The New York herald., 1862-03-19

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bays, coasts, and adjacent waters from any attack
which may be made by any feet, matter how large
The more we examine the question the more
WINGED that the whole matter OF clad vessels in
both France and England has been game OF ''brag,'
they have built vessels useful only to ntimidate each
0thor formidable to else indeed, it would not be
agreat exaggeraton TO say that they were bat more
with view to their own safety than TO be terrible to
their enemies.
The excitement created in England by the appearance
OF this solitary vessel the that
to be built, is hardly to be credited. Think
Of the millions that now beng spent there upon both
forts and roncased steamers They are not willing to
substitute entirely perishabe for imperishabe do
fence and il the skill and judgment of the United States
engineers and the system Of seacoast defence nauguraed
nearly forty years since needs an endorsement, has
here
This paper could not be regarded complete il it omit
ted to mention that notable structure, the Stevens bate
~, which has become almost household word. Pr0ba-
bly, enterprise in which the has been
interested has attracted much attention and caused
much speculation this no doubt has been occasoned
principally by tho impenetrable mystery which has sur
rounded it, and the strict secrcsy with which those parts
already constructed have been built even the govern
ment itself had no thorough knowledge OF whatwas going
Now that tho veil has been lifted by the Board Of Com
mssoners appointed by the secretary of the Navy to
examine and report upon IT, curiosity is at least satisfied
This Board composed Of Commodores Strngham and
Inman Captain Dornin and Chief Engineer Sinners of the
United States Navy, and Professor Henry OF the Smith
souan Institute. This latter gentleman made minority
report
However much credit ia due to Mr. Stevens for priority
vessels by coating them with ron the present structure
the pans proposed for its completion have
been the work of the last few years.
The battery far completed, consists OF q long,
slender vessel without decks, tho entire central
portion filed with engines and boilers. The vessel is
provided with two Independent screws, which by
vo!vng them opposite directions, will the ship
to turn around in nearly her own length.
1t the intention of her protector by supplying her
with immense power and by giving her the sharpest
ends constructed to produce speed unrvaled In
the story OF navigation
As is already well known, the Board reported against
the completion Of tho vessel upon the plans proposed
This report exceedingly thorough and is very much
in detail at tho tmo must be said that is quite
impartial and just The description OF the vessel and the
plans proposed complete her. which occupy the first
part OF the report warmly commended by the par
ties themselves on account OF its perfect accuracy Sc
the OF the criticisms which form the iatter
part of It, and the conclusion which condemns the
peton upon the plans proposed may be judged accord
ingly These plans have been very recent origin
they differ ,teray from those advanced by her pro-
jector, X. L. Stevens, Esq, deceased.
tho intention of her protector to have vertical
sides above water pierced with gun ports; the inclined
and the plan Of having the guns exposed barte
top Of the vessel appears 70 be OF very recent date
The principal points upon which the Board condemned
IL form radical parts Of the entire plan and which cannot
be obvatcd without entirely reconsructing those parts
already completed (Which are in fact nothing than
the hull Of unusually sharp iron steamer with the
steam machinery rst great deficiency ID strength,
both regards sea going qualities and the ability to sup
port the armor proposed Second tho plan Of mounting
the guns en- tane with nothing whatever to screen them
from the view Of tho enemy and depending upon their
immense size to protect them from destruction when
struck by shot Experiments tried at Wo0lwich, Eng
land in 1851 prove that Of cast iron nearly
largo the fifteen inch gun were entirely destroyed by
shot from the eight FOUNDER gun Third, that the
vessel would not be all parts and ct all times shot.
proof.
which from the space allotted to this paper cannot be
enumerated.
One is however, that the fact Of having the guns ex-
posed entails the necessity for the protection OF the
ners having them manipulated both regards load
ing and training by complicated machinery placed below
the deck upen which thoy are mounted oniy
each gun to aim and Are being on deck in time Of action
Of partially sinking the vessel 70 secure the additional
protection OF the water in timo OF action it is impracti.
