construction
of twelve iron war steamers, carrying severaiiy
from six 10 eight heavy guns, and one iron iri-
gale capable of an armament OF sixty heavy
guns. :. ,h
The bill reported by Inc committee - ia suo
stance as follows
Sec. /, Requires the Secretary of the Navy, 10
contract for, alter advertising for proposals,
twelve iron war steamers, OF not less that l2oo
nor exceeding 600 tons burlhen, to be built in the
manner indicated in The above sketch of the re-
por; 10 be provided with engines Of not less than
1000 horse power each.
Sec. Q, Makes ii The duty OF The Secretary TO
contract also for the construction OF one iron FRI
pate OF sixty guns, with all necessary accommo-
dalions for officers, &C.
Sec. >, Requires that one Of said steamers
shall be built coniormably 10 The plan submitted
of Capt. John Ericsson, with whom contract
shall be made provided his proposals are iound 70
be as favorable as those OF any other persons.
Sec. 4, Provides that one Of the steamers
shall be built contormably 10 the plan annex
ed to The report Submitted by r. & q. L. Schuy-
Ter, with whom contracts shall be made, provided,
SC.
Sec. 5. Appropriales the sum OF fiye millions
OF dollars to carry into effec, the provisions OF the
bill.
The Circuit Superior Court OF Lawand Chan
cerv for Spotsy lyapia county closed lis session