The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-10-28
Steamships of War.

| After four and a half millions of dollars had
the construction of iron steamships for the naval
service, their inapplicablity appeared, in the
opinion of many persons, TO be demonstrated;
and, indeed, we believe that the experiments
instituted by the Board Of Admiralty them
selves gave reason for but faint hopes of sue
cess. No sooner, however had this conviction
been impressed upon them, than they sought
for means Of retrieving the expenditure they
had incurred and we are not sure that they
have not already succeeded in the pursuit. A
substance called Manipulation, which is de-
scrbed as ga mixture Of saw-dust and India
rubber, as chief ingredients" has been found of
great utility in preventing the bad effects pro-
ceeding from the use Of ren. 1t is proposed to
line the whole interior surface of the sides of
vessels with this composition, to the thickness
| of twelve inches.
Our readers have been heretofore appraised of
the experiments made by firing cannon-balls at
4 target constructed like the side Of an iron
steam-frigate, and that the results Of these ex-
periments were altogether adverse to the use Of
1
have been repeated upon similar target, lined
with the Kamptulicon, and attended with high
| ly encouraging results.
In the Report on the Navy, Army, and
Ordnance Estimates" page $50, Quoted by
the Nautical Standard the examination of an
intelligent witness, who superintendent the late
experiments, is given, in which he states that
.'when the target was placed with the iron
next the gun, the effect was good, in so far as
stopping all the splinters; and also in closing
the hole after the shot had passed through, 50
that no serious leak, if any, would then take
place; but on the opposite side of the ship,
when the Kamptulicon was struck first, it
was Instantaneous, in so far as forcing out
a large body of iron"
The protector of the Kamptulcon (Lieut.
GEORGE WALTER, r. NJ claims that from
its elasticity, it will g Immediately collapse
after the passage of shot, 50 as to prevent
the entrance of water, thus obviating the ne
cessity for Plugs and that it will ''deaden
the conclusion caused by the striking of shot,
or in firing a vessels own guns, thus pro
tecting the heads; that from its bouy-
ancy it will keep the vessel afoat, if riddled
with shot, or after striking upon rocks, and
will enable her TO carry large supply of
Goals with smaller draught of water; and
that it will prevent the loss Of life caused by
splinters, by their retention in the Kamptuli-
con.' Lieut.. WALTER further says:
''To the truth of most Of these assertions can
bear ample testimony, having witnessed the expe.
riment at Woolwich, on the 4,h of September last,
/ the object Of which was principally TO test the
practicabity Of its adhesion 10 the iron tckold Me
IF J~I1 L u roy ls.,sy; four previous expert
4 ments having, il stated, given great satisfac
| ton in other respects. target Of ron six feet
| square to which the Ramphiiicon lining was at
lached by means of solution prepared for the pur
pose, erected at distance Of forty yards from
| 81 FOUNDER. Four shots were fired with the iron
surface presented with very curious effect two Of
which deserve especial notice viz: the third which
| tired with a reduced charge, to represent long
| -ange, lodged in the material; and the fourth
which, with stll further reduced charge, fell with
out doing injury at the base Of the target Il was
then turned round, with the Kamotulicon lining to-
wards the gum at which four shots we're also fired
The first two passed through with nearly the same
feet, opening the iron u considerable extent but
the lining closed up Immediately, 30 as scarcely
! 10 admit the insertion Of small cane at either
md, the centre being quito close. The fourth shot,
fired with very reduced charge, rsbounded about
fifteen yards in a direct line; thus proving that
shot at long range would not even onier vessel go
incd. It may also be presumed, from the wonder.
sul resistance of the material, and its rcpelcnt
power that nothing under faH charge ,oould fire
shot through he ftpo sides. AZ TO its adhesive ma
turc Il need only be said that il occupied dozen
strong men, armed with handspiscs and crowbars
considerable time 10 dctach IL from the iron after
all this battcrng. In small portions cut from the
different targets may be seen large pieces Of iron
imbcddcd which might cause frirhtf1l rounds and
even death, if scattered amongst the crew"
We observe that the Standard is particular
" severe upon the Board Of Admiralty for the
blunder'' made in the construction Of its iron
steamships; yet, upon a review Of the tes
imony offered in favor Of the new agent we
have described, that journal admits that 'these
experiments, if carefully performed and accu-
rately recorded, seem to suggest high
amount Of probability that Kamptuicon will
finally prove the panacea FOR Admiralty i'm
prudence" and that 'the qualities which are
wanting in iron, seem e-eminently to be-
long to this ncwly-discovered substance"
We shall look with interest Tor further devel-
,pments Of the utility Of this new material. Its
cost has not been stated but we presume that
viii not prevent its adoption, should it ulti-
matcly prove as valuable as herein represented
A great stride will have been taken in the
progress Of civilization, when the naval engines
II war throughout the world may subserve the
purposes Of peace. This will be effected
through the agency Of steam vessels, differed
by accomplished and gallant men, whose pros
perity and fame will not be solely depend
ent upon their achievements in battle but
whose influence in promoting the cause Of
peace and goodwill shall be as wide as the
oceans they traverse. England has led the
way in this noble enterprise; and We would
prove that we honor her Tor il by emulatng
her noble example, in sending our national yes
sells to every port in the universe, to pro-
mote the commerce Of our people, and to difiuse
The lights Of science and christianity llith-