The daily Wabash express. (Terre-Haute, Ind.) 1857-1867, 1862-07-11

The position OF the country at the present
moment IL so intimately connected with the
power OF our navy that we have taken great
pains 10 ascertain precisely how far we have
advanced with our iron clad vessels of war.
A statement was made by several of our CO.
temporaries last week, relative to the LAYING
OF an iron keel AZ Jersey City, with has led
the public TO suppose that of novel charac-
ter was contemplated. So far from that be.
ing the case. the event announced with such
a flourish was simply laying 9th ninth Keel
of the Monitor feet. These vessels are two
hundred feet long, forty feet beam. and
all constructed on plans furnished by Captain
Ericsson. and SO precisely alike that any part
removed from any one vessel will fit It's ap.
propriate place in any Of the others The
history of naval engineering furnishes no pre-
cedent for system so perfect. and much
credit must be accorded TO the Secretary of
the Navy for having inaugurated it. The
advantages are manifest. and derive addition
al importance from the fact that before the
detail Of the machinery and vessels of the
Monitor feet was decided upon, the depart
ment caused rigorous scrutiny to be made
OF the operations aud efficiency of every part
on board the Monitor. The most skillfnl en-.
gineers and officers were placed in charge of
carefully noted and communicated from time
10 time by the constructor Of the vessels.
The Assistant Secretary of the Navy paid
several visits TO the Monitor in Hampton
Roads, aud contributed important informa-
ton. liz has been objected that the Engineer
in Chief is not employed in the construction
Of the new vessels: but Secretary Welles.
TO the surprise and annoyance OF many. has
lately been found to entertain very peculiar
notions on all matters connected with the eff
hciency OF the navy, among which may be
mentioned that o; putting the right man in
the right place. The Monitor fleet wanted
for tho Western rivers-the construction of
which has already been ordered-proves the
determination of the department to attain the
end by the direct road. Mr. j. Ii. Eads, Of
ST. Louis. an engineer OF great experience
in constructing tat boats, has obtained the
contract for building the pioneer Monitors
for the shvllow waters of the west, while
Ericsson is only employed TO furnish plans
for their turrets. These western iron clads
must only draw three and halffeet Of water.
but no fears need be entert ained; the man
who has undertaken the work is an expert in
building fiat bottomed boats; be Is another
right man in the right place-only think OF
| that Mr.. Stanton-and will no doubt furnish
feet Of vessels suitable for hunting the
rebels out of the shallow streams of the west
Our fleet of nine sea going Monitors will
all be ready next fall. Early in August We
may expect to witness in our bay the trial
trips of several OF them. Includis & the New
Ironsides, Whitney's iron boat, the large
shot proof iron vessel builping at the Morgan
| Iron Works, and the Roanoke. with her
heavy deck and side armor. thirteen iron.
clad vessels will be added TO those already
ahoat. without counting tho iron clads on the
western waters. Europe will view with as
constituent this prodgious display of energy
aud mechanical rcsources-Neic York Her
| aid