Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-03-29

The senate. Yesterday passed the bill APP
propriatine money 10 complete the Stevens
battery, and also appropriating SIS 100000
for the building of iron-clad war vessels. SIM
liar aupropratons had previously been voted
down in that body, and their success now may
be set down as victory of Ericsson'a Mont
tor. Before the Monitors battle with the
Merrimac, there was no hope that the senate
would vote much money for iron.clad yes
sells But few days previous to that affair,
an appropriation for such vessels had
been voted down by the senators, chief
" through the influence of senator Hale
of New Hampshire. He and certain ma.
val officers have constantly opposed the If
forts of the secretary of the navy to have such
vessels constructed, and their opposition
would still be active and successful il the Mon.
itor had not compelled them TO silence if not
acquiescence.
Whether the Stevens battery will be equal
to such vessels as Ericsson will construct.
remains TO be shown It is far more expen
sive and ought TO be more effective, but
whether il will be so can not be known until
it is finished and fairly tested. The construct
ors promise for it great speed as well as great
power. 1t ought to have been finished long
ago Mr.. Stevens began to build it in 1S43.
He agreed with the government to complete
it in two years, Tor S5S6,7l7 In 1874 the
time was extended two years more but all
these years passed and left it still unfinished.
In September, 1S4S, Mr.. Stevens induced
the government TO give him another extension
of time, and he agreed to complete her by
November, 1852. On this condition the gov
eminent paid him more money, till he has
received in all half a million of dollars. 1t is
now 1852, ten years after the time he last set
to complete the ship, and he asks congress for
seven hundred thousand dollars more, this
sum being needed to make it ready for service
The money has been appropriated, but the
senate very properly stipulates that no part of
it shall be paid until the vessel is finished and
put in successful operation. The Stevenses
are worth millions, and they can well afford to
finish it before it is paid tor.
1t has been stated that six more Ericsson
batteries have been ordered by the navy de
partment, to be larger than the Monitor anC
capable Of more speed. We shall soon llav
navy equal TO any in the world. Woode
war vessels will hereafter become of little o
no account in naval warfare. The little Nor
itor could annihilate a whole fleet of them i
very short time, and should Great Brit
ain attempt TO blockade our ports 0
to attack our cities with the whole q
that great wooden navy on which sh
has heretofore depended for supremac
on the ocean, a small feet of such terrible Ell
gines of destruction as we are now to have
could easily sink and destroy it ALL TIL
old navies OF the world are no longer equal +
the business required of them. Hencefortl
the ocean will be ruled by such "iron cIa
monsters" as we are about to construct In
NATION that has most of them, and devotes tn
best light of science and the most consummat
skill to their construction and armament, will
be sure OF naval supremacy. That nation vii
not be Great Britain.