Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1862-04-04

Much important information about
our naval preparations has been elected dur
ing this debate in the Senate The Monitor
cost the government 1915 600, and was not
TO be received until she had been tested. The
Mystic, which is to cost 235 900, is to steam
at the rate of ten knots an hour, covered
with three and half inches of iron, and
will carry four 9inch she'll guns, and two
tihed So Founders. Then we have the Iron
hides, now being constructed at Philadelphia
OF "a hundred tons burthen, two hundred
and fifty feet long, fifty-six feet beam, sixteen
feet draft, to cost $50 900, to steam nine and
half sea miles per hour, covered with solid
plates four and half inches thick and de-
signed to carry sixteen large eleven inch
guns but the armament will probably be
changed.
These interesting facts were stated by Sem
ptor Grimes, OF the Naval Committee AZ
ter showing how these three armor-clad
steamers had been built at total cost of
81 ,290 200, leaving for their arm ment, &c.
S2l0.0O0 OF the 81 500 900 appropriated
for the purpose in July last, he went on to
state
In addition to that. Mr.. President, from
the appropriation of $4,000, 900 already
made at this session of Congress the Gov
ernmeut have contracted for four steamers,
iron clad, to be built and delivered by Cap
tain Ericsson, upon the general plan Of the
Monitor, but much larger and with much
heavier armament. each OF them to carry
two l5-inch guns. and 10 be delivered in four
months, before you can. under any possible
Circumstances, no matter how valuable she
may be, complete the Stevens battery. Then,
taking the success of the Monitor as the ba-
sis npon which to act, they have contracted
for two more, 10 be delivered in five months
Another they have contracted for, t. lie de-
hvered in four months, 10 be covered with
four-inch iron, and 10 carry two ll-inch
guns. In addition To that, they have enter
I'd upon the armament of the Roanoke =
Ii was also stated By Scuatols Ten Eyck
and Thompson (auy poor devil Of a cores
pendent would have been hung for revealing
the fact. that the Ndugdiuck, which WAS e.
be ut Norfolk yesterday, had been built by
MIR Stevens on his own account At u Gust OF
500 600, and rendered 20 the government
She is q scsscl designed to illustrate SON. OF
the advantages owned hv ttr Stevens battery
though on a smaller plan and modci-to
show that, instead OF taking u mile or two To
turn in, she can turn upon her own axis, 81
% speas, and that the sinking In action will
be Of great advantage ~hon she shall be cali
ell upon either by way of attack or dgicnsr
in the service of the c5autry.
Senator Pomcroy expressed i. as h- opn-
ion that" 1t will shortly be susceptible Of
demonstration, that any wopIrn V-.'l, d
common large steamer tat runs on the
ocean, c,tn strike any of th"st iron steamers
and sink her. | Will lsaid the Senatnrl yrn.
tnrc the assertion that the Nerrinac may
come out any day. and when III. Mrrrimac
gets ready t. fight and SINKS herself in the
water. the MINES IA can run her down
The Mcrrinac SINKS herself by her weight
The railroad iron put IN the shhfs Of root
upln her weighs her down. Il the Mime
eta can be llshtenci. and if were captain
OF hcr-i never aspifed to mach OF Al Dtiice,
hut | would take the eaYfancy Of that yes,
sell would have the MIAnc> ia made light,
excepting in the stern. She eau ran twenty
miles an hour. and would get upa -. hca
oil steam, and VITA her b 0at ot water
would run ay-r the Mcrtimac and SINK her
without hrin. .ur. II /, 50 with all IRON
clad steamers, tue moment ypu 5et them
down IN the water 50 that ypu EN- run over
them with = large hight steamer, tacy en- b.
sunk. Ii Is perfectly seir 10 run On u one
OF these low Vessels ilu caaa4i ire iHtY
them when they ar coming into you. bat
there is not the lsls, difficulty. IN nay pvin-
Ion. in taking one ot tie larse ocean steam
ers and runpiu. OVER and sinking any iron
clad steamers in the world = Correspondent
Boston Journal.