The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1858-01-11
Extraordinary ships and other Pro
tects.


rna xax yo.k Journal of Commerce has been
,bewn By New York architect and engineer The
tsaus OF stupendous fortress warehip," 40 feet
10 length, with 800 gaus go battle galleries, 300
,er,hs, and ell the munitions of war 10 proportion,
tts appearance would not doubt scare Oh the most
audscious enemy, without tho necessity Of firing
gun. The ship 10 further provided with stable &C
summoation for 600 horses, two light houses, three
powder towers, two "wrepch ruddsrs," made ~
operate 10 all directions AID 90 arranged as TO be
ased 10 checking the speed OF the ship, besides q
variety Of other appliances This last IL very
desirable quality, - the inventor issanguns that
she vii, b. prgpeiled ct the astounding rate Of
sorty-hve mllex 40 hour. In addition to steam
power, the ship will spread not less than 1900
yards Of canvass--the immense hulk being cloud
I'd with calls Of every conceivable shape. Even a
partial description Of si the novelties here intro
,suosd, would occupy columns Of space Tbs draw.
snss have been prepared with great labor, and
.sincs much ingenuity and skill In design. The
architect ssys he will be disposed to show the
drawings and models at his Office in New York,
end we are not surprised 10 learn that he Is WILL
sna TO assign some part or the whole probably
the whols--of hialaterest In this invention.
sosne time ago az architect Ia Brooklyn pre-.
y u
BIZ an upper deck and By wooden walls at the
sides from the marksmen aud boarders of the
eoemy The architect had never been 10 sea
and had made no allowances for any obstruc-
t.oas which his invention would offer to hau-
,tcal evolutions. II there was more stupid
rnortals 10 the world thar himself be may have
succeeded 10 inducing hi % purchase some part
os the whole Of bis interest 10 the inventioni BY
,he way what has become Of Stevens mammoth
var ship which was built TO defend Nsw York, and
90 which Congress- has appropriated about a NIL
lion Of doIlarsl We are afraid that every dollar
IL that million might ~ we'll have been dropped
toto the ocean.
II Is astonishing how easily Congress Is indn-sd to
part with i,s money; or, rather, with the money
q the government. Not long ago !. expended tan
thousand dollars on plan Of a vessel loaded with
ccmbustitles which was 30 bear down upon AN
enemy's sluadron, setting tho same on fire. and
sending IL to instant destruction. The only condi-
lions necessary ~ its complete and triumphant
success were lstly, that the enemy should lestill
and be burned up; and, adly, that the fire ship
should not set herself on FIRE before injurinS
her adversary. This last proved, apon expert
ment. to b. the real danger. the said ship hav-
ing scarcely started on her trial trip before shs
burned herself up IN the most energetic and I'm
posing manner. The inventor. however, was not
dissatisfied with the results Of his experiment in
asmuch az $4,000 would IN all probability cover
his expenses and he still had undoubtiDg faith In
the efficiency Of bis fresbip. He contended that
when he had put ship on FIRE, instead of water
leing able 10 estinguish the flames, tbs flames
would overcome The water. An old SEA dog dis
ctssins the matter with him, represented that, in
that event. there might be danger Of setting IRE to
the ocean, aud perhaps burning up the world
SWELL" he replied with great composure, 'let 1t
burp!'
Il is not many years since q proposition was be-
Fore Congress- of a balloon, which wohld CORY the
mall to Oregon 10 twenty-iour hours, stopping
orr Cincinnati aud st. Louis long enough 70 low
~ mail bags, and receive others In return. There
vss TO be lighthouse on the top Of the Rocky
Mountains, by which the Bronsut was TO guide
himself at night. Some difficulty occurred as t.
the proper department to take charge OF the light
h.use, the Fifth Auditor, who has charge OF light
houses, denying that this Rocky Mountain light
house would come under his jurisdiction. II 10 uo
axscliy known bow the oil has to be supplied
tLougb the projector may have relied on the bear
"a the neghborbood. However, the plan was 90
iug 90 swimmiDgly, when an Bnglishnen mad'
his appearance In Washington, and offered to car
~ the mails TO Canton IN twelve hours. His plar
uss TO 70 straight up 10 balloon, till be got out
side the esrth's atmosphere, when he wOulC
hold on TIL Canton, which IL just on the op
posite side Of the earth, would be directl,
under him, whereupon he would "drap" th'
mail bags and fulfil his contract. This fast propo
sition knocked the Oregon slow coach into fts, an,
pothing more was ever beard Of il. What became
81 the Englishmsp we do not know, but we believe
Congress, though able and willing to supply th'
.,as for both balloons, tesau to entertain gray,
doubts af the practicabiity Of the measure, anC
ut last refused to make any appropriations for test
lag the experiment.