New-York daily tribune., 1856-04-22
THE LATE ROBERT L. STEPHENS.

e.
Hoboken He was in the sxty-eghth year of his age.
He man ofmuch inyt ntive genius and devoted the
energies of his practcs mind during nearly all OF his life
TO inventions and Improvements, mostly appertainng
to navigation and to munitions of Ills in
these and tie projects which he planned render a
sketch Of his life of more than ordinary interest.
Mr. Stevens was born in Hoboken in l7ss. His
father, John Stevens, was at that time principal
owner of the territory now comprised within the
boundaries of Hoboken He was also a man of nven-
tive genius, ard was connected with John Fitch in
experiments in steam navigation. Robert L. Stevens
thus had early opportunity to give his attention to
the subject of navigation by steam in which he has
even since taken great interest, and has achieved
scientific results that have ref ced much credit upon
his name He has aided in developing the practica-
Iiliy Of navigation by steam not only in originating
improy ements Of Importance in machinery, but in
rerfcctng the models of craft. Some months previous
to the frst exhibition Of Robert Fultons boat, the
John Fitch, Robert l.. Stevens and his father
constructed and succeeded in driving a small
paddle.wheel steamer called the Mary Ann with
which they navigated q large ditch the upper
side of Hoboken. Before James Rumsey and
John Fitch succeeded in propelling boats by
padde-whees or screw propeller Mr.. Stevens, in
connection with his father, built screw propeller
with stern wheel at HobOkep, which has been
initiated by Ericsson in the construction of his pro-
peller He has built number Of steamboats,, among
Others the North America constructed about 2j years
ego which ran upon the Hudson River from New
York to Albany and was in her day the swhest
steamboat afloat.
In his examination into the working of the machin-
cry of steamboats, he discovered that much of the
power was lost. To remedy this he invented the ec
centric wheel which in use for number years.
He subsequently produced better invention for
that purpose, called "The Patent Steam Cut
Off, which is now in use, but which has,
to a considerable extent been superseded by the
inventions and improvements Of others He was also
the inventor of the eccentric paddlewhee, now in use
on the steamboat John Stevens. He tint devised the
plan of passing the exhaust steam under the bottom
of the John Nelson, which ran between New-York
and New Brunswick. She is a dat-bottomed craft,
and the steam is introduced at the bow and passed
under her TO the stern by which means shc is elevated
about six inches Her speed is about equal to that of
any other of our New York steamUvutr. ur'rccu
the steamboat John Steveos, which was burned about
with his own hands upon the yacht Maria,
which has the reputation OF being az swift anu as
beautifully modelled a craft as floats There are but
ew steamers afoat in this harbor which nave not
applied TO use of his inventions or suggestions
He also devoted much attention to locomotives. and
besides inventing some Of the best machines which
have been in use many Of tbs improvements in build
ing locomotives are of his suggestion
so,n after the war of 1912 Mr. Stevens invented a
bomb He declined to apply for patent for 1t, but
our Government secured the exclusive use oil this
article for which annuity Of - day was allowed
Mr.. Stevens for life.
l. IaA tph
the ant of gunntry; and he experimental for nearly
wear at Fox Hill near Hoboken for the purpose OF
testing the power of shot upon plates OF IRON.
He erected target eight feet square, to which were
affixed TIE iron plates at which his shot were directed
He exnermen.ed first upon various hcknesses Of iron
nlsctd compactly together. He then arranged them
with snace between the plates and ascertalned that
,rce of the heaviest shot could be broken in that
20 that without perorating more than tour OF
FIVE of the plates the force of the ball or bomb would
be entirely expended Having succeeded to his satla-
faction in these tests he called the attention Oh ths
General Government to a project which he had cone
ceiv.d for the construction Of mammoth battery ioT
,he defense of the Harbor OF New-York. He was au'
,h.rled 70 proceed with its construction and has pean
engaged upou it for several years past The amount
e1peIdei upon it is stated to be o., 900 Ooe, anaan
application for s25O,OO0 more Is now pendipg' Ahe
outer shell Of this battery consists OF nine plate Hon
with spaces between them making walItweIIy seven
inches thick This battery TO be 80 'na'
her ends may be driven into ordinary ship, ana cut
II in two II will be Of 100 feet in length END ~ Id
width with rudder at each end. The Worh upon
this battery conducted with secrecy IN IN lnelosed
ward. admittaace to which Is not pernat'ed' MI
Stevens has been in the employment OF he Govern
mept devoting much of bis personal attention 10 Tue
construction OF Il battery When completed, 1t s 10 De
moored in the bay probably midway between the Guy
ard the Narrow Il s designed 20 carry thirty guns
Of heavy calbre upon each s.de, and on deck Tour
psi,bsn eups There will be furnaces IN her Tor neat
IN. .hot She will be propelled by engines, ana nave
rouasts She will be- Of . coo tuns burden.
Mr.. Stevens has several times during bis HE visited
Europe-usully for purposes connected wih his 'n-
yentions or projects.
Hi. father was the original proprietor OF the hooohen
sr and ran horse boats from lso9 until l7l7, wheh
Rob.,t l. S,evers engaged in the business and put
small .te.m ferryboat upon the Barclay street ierry'
Th,. boats have since increased IN size and numoef'
80 ths, good accommodations are furnished 'o'
prompt ard speedy transit across The hudSon u
uoboken. The many respects in which these ieties
have no superior give evidence Of the practical m-nd
| of the deceased. 49,.
Roh,,, + Stevens was ere of the original AMI pfil'
.f,i. .,cckbolders OF the Camden and Amboy ksl
,o,d and Transportaticr Company. he was "r many
wear, President and in point Of influence IN th" an 'f'
| of that Company has been second l" n'l'
| LaIs, Gem. Stockton.
| About i've wears ago be planned An obseT'ai'r,
which he designed 70 Construct upon Castle Point ol
Tho .lore Of the Hudson south oi the Eyssn Fields
| :. -. -, ,b,,c bundrr aud fifty feet higl