The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1862-08-30

SA4UEL y. AlhAWOOU,
Governor OF the State of Iowa.
The GuNBOArs AT OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES al
days ago our reporter visited the ship-ysrd
at Carondelet, and gave an account Of the gum
boats now being built there. The account,
however, was suppressed at the instance Of a
naval offcer-fears being expressed that it
contained contraband information. In the
Union of yesterday We find an account of the
same gunbosts, and We therefore give the
the main points in the article prepared by our
reporter.
The ship-ysrd in which the boats are being
built belongs to the Carondelet Marine Rail-
way and Dry Dock Company-of which Capt.
McAlister is President-snd is one of the
finest private ship-ysrds in the United States,
It was here that four of the iron. clad gunboats
that have rendered such important service on
the Mississippi were built last year, by James
B. Eads. The same gentleman now has con-
tract for building six iron gunboats, and the
work is already we'll advanced. twas neces-
sary in the first place to erect shelter, so as
to protect the workmen from the SUMS rays
while handling the iron. This undertaking
was entrusted to Mr.. Hancock, of the firm Of
Hancock & Stsnard, carpenters and builders
Of this city, and in short space Of time five
lar ge and substantial frame buildings were
erected-two Of them three hundred feet long
and sixty feet wide, and three of them two
hundred feet long and fifty feet wide. Four Of
the buildings extend down gentle slope to the
river, SO that the boats can be launched head
foremost into the stream, while at the top Of
the ascent is the machine shop, which is three
hundred feet long. This building contains
fourteen FORCES, aud all the necessary machin-
cry for punching iron. bending it, SC. The
names Of the gunboats are to be the Usage,
Neosho, Winnebago, milwaukee, Chickasaw,
and Kickapoo. The work on the latter boat
has only just commenced. Tie others, how
ever, are in good state of forwardness, par
ticulsrly the Usage and Neosho, which are
nearly ready for launching. These two boats
are being constructed on the plan of the Mon
itor. They are one hundred and eighty five
feet long and forty five feet wide, and will each
have revolveing turret on the Ericsson plan,
which will mount two ll.inch Dahlgreen guns.
The two boats will draw but three feet and
half Of water. The turrets will be Of
solid iron seven inches thick. The other boats
the Winuebago, Milwaukee, Chickasaw and
Kickapoo are of larger dimensions, being two
hundred and twenty feet long and fifty six feet
wide, and having two revolving turrets-one
turret upon the Erricson plan, and the other
upon plan designed by Mr. Eads, the con.
tractor. and for which he has taken cut pat
ent Each turret will mount two 1.inch guns.
These boats will be Of solid iron throughout;
will draw six feet Of ,water, and in strength
and invulnersbiity will be equal, if not superb.
or. to anything aHoat. The work uron these
boats is being pushed forward with the utmost
work on the spot from morn till night every
n y vhon thov
and the incessant hammering of iron is almost
deafeuing. The iron for the boats is of the
finest quality, from the FORCES of Mr.. James, on
the Msrsmec. It is rolled by Gay lord & Son Of
Portsmouth Ohio, and then brought to the
ship-yard in the form Of iron plates, eight or
ten feet long, three or four feet wide,
and half an inch thick. Holes are then
punched through the edges of the plates, in
the machine shop, which contains al the nec-
essary machinery for this purpose, as we'll As
for bending the plates, ribs &C.. The whole
being driven by powerful steam-engine.-
The plates having been prepared in the ma
chine shop, are then laid upon the ways and
riveted together, in this way the bottoms Of
the boats were laid. the bottoms are Hat; and
having been riveted together, are then..made
water tight,
1t is stated that the builuine Of these boats
gives occupation to more than four Monsand
CT our st. Louis workmen -Four Of our largest
machine establishments, those Of g. B. Alien.
Co., stone 4 How, (successors to Gatv 3
Coal Croker 4 Baxter, and the MoCords. .rs
ousi!y engaged IN fitting out the six boats nov
building, In addition to the constant vork -,
two Of our most extensive steam FORCES. and
two OF ourprincipal blacksmith estsblishments
l-[Mo. Republican. - '''''''
1
Thirteen printers have joined the army .,
st. Paul, from the Press Office, and all within
ton days. Two others from the same otfic,
tried to enlist, but were rejected BY the medi.
cal examiner. The publishers are now sdyer