The daily Wabash express. (Terre-Haute, Ind.) 1857-1867, 1862-02-05

liz i now well established, that the wooden
walls on which England was wont 10 rely for
the Lsupreme control of the sea must give
place 10 walls OF more solid stud. France
has taught England and the world a lesson
which all the world must be swim 10 learu.
II has never been our national custom TO lag
behind in the march Of improvement Our
place has ordinarily been IN the van Our
xiii IN mechanics has made for Us a proud
record In the history Of useful arts and m
yentiOns. The people Of The United States
NAV. for the sake Of the "A gument, grant
that their contribution to the general litera
ture of the world has been small in proper
ton 10 their population and resources, bur
they can feariessly challenge the whole as
terhoOd Of nations to q comparison oi What
We have wrought in furtherance oil tis>t great
mission OF man in this world-the suodaing
and possession oft. We have wrested from
nature her secrets; we have claimed tne mas
terry Of her power. and are fast bending them
all 90 the Use Of man. Our thoughts, II not
all written on the printed page. are wrought
into ten thousand useful, Curious aud Won
derfal forms. which move submissively al
mans bidding 10 do his viii and minister TO
his wants.
Or object. however, il not 20 discourse
upon our mechanical skill in general, but TO
call special attention 10 the particular neces-
sity OF the hour-the need for such invention
a will secure our vessels Of war from dan
Ger by the heaviest missiles OF the enemy
without mourning equal or greater dangers
from stormy winds and tempest tossed seas.
IL seems 10 be clearly settled now that iron
Mating upon wooden frames viii not stand
the various strains 10 which such a vessel Is
subjected from heavy seas. from the missiles
of the enemy and from its own armament
The frame Of the vessel must be OF iron
Then the thickness Of the plates, the mode
of Joining them together. and the me ans 81
, securing them, must be determined upon
In these three particulars there il YET neet
I, for experiment and scope for invention. II
none or them have either the Engllsh or the
. French attained TO perfection The machine
nv necessary for the performance Of all IN,
I, work required on the heavy plates, itsel
needs 90 be perfected. There - ample scop'
in the preparation Of this machinery Tor al
. original Inventive genius-one who compre
hends the thing needed, and can bring TO IN
task the scientific knowledge anu prsctica
skill necessary 20 overcome the d'fiicnit'es !
hs way.
Tie building OF iron plated slnps OF war
likely TO be n large and profitable bushes
lti tLt uCtt -N0tt VI
Every naval power will come Into the mArke
4 with larger demands each wear for the be-
n that the market can afford Each new I'M
: movement. also, viii increase the demand
II we're lille 10 attempt an estimate oil IN
: iron clad ships OF wax that viii be aiioAt
twenty years from ths< time. Those VII
wish TO form some approximate idea shout
number I'D the steamships that have bee
pat afoat since the day when the Gre
Western Srst crossed the ocean. not mac
more than twenty years since.
When our scientific knowledge and %
: mechanical ingenuity are fully brought
bear for the construction and improvement
iron-clad vessels Of war. we shall expect
see mauy inyincible floating forts that WI
e put 20 shame the French La Giorie or Il
English Warrior. They may do well Tor
n beginning. but Ne want something TAR be
ter. We commend this subject. therefor
' to our scientific men and our artisans Tbs
d nav add 70 the safety and honor ot the
E. country, and win fame and fortune lor then
selves. BY sols ing the different and dine.
problems which it Involves Ihdadefph
Enquirer.