Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1862-08-07
Our New Iron Clad Navy.

A number Of our available engineering
establishments are engaged at present in
constructing iron clad steamers of various
kinds. Contracts have been made by the
Navy Department with Capt. Ericsson for
building severa on the general plan Of the
Monitor. and some Of these are now being
pushed rapidly forward. Five are being
constructed at Greenpoint. l.. l., where
q force of nine hundred men are employed
upon them by Mr.. Rowland. One is be-
ing built in Jersey City by Mr.. Colwell:
two by Messrs. Reany. Son Archbold.
Chester, Pa; one at Wilmington, Del,
and two in Boston. They will range in
Dimensions from two hundred To over three
hundred feet in length with proportion
ate breadth of beam. All will be furnish
ed with revolving turrets of greater thick
ness than that of the Monitor. and most of
them are to be armed with l5-incb guns.
AS the general form and construction of
these vessels is well known. wo need not
occupy space with further description of
them than to state, that they are partially
designed for sea service as well as harbor
defense. by having hullS and engines adapt.
We understand they arc also to be i'm
proved in their ventilating arrangements.
by taking the fresh air down through the
turret, then passing it between decks and
ont at the stern. Two of these building at
Greenport will have two turrets each. the
others only one. Mr.. +. II. Powland built
the first Monitor. and has acquired great
practical skill in the construction of such
vessels. His yard at the present moment
is like great human apiary--full ofactive
and industrious energy. He is also build
ing the turrets for the two vessels that are
being CONSTRUCTED at Chester, Pa.
Another turret war vessel of peculiar de-
sign is being built by j. Underhill. at the
yard foot of East Thirteenth street, this
city. Its skeleton. which is composed of
great ribs Of angle iron. is now put togeth-
er, some of the bottom and side plates are
on. and a huge ram is provided for the
lower part of the bow. This vessel at
present somewhat resembles in form the
skeleton Of huge whale. From the water
line to the deck the form is like that Of
a long cigar, the curved sides being design
ed for DETECTING shot. It's extreme length
will be 1861 feet; breadth 36t feet; depth
of hold l3 feet. 1t will. be provided with
two revolving turrets and two powerful en-.
gines. and be driven by a screw. AS tits
expected to draw but eight feet Of water.
it will perhaps be very fast and make an
efficient ram. The outside plating will be
of Inch iron; inside of the RIBS there is to
be course Of s-incb plates. then backing
of several inches of wood. and inside Of all
skin Of inch plates. Quite number
of operatives are now engaged on this iron
vessel. and II is expected to be finished as
early as some of the new Monitors. When
the frigate Lronsides at New York, and all
of the Monitor class. we shall have feet
of fifteen iron clad war vessels independ-
emily of the Goiena and large number OF
iron plated river steamers. Still. with
this large number of iron-plated war vss-
sells. which are expected to be completed
by the month of November next. we must
not overlook the fact that there is only
one of them designed for Grst-class sea
vessel. They will make good coast and
barbpr-defcnce gunboats.- Scientific Ameri-
r0r