The Portland daily press., 1862-06-26
From the New York World.
Our Future Naval Power.


: We stated the other tay that the Navy De-
partment had contracted with the shipbuilders
and iron manufacturers of the country for the
construction Of sufficient number ofiron-clad
vessels, to be completed by autumn. to render
the United States one of the strongest naval
powers on earth. The invention of the Moni-
tor and the conflict at Hampton Roads marked
an era in the naval history Of this government.
The service of the Monitor to the country will
have been sufficient if it ends with having ac-
complished the great result of leading the ma
tion to understand the necessity ofa more n,,-
merous and powerful navy, and with teaching
us the lesson of the superiority of iron over
wood as material of building in every jmport-
ant requisite of attack or defense. The people
cannot complain now of any inactivity in the
Navy Department in the matter of building a
navy. Ii is not generally realized. nerhaps
although the facts have been casually publish
ed here and there for the last two or three
months, what vast preparations are going ON
in our midst in this direction. II Is n fact that
almost every large available establshment in
the country for the construction Of iron-clad
vessels Is now being worked night and dav
with the greatest activity. We give below =
definite description oftwelve such vessels that
are now building. in addition to the Mon;tor
Galena. and Naneatuck. number of them
will be ready by the first of August. and thew
win ali he comnlefed duy;ng tho a,,t,,,,,,
Some Of them will he Of ! moro G,rm;dahla
charsefer than a,,v now aflo,t IN e;,har ta,,,;s
phere. We shall be nv autumn the mos, now
iii naiiou on the plobe in the matter Of m ron
clad navy. The whole magnifcent resources sn eos
of our country In The tu;Id;no ~ s,,,h ,sas,si
have been called into ,,se rha nea.rs,,,s,,s
has spoken the word. and an armor-cIad nayv
has been evoked with a rapidity that would he
impossible 70 any other country, and that is
coveynment n this ;smaye,nen.M.s;Ja DEM a,an, " a,,e
from the paramount necessity, now SO keenly
is. 70 be provided with the means ' Of main
tanning rs authority in southern waters when
tne armies oi the rebellion shall be dispersed
anu wneh tnere Is no Iurtner need OF any large
iana iorces. Inc South Is vulnerable In all
paris OF ner terfitory 10 the approach OF gun
poats, ana, with every important point COM
nanaeo .ie anu every avenue oiapproach andpen-
et,auon guarded ana patroied by Union YES
cs. ses' .ne plan y carving on guerrilia war
ia,c - .''e swan,ps, "hcn = now reiied on as
. lase lusol', VIII " ausufu, anu ihpossioie OF
eSecu.ion; ror those impiacable secessionists
VINO, wr tne sake oi miseraDie principle,
"ouiu spenu 'neiI ii,eiinle IN mire ana marsh,
svpoul e',p H. co.lu m misn tneni = more appropriate
s.s ;alr ianus lnaI ne upon me sioes
vi 'ne ier,ihAine streams VIII Dud ana blossom
again under the OLD nag, and i matters little
NV 'org ~" uespT,a'e repels court tne so
Icy u alnsa'ois- ine avenues VI commerce,
.Ie sou,Scs vi Wealth. ana prosperity, the
.,u tnolougnlares oi communication win the out
slae woIla, VIII inevitaoIy, tnrougn Iederai do
q ooaicup IN, ~ ihs,iclpie mon iroi
s. INA. VIII icaI heitner tie naVies mat san
IN .Ie ocean outsiue, OF tne maicontents that
nurse vain hate among the interior marshes.
Here follows a list of the jron-clad vessels