Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-10-27
Launch OF the ADMINISTRATORS Dobbin

Launch OF the Wabash-Secretary Dobbin.
The United States steam frigate Wabash,
one of the six steam vessels ordered by Con-
gress, was launched at the Philadelphia navy
yard on Wednesday. The Wabash is the
second Of the new frigates launched-the Mer.
rimack having been launched some weeks
since at the Charlestown navy yard, near Bos-
ton-and will be an ornament to our navy and
a just source Of pride to the mechanics and
artizans Of that city, whose skill has produced
her. She is q vessel of huge dimensions but of
rare beauty and strength Her extreme length
is 30l4 feet; from knighthead to tatfrail, 2844
feet; at the lead line, 27l feet; and the tread
of her keel is $50 feet long; the extreme
breadth of beam is 5l3 feet, and her depth Of
hold, from the gun.deck, 26 feet q inches
and from the spar deck, 325 feet. She mea.
sures 5000 tons. Her armament will consist
Of forty guns, Of the following calibre: two ten
inch guns on her spar-deck working on pivots,
one on her quarterback, and the other forward.
She will also carry fourteen eightinch guns on
her spar-deck, and twenty.four nine-inch guns
on her gun-deck. Her machinery is in for.
ward state, at the foundry of Messrs. Mertick
d Son. 1t consists of two engines, with hori.
zontal cylinders, each being II inches in d.
ameter. The propeller is to be of brass, IL feet
inches in diameter, with pitch Of % feet.
1t is to be a true screw, with two heads, and
will weigh about 10000 pounds. The boilers
are four in number, upon the plan patented by
" mi he p-ch,a fnrt he
They are IL feet high l3t feet wide, and Is
feet long, each having FIVE furnaces, with CRATES
seven feet long. The interior is furnished with
horizontal brass tubes inches in diameter
and 81 feet long, and there are 1860 tubes in
each boiler, making grand total Of 5,440
tubes. The boilers are to be placed athwart
the vessel, occupying space of 81 feet wide
by 30 long, including sufficient space for the
hre-room. This will leave about ten feet on
either side for the coal bunkers. There will be
a single. smoke stack 8 feet in diameter and 60
feet high, made on the telescope principle, so
that the height can be reduced to 80 feet The
keel Of the Wabash was laid on the 18th of DC.
tober, 1854, so that her construction has occu.
pied but little over year.
1t has been the earnest desire Of the many
friends of Mr.. Secretary Dobbin, in view Of the
consideration which the shipwrights and artists
OF this station have received from the Navy
Department, since he assumed its direction,
that he should be present at the launch of this
frigate; and accordingly, at the suggestion of
many personal and political friends he was
addressed By the Hon. Thomas B. Florence,
who as the Representative from the First Dis.
trict has taken lively interest in every thing
connected with the Navy Yard and the work
there in progress, and his presence there on the
occasion Of the launch was earnestly urged. But,
much to the regret Of all, Mr.. Dobbin finds
himself unable to be present his pressing
engagements claiming every hour Of his time.
His brief letter, however, evinces the lively
interest he feels not only in all that concerns
the success of the Navy, but all that can add
to the already high reputation of Philadelphia
mechanics. We subjoin his reply to the pres.
sing invitation Of Col Florence.
WASHINGTON, Oct. %, 1855.
Ny DEAR SIR:-Such are my engagements
here erery hour, that really do not see how |
can possibly be in Philadelphia at the launch.
/ regret it. | understand the ship is n mag.
nihcent testimonial in favor Of your mechanics,
and have no doubt she will be "a terror to
evil-doersn
congratulate you on the proud triumph Of
your noble State. Yours truly,
j. G. D0BBIN.
Hon. I. B. FLORENCE
DISCOVERY OF SEA--Dr. Rebmann tho
explorer, has discovered sea in Equatorial
Africa, which is twice as large as the Black