The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-03-13
The New Russian Steamer General Admiral


slIn compliance with your orders of the 10th inst
visit the General Admiral and examine her thoroughly
should Mr. Webb her constructor, object and report
10 The Department whether in her model construction
machinery, rig, appointments, improvements may not
be found, or features at least which may with advan-
age we nave the honor to report that we have
AS the ship is but partially equipped, the mastz ma
Chnery and not being on board we cannot al
ths Time iuiy embrace the requirements OF
tons.
The model differs from that generally adopted for wa,
vessels OF similar cass therefore not prepared
70 recommend the adoption Of this model as an improve
nent 10 the form for such classes of ships till
her performance is known by trial trip at sea.
The workmanship and disposition of materials excel
lent and fully equals that any vessels constructed by
our and we may mention that in regard to
location OF beams relatively TO the ports she SUPERIOR
f'om the fact of the having been determined
before building the vessel ami thus the constructor had
definite knowledge OF the requirements to guide him
the construction We therefore recommend IN future that
the armament be always determined in service before
building the vetse
The armament of the General Admiral consists Of sixty
e3 cwt guns, and Of Dahlgrens pivot guns each
$4,000 POUNDS The material Of The carriages mahogany,
and they thoroughly built We recommend mahogany
fer all gun carriages hereafter to be built in the service
From the plan, find the size Of the fore and main
rigging to be u inches, which is greater than that
prescribed for first class steamers So far this may
be considered as an Improvement; aud it suggests the
propriey Of our allowance book being SO modified to
increase the size OF the lower rigging well topsa
Sheets braces &c, Of our large steamers. These vessels
our hrs class steamers are about one thousand tons
larger than line. OF battle ships while the rigging
pre- scTb.d for them the size of that only for our first
class sailing frieates.
The pgines OF the ordinary back action type having
two cylinders Of eightyfve inches diameter and forty
inches stroke AS the machinery in detached parts in
process Of being conveyed from the mandatory to the
SHIP we form but little idea Of the detail arrange
mept
The intern arrangements many respects are pecu-
liar which made conform 10 the usages of Rus
san service SUCH for example, as the large lockers
the bei I'll deck for storing the clothing the crew. who
have to provide themselves with sucency Tor an entire
cruise and on the Drop deck additional lockers contain
one weeks provsons-while service clothing Is
served out when needed, and provisions daily issued
Thc eiore this arrangement is uns,ted to service.
The crew provided with conveniences for bathing
and have water closets. We of the opinion the
health comfort and morals of would be improved
more care was taken for the above mentioned provisions
Tor The comfort OF the crew in war The
water Closets however in this ship necessarily placed
the spar deck the head has omitted but
they cannot he thus placed IN rgates without inter-
ferlng with the training Of the for ward pivot gun.
The General Admiral has Reeds veptlator for the pur
pose vi ing the foul air in the ship by leading
between every Two beams the berth and orop decks
passing down between the timbers connecting with main
pipe large size in the hold running and aft the yes
eel from thence drawn out OF the ship and discharged into
cbucIy This arrangement II proved trial to ans Wer
the purpose intended will add greatly the health of the
crew She has also Browns castans and chain cable Ok
lures together with Harrss lightning conductors inserted
IN The masts with Hddens patent air ports aud prisms
the upper half ports Of the gun deck these we
To be introduced INFO our naval vessels.
The construction OF the General Admiral reflects great
credit on Mr. Webb and also upon Capt Shester Ko the
Russian officer who has supervised the work.
We have the honor TO DO, very respectfully your ODE
dent servants, ANDREW H. FOOTE. Commander
W. +. EVERETT. Chief Engineer.
s. N. P0OK, Naval Constructor.
B. +. DELANO,
Hon ISAAC ToucEy Secretary of the Navy, Washington