CABLE for well pointed out by the Board besides
would bs far better make the perfectly shot
proof, without depending on such plan for her protec-
ton when in presence OF the enemy indeed there might
be times when the weather would preclude this partially
sinking
Congress have acted very udciousy the subec, OF
iron clad vessels, evidently unwilling 10 vote immense
sums OF money be expended projects Of doubtful
success. At the special session last summer however
passed authorizing the Secretary Of tho Navy
advertise for proposals construct iron
clad shotproof vesse-each proposing furnish
plans; it also provided that these plans should
be approved OF by three commanding officers OF the
navy and a board was appointed for this purpose
consisting OF Commodores Smith and Palldng and Cap
tain DAVIS. One million five hundred thousand dollars
appropriated TO build such as approved Of.
Three wore selected, all different from each other.
Among these was ono presented by the eminent eDgi
neer. Ericsson In designing this vessel he displayed
which Is the most strongly marked trait Of his
character and which has not probably been possessed
to great an extent by any engineer tho days
OF Watt this knowledge he successfully brought
TO bear upon the introduction Of the propeller
constructing long before the tedious experiments
upon this subject tried by England and France had been
performed and which only proved that the principles
adoi ted by him were correct
Every American viii remember with pride the old
irgate Princeton, tho first screw steamship war with
her machinery placed entirely below tho line out
u the reach Of shot the FIRST which burned anthracite
coa ,xl hpvou naxv
plainly for miles tho position of all foreign steamers
The hrst proyid with telescope funnel which could DO
lowered out Of the of the sails tho first that
blowers thus making the supply or steam perfectly indie
pendent Of the smoke ppe in fact the first really
cessul Application Of the screw TO vessels ofwar. she
provided with direct acting engines, which worked
bea tully for years. Ericsson at carly day their
advantages aud was the first who coupled the screw
directly the engines This vessel almost every ono
knows designed by Ericsson twenty years ago.
So whom the problem OF shoot proof vessels arose, he
perceived at once the duties required Of such
and Instead Of proceeding his predecessors have
Ia oang down vessels Of the ordinary form with the
imnenss weight OF shop armor required to entirely
hem lie adopted at the shape which gives the
greatest possible buoyancy with the smallest Of
target. broad Tat bottomsd vessel with psrpcudicu-
lar sides and regular pointed ends, requires but little
depth to displcsa sufficient quantity Of watcr to buoy t.
SELF up loaded with sh9prOof aror its sides, and
bomb proof deck upon which is placed sho,proof 10.
voiv.g turrct, armed with two OF the heaviest guns
THIS - MT h. teamed the upper vessel; It's length ia
hundred aud fees brcrdh forty
and depth 1--WE feet. Tho sides OF this formed
aened solid oak twenty six inches thick; this oak hon
receives the shot proof armor of rolled iron i've
llmnn OF ono inch thick oach. The deck, which 1.
bomb proof j. composed FIRST of white Cak beams ten
inches sqeafe, and twenty inches art between Tho
i.ces, rpou vheh = placed psrkag ge,on inchls in
thickness, aud in1liy The whole is clyercd with sycI
| o. rolled w = one ineh thick.
The bolt y these baams are on level with the
| wafer, so that the arApr above watsg Las woodcn
backing Of iC.ty yoo fec Il will be seen that ins teld
u LaviDg the mound and great surface OF ~
odna mciciod vcaae! ~ plato, aud which, ia feet
aaios, lltcl.y impossible 90 properly every pas
is stra shi, has direction Only - the
| heavy srn.or can be applet with great AGILITY.
10 appreciate this grot advantage Of simplicity o
iora 81 is oply 5ary the rapidly yh wb.l
The hsayy plaIcs ara lifted aBd secured.
Ills upper vossel will be three feet six inches under
water, thus leaving bat one foot inches sbUYo Tia,
surface. Nw, Il this vessel which have dcscribol
c.ud D. anchored IN any desired position, woul,
have u that required. Therefore, 10 give such yes
eel tie spdco -elured TO cary her steam machinery
fuel stores and the quarters Tor The oiceFs aud men
uuly ssaTy % secure beneath it sci % Ordnaf,
| strength
This "a what is ermnl the lower vessel il H. one hun
rfdt nj long.