, 1861-07-24
The -SteYena-Elaat1ng- Battery.


An act Of Congress Of April 14th, 1912, first
authorized the lata Robt Z. Stevens to com.
mence bis iron battery, then a novelty in rs
val architecture. Mr. Stevens was the first to
:establisA By actual experiment the degree OF
resisting power Of cast and wrought iron
against the Impact Of shot and shell In the
. course Of his Investigations and experiments
hemade the important discovery that sin
gle plate Of boiler iron five efghths Of au inch
IN thickness, and weighing less than twenty
five pounds to the superficial foot, when
nanet to the side Of ship, was 1mpene1able
hy eheu and red-hot shot, the two missiles
most dangerous to wooden walls.
Al the more recent experiments Of the
French and English are founded upon hia
original Investigations and thus IN American
proves once more to hare led the world in
what promises to be q most important i'm
proveInent in naval architecture.
The plans Of Mr. Stevens were never made
public. His eoxtrnct with the Government
was that he should build the vessel on his
OWL plan; and: deliver her to the Government
for the sum Of $3.50, ,711.84; and that after the
sum Of $500, 900 had been paid On account, she
should be examined By board, and if she
could be completed for the balance Of the ap
spropriation, then It should be paid. This
balance Of $50. .7l784 was some years ago ap-
propriated By Congress to enable the Secreta-
~ Of the Navy to make prompt payment If 1t
should be required. 80.
In the report of the Secretary Of the Navy
for 1873, 1t il stated that " on the 10Th Of
February, 1850, board was appointed, aud in
their report Of March Z, 1856, they estimate
ready paid. there viii be required the further
enm of $81a,uSS.BS to complete the weasel
The balance appropriated August 10, 1856 r.
mains therefore ia the treasury. Mr.. Stevens
and- hts executors have expended upon the
| vessel the sum Of $703, 1851. It is now pro-
ia "a hn1a ftf f,n
| contract iprlce:-!that is to egy-the sum Of
$s6, 717.9+-be paid to him from time to time,
as an equal amount in work aud materials
ehsn hereafter, be put upon the vessel, tho
pledge Of The whole"
Inent, which 'has paid for all the work and
material put on her. The remainder Of tbs
appropriations III 81 would not put her
into the water. So much Is admitted II the
government l. to contract to: pay over $500 !
900 additional, the public Will certainly expect
that before this apProprla don y msde By Con.
g1ese, 1t ehau be ascertatned beyond doubt
thatthe vessel when completed; win BE- worth
more than LaGlolre, which cost the Emperor
Napoleon less than million, OF the Warrior,
which cost England 81 500, 600
It has been stated to ns thst the Hoboken
Vessel, though Intended chiefly for tbs defense
Of this harbor, will be quite able TO 70 to sea,
bic fortress, but also for other uses. Her sharp
PROV Nas planned to pierce the sides Of the
large6tfhipt and In 6ict suchwonndsupo them
as to sink them. Her sides were to be armed
with steam pipes with which to fepel attempts
to board- Her engines were to be Of great
power, ns was necessary to enable her to run
down and sink heavy ships.
II the Stevens battery can be completed for
amoderate eum, and If 1t Is established beyond
doubt that she viii be seawarthy, ahot tproof
in every sense OF the term, and a. Formidable
IN other respects aa her deaigncr planned,
then she Win be = valuable vessel fol our GOV.
errment to possess She will bo actually au-
pes1orto La Gloire; and ahe may prore Of use
IN nNrenchtng open some Of the ports now held
by Gle rebels. Such vessel could pass up
Char1eston hsrbor, sustaining unipjnfed the
tlre Ct the forts now held by fhe rebels. and,
by threatening tho city Bring the rebel Rarrl
eon 10 terms. She could ascend the Missiae
sippi to New Orleans, and produce the same
effect there.
Bpt to do this there must beuo doubt Of her
capabilities md she must not be Of such
heavy dEa0ght ~ the British Warrior, which,
drANtng thirty feet, Is. useless for assaultl4s
my Port which has not \ great depth Of water.