New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-01-07
THE STEVENS PLATED BATTERY


70 our citizens than the means OF defense that can
be brought to bear sganst the powerful batteries,
winch may possibly at no distant time present them
selves in hostile array a. important points along
coast While the fixed forfcations are made mors
efficient than those which kept back the combined
fleets Of England and France at Cronsadt and Sevas-
topo the ucrea ed efficiency of guns and ships rem
ders additional precautions indispensable. The public
have. therefore received with no little oterest tho
uimors which have occasionally come to them ro-
speeding the progress Of the mysterious floating bat
terry. the construction Of which was commenced in
July 1886, By the late Mr.. Robert l.. Stevens, at
Hoboken, and continued by his brother, Mr. Edwin
A. Stevens under a contract msde in l8i9 with
the Navy Department, and Of which the
first published account appeared in the second
volume of the " New American Cycoppdia," under
the head of Battery from the pen of Capt George s.
Blake, u. s. N. superintendent Of the work.
Knowing the distinguished skill by which this battery
was planned, and its construction was prosecuted,
the public received with no little surprise and regret
the late announcement of the unfayorable decision
arrived at by the Naval Board appointed to examine
the ship respecting the expectancy of her compile
ton. The invitations recently given out by Mr..
Stevens to distinguished citizens, ocers Of the army
aud navy, and members Of the press to examine the
battery aud witness experiments illustrating some
points of its efficiency, were responded TO on Satur-
day. 18th inst by large company OF gentlemen.
among whom were Ex-Goy. King OF New-York, the
Hon. George Opdyke, Mayor, the Hon. Robert j.
Walker, Collector Hiram Barney, Generals Benham,
Sanford, Wright Of New-Jersey and Barry Of Gen.
McClelan's Staff, Conn., Stringham and Chief Epgi-
neer Sinners of the Naval Board, together with
many other officers of tue Navy, civil engineers, &C.
The prevailing impression among the New-York
gentlemen we found on the way to the ship was,
that nasmuch as so large asum had already been ex-
pended in is construction viz, 500 900 by tie Gov
eminent and s29S 900 by Mr. Stevens. and only
sbont A much more you'd be required to complete
her in four months time il certainly seemed desiri-
bic TO prosecute the work, even If with no other OBJ
ect than to give the experiment thorough test pro-
yded the most conclusive evidences were not pre-
sented Of tie inexpediency. AT noon the company
assembled upon the temporary deck of the snip,
which lay ulon the stocks in a deep dock at Hobo
ken. her bow running far up under the street, and
over which We had passed In her present condition
the vessel presents tue appearance OF IN open par
iiaycompleed shell Of plate iron, 42O feet long ana
i5 feet wide extremely long and sharp forward, and
with lines aft Of corresponding length. Tho
plates which form the sides are half an inch
thick, riyeted upon ribs Of asge iron, two ices
apart. The plates upon the bottom are IRON
fve-eights Of an inch 70 one inch thickness
The sides are carried up about q feet from the bot
TOM or 20 about the load water line, small portion
only being completed up to the full hight OF 81 fees
inches. upon which will stand the fly ing bulwarks.
Near the middle Of the ship the boilers and engines
already placed upon the bottom occupy length Of
about 1853 feet. Storage for coal, water-,anks,
novrder MAGAZINES, Sc, il provided in the spaces
fore and sft OF the machinery; and store-roons for
uroyisions shells &C.. together with large tanks ior
salt winter designed 10 be let in for partially sinking
the vessel ne to stand upon the deck over tie lower
store rooms. il feet above the bottom. Tie engines,
) in number. are raied at $500 hone power. when
worked AZ 80 ID pressure and AT - revolutions
per minute. thus fully eQuang the horse power Of
the Great Eastern. With this power It's estimated
That tue speed Of the vessel will be not less than 20
miles per hour. The engines are arranged, to each
propeller.slait. all working independently. The
nroreer shafts are 1876 feet long and TO connect
each with Us ow n propeller, on each side OF tho
rudder. The two screws afford facilities for working
the shin independently of the rudder. aud when
worked in contrary directions will turn the ship upon
her own center.
The novelty in the hull which first strikes every
observer IL the narrowDess amidships compared with
the extraordinary lenghi which at once raises tho
question, with every one acquainted with ships, S
TO her stability and strength. This, however,
by competent shiptui,ien, rs il Is disap
nroyed Of by the Naval Board, is not insuperable
difficulty in the way of her completion as her plan
may stili be altered by increasing her breadth OF
beam 70 any desired extent, and by the introduction
of any additional amount OF brscng and transverse
Her draft Of water might thus TO
somswh.t reduced, which, when tie ship IS iur-
n.hed with her armor plates her armament, and
stores. and brought down by The weight Of water
proposed 10 be introduced in time of action may Ia
aute equal to the capacity Of the channels IN which
she may be required 10 operate
Tie main deck, which stands 40 The hight oi Il
fee, nboye he bottom II il proposed TO render bomb
proof by layer Of pla,e-ircn half IN inch thick 10
bottom. o,erlad with wooden planhing inches
thick and this with plate-lron inch thlCA, except
IN. over che macner}, where !. Is 10 be Of ordinary
construction this par. Of the ship. according to he
design, being protected by the srmof Tins armor
+. il proposed 10 lay along each ride o. the ship an
extreme length Of i42 feet tho lower edge eommene-
Ing along line feet beyond the present side oi the
ship, and the upper line "A feet nboard' sanainsH'
HIGHT Of 7 feet above the deck, thus presen'iga
slope Of two horizontal to one vertical or an angie %
shau, 81 deg. with the horizon The fore lsd Ill
ends Of this space il is proposed TO complete WIN
I'll, s.ae,sa The arHor il 20 consist Of seven
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