Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-08-07


English irOn-plated steamers -
Length. Beam. Depth.
Warrior, 1865 90 276
Black Prince, $50 bo Al
The keel of Stevens battery was laid in
1854, and the work has been prosecuted under
different appropriations by congress, until the
expenditure has reached upwards of half a
million of dollars. The hull is now carried
up TO the main deck, where the armament will
be placed, and all the furnaces and boilers are
in their places, with the greater part of the
machinery and SKATING. The weight of metal
thus brought together exceeds 10000
pounds-the cost per pound ranging from rs
TO so cents. AS may be easily conceived from
this general statement, the battery presents a
ponderous aspect, yet il is far from seeming
unwieldy. In model and external appearance
generally, saving the popularity of material, it
bears close resemblance TO 4 fast North
River steamer, the bow being exceedingly
sharp and the sides lin the present stage of
the work. rising in the usual manner. But in
attaching the sheathing OF iron plates, the ex-
ternal contiguration will be essentially chang
ed A primary idea in the construction of
every part is, TO present an oblique surface to
projectiles, that they may glance off without
injury. The sides, therefore, will look some
what like the upper section OF pyramid tie
furhest projection being sustained by three
feet and six inches of solid oak while the
plates recede from this point at an angle OF
thirty degrees. The armament will be pro-
tected in like manner by ball-proof '1oadng
houses" or casemates This last feature is an
entire novelty, and one in which the inventor
took peculiar satisfaction. The "loading
houses" are designed to give etleCual protec
ton to the gunners, so that not an individual
employed i'll working the ordnance will be ex.
posed to casualty. They are but four in
number, as the armament now proposed will
consist of only eight guns-iour 15inch and
four 10 inch or Pinch rifed cannon-the
muzzles OF every pair sweeping round to their
appropriate apertures in the adjacent case
mate. AS the guns are on stationary swivels,
no provision is made for recoil except that
cushions of gum are placed behind the trun
Mons Whether these will prove adequate
may admit of doubt, though we are informed
that experiments to determine this question
proved satisfactory. On descending through
the network oil iron beams and columns which
sustain the decks and bind together the whole
fabric, the eye is attracted by the long range
of b oilers, ten in number, arranged in juxla
position, on either side together occupying a
space u feet in length, nearly amidships. The
space separating them constitutes the fire
room, on which thirty furnaces will open their
DldLHlS lnOutusj apparently threatening those
who may be employed there with speedy eX-
tinction but as will be afterward explained.
q thorough system Of ventilation is provided,
through the intervention OF appropriate ma.
chnery. Beyond this massive accumulation
of material, are eight driving engines, con
nected with two propelling shafts, each 1870
feet in length, and eXertHg power equal to
that of 5000 horses. These engines are ar
ranged with the greatest eonIpactness possible,
giving the appearance of more complication
than actually exists. The mechanism, upon
cursory examination, appears TO be of skilliul
workmanship, and being wholly submerged,
is supposed TO be secure from the fire OF any
antagonist. Besides these are eight other en-
gines for minor purposes, two OF which are in
the bow, for blowing the furnaces and venti-
lating. The propellers, it should have been
remarked above. have a diameter OF nineteen
feet. None Of the work has Perforated from
exposure 10 the weather, as men are constant
" employed in taking all needed precautions
Now that congress as celebrating upon the ex-
pediency of constructing steam batteries for
the navy, the question has direct bearing on
the completion Of the work already so far ad.
vanced at Hoboken. This battery cannot be
finished at a less cost than 81 $4,000, accord
ing to estimates carefully prepared by govern
ment officers; yet there is reason to believe it
may prove as efficient as any constructed by
European powers. Even it no reference is
had to domestic troubles, there is a prevalent
impression that foreign relations are precarious.
In case Of a rupture with any leading naval
power, r floating steam battery OF great speed
and destrueliveness would be an Invaluable
adjunct TO our coast deienses In some re-
spects, Slevens's battery is likely to provea
match for anything which could be pitted
against it, The great distinction between tie
batteries of France and England is, that the
former build their iron cased vessels of wood
(like La Gloire), covered with A inch plates
while the latter build of iron, with eighteen
inches of teak intervening between the armor
and what is called the skin. This last con
triyance is believed to resist shot most effect
ually, but the boy and stern las of the war
rior) are left unprotected, to insure good
speed and sea going qualities. II will thus be
perceived that if the hopes OF the inventor are
realized, the Stevens battery will combine all
the essential requisites Of such structure in
a higher degree than those of Europe. She
is all iron, invulnerabc in every part, aud
has the intervening layer of wood, which
gives more rigid and impenetrable basis TO
the plate; she is also safer than wooden yes
sells, from the facility with which iron plate
compartments are used and finally iron gives
more stability to the working OF the screw.
One think is certain The highest naval au-
thoriles of Europe admit that in wooden
walls there is no security against the modern
appliances Of war. Though wooden ships
are never likely to be wholly superseded, es-
pecially ON distant stations non batteries are
Indispensable for protection against the terri.
fc assaults OF riied cannon, especially from
ships in armor.
Economy In War.