New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-03-28
THE MONITOR AND WHO BUILT HEB.


To the Editor Of me n. Y Tribune.
SIR: AS number of papers and public speakers
have recently stated thar the " Monitor wac not
built by Government, but wac altogether private
enterprise that lie pressnce in Hampton Roads was
. mere accident etc, will you allow me 20 give the
public the acts through the columns of THE TRl8-
UNE.
At the special session in July last, the Secretsry OF
the Navy called the attention Of Congress 10 the
subject Of iron-cad vessels, and appropriation Of
81 100000 was made for the purpose Of having one
OF more consi rucied. The net -igDed OF Tire ID
of August, and on the 9th, an advertisement, calling
for plane wss sent thfoU. hOut tie country. IL
Quired propositions and laus 10 be pTe.ened BY the
I'd of September, and the act Of Congress directed
the Serreary OF the Navy 10 appoint board II
three skillfni naval officers TO invest gate lie lans
and specifications that may be snnmtted Tor tue
construction or completing of iron clad steamship.
stea-bat cries, and their report, shonld 1t be IN
vorable the Secretary of the Navy will cause one
or more armortd iron, steel clad steamships,
or floating steam bat elies 10 be built.
Comnodores Joseph Suiih and Hiram Paulding,
aud CAPS. G aries IL. Davis, were appointed men-
bers OF thu Board, and Immediately gave the subject
Of iroucad vessels AUD kae p nS Presented 70 hen,
date the 10Th of September, and il appears that sew
ente,n plans were presented. Among them was
Capt Ell ssons, and It one Of the three recon-
nended for adoption.
as soon the necessary paHers could be arranged,
contra e sIgned. That fer tie Monitor was
eigned On the An OF October, the parties being,
behalf of the Unit ID States, Gideon Weliee, SeCre
tary Of the Navy and on Tie prt of the builders j
Ericsson, John f. Winslow, John A. GriswOId. and
L. S Bushnell. 1t provides for The construction OF
the vessel in one hundred days Jan. ~ ana for
Payments by the Department IN rbe usual way, Viz:
when $50 900 has been expended, three-iOuths Oh
that shall be paid, and 30 on from tne 10 time
f.cr ..l, oil ~ t.1p
pended--the Government always having in It's hands
reservation Of p per cent and hold upon the
sci as security for the amount advanced. TIE cOn-
tract further provides That, ii The vessel sue'rins
satisfactory test, sho ia 10 be accepted, and the IS
per cent reservation paid. Tie test To which she
was subjected IN her encounter with TIE Meuimac
was abIndaDtly sAtista tory, and a requistion for
the final payment passed the Depar neDt last week.
The immediate supervision Of the work on the part
of the Department was committed 70 Com. joseph
Smith, Chief of the Bureau of Yards and Docks aud
VINO was also Chairman Of the Beard, and TO him,
next 10 Capt ss0D, more than 10 any other man,
should be awarded credit for the successful COM
pleiOn and working Of The Monitor. WIie giving
all needed attention 10 the construction Of the three
iron-cad vessels, "A particular interest centered 10
Capt. Ericsson's plan. Day aud night IL occupied
his thoughts, and bis wellmatured suggestions have
proved OF great value. The plan brought 10 the
notice Of the department by c. :. Bushnell, esq,
one OF the Contractors ana TO BIS ability, energy aud
rear at every stage OF TIE NO4K, Toe pNbAc are nuch
indebted.
Tie existing miaapprehension relative 10 tie con-
structon Of this vessel is the more nexcusablc for
the reason that tie report Of Secretary Of the
Navy, with the accompanying report o. the Eoaid on
Iron clad Vessels, submitted to Congress a. the
commencement OF the Session, folly Informed tae
public o: the facts. Both OF these reports were not
only Published in pamphlet form, but also IN Tie
principal newspapers. The Secretary said:
ITO carry intO effect the provisions Of the act approved
x1gusr3 l50l providing fo the construction Of
sfuOed ships aud Oans batteries appointed Counodores
Joseph outh and HiIa Pauding and Cap Chafos IT,
Dsyis s md experienced naval ofncers T. investigate tie
plans and specifications thst might be uDtea Tho subject
OF iron ships OF general lteTsfi,
ony TO the and country Dot IL engaging toe attention oil
The mari Inc powers Of the world. Under the aPpropr on
made by Congress- apartment the favorable repod Of
tac boefd Los for the constr ucton O three
shts 81 different modeis the aggregate cost Of which VIII
va Iin ihe limits Of tho sppTo raou be difficulty u
enoeln2 the Two qualities 81 draft and amor
o'efcous but the board IN this new anch Oi naval
- i,.,e nss think Displayed greet practical wisdom
a. rn. very iuil and able report, which appended
conclu-ons." '-''D' VI '"-" '"i'"'~''"
loe report OF TIE Board contained tie followir
paraHrHpno announcing AR. Ericssons plap SO one
OF the three adopted: i
Ekos'S he*'foS. page IS This pl.p of floating
oA.Iy ~ novel nui ems 70 be osssd mon IL IN ~
rende the battery shot and shell moo M ~ WIN -
spprehensive hst hof popeFs for so ar, ~ 'on'e"na'
soiDg vessel should possess But shs NAV b. ,coa
plsc. 70 another on the coast IN smooth w.t., ioH ORG
mend that on experiment. be made With on, hss,.
schption on The terms pfopossd with suarsn, n' o..
fsiiufe 10 Gaze oil ial0Ie 10 sHy OF the ~ i
tbs vessel ~ proposed. ~ P'"H's o.
Price s275,OOO, length Of vessel ia feet. b,..s,
essm Il ies.i deYih Of bold II. icei uns lcO esys ds