The New York herald., 1862-01-04

4
recev, the OF each engine has been forged sea
ratey ON The others, taey coupled rgidy stner
hfy three feet In length, with eight Lea inss. Each d
these bearings are arranged that h may be turned -
pivot, both In horizontal and vertical direction,
which would be very uscfl quality If there were but
two bearings then the OF each could always point
towards tn other matter in what dire the cramp
ing Of the ship would them But ii is clear that
where there are more than two each bearing must
main in fixed position, cr their axis viii not 10 In
straight line BIT hese bearings exteroed great
length Of the ssel. would, when the m power of the
engies upon thein derart tally from the
straight line which perhaps existed when in state ri
rest and the would be that the journals Of the
shafts would DO cTanied IN their bear IS to an extent
that would them to hai beyond the of water
TO keep them COOL when running at higher speed than
To- ty revolutions 20. minute.
There would be- little difficulty however, In over
coming this defect ~ substituting movable for the rigid
plir Ks the Iank- -shsfs OF each separate
gne With this modification there would be difficulty,
Tar the machinery concerned in running them
eighty Der minute The power ef 6C0 horses
would, therefore, be mu.tip led a f. IS:
The effective pressure per =. are inch upon the
piston, when carrying fifty poundsof am IA the boilers,
when carrying twenty-five pounds in the boilers, this
would be twenty nine pounds. which would therefore
give SO eoOox--5 800 horses power Even this allow
gives the boilers credit for the
Of producing one horse power for every and oneourt
square feet # fire surface.
If, therefore. $500 horses power would produce
speed Of twenty mss go sa hour that OF horses
power would give V2Ox--=l7 miles, nearly.
With regard to having allowed in this modification Of
the power Increased number Of revolutions with
essened pressure it be to state that the pro-
peers have not yet been designed and will only be
necessary give less pitch them than would have
been required with the greater pressure.
INABILITY TO FIRE IN LINE WITH THE KEEL.
One of the important features claimed for this vessel
s That each OF her guns may sweep the horizon without
changing the direction OF the ship that she would ad
vance upon the foe with her unrvaed speed firing her
enormous guns in direct line with her keel as she ap
preached Similarly that II chased by superior force,
she could retire rapidly at the same time hat nearly her
whole armament sending back it's destructive shot
and shell.
The armament, considered by itself is certainly well
arranged firing several guns in line with the keel as
membered that, forward Of the guns, forming the
nS CHARTERS .9r ns osps is light wooden
deck made Of inch planking, supported By wooden
beams five inches square, placed two feet apart Every
artlerst knows what would become OF this dock upon
firing the first 40 b. shell distance OF 120 feet
Il would be dimolished, and would The same deck
where it extends over the inclined armor, when the
guns were fred en- broadside. But here it would not be
CT much importance; the deck and The Light sides
which support it could be dispensed with and might well
left in the construction Of the vessel but the dock
forward and necessities and would b3 destroyed
by prudent commander only when driven to the last
broadside tho enemy, exl osiDg to his fire tho full
length Of each gun every time 1t was placed in position
for loading.
IN conclusion, beg leave TO express our highest ap
prccon Of the objects Mr. Stevens has apparently had
In Wow when planning this vesse.-the most powerful
battery the highcs: speed aud the st thorough pre-
lection any vessel yet producedand reg ct that
the plans Of the vess as presented to us would not In
opinion, accomplish fully and completely the ends
proposed We look with the deepest interest every
addition the ec:ency Of navy Of whatever cAarac
and gladly hail every improvement nace TO any de
parmcnt Of it; but at the time cannot recon-
mend The expenditure Of important OF money upon
projects OF than doubtful success when put into
practical execution, and therefore, do not dcem it
epeent complete this vcsselupcn the plans proposed
All OF which is submitted by, very respectfully, your
s.. H. sTRiNGHAM, President Of the Board.
wM lNMAN, Commander.
ALBAN C. SIIMEE.s, Chief Engineer U. S. N.
Hon. GIDEON WEIEs, Secretary OF tho Navy, Wash-
ngtcn, u. G.
Attached to tho foregoing Ia the
REPORT OF Prof. HENRY.
readily concur with the other members Of the Board
OF Commissioners In the statement given the foregoing
report to the condition o; the vessel as now s and
in reference general account Of the plan proposed
by StevcIs for finishing it, well as in tho state
men given TO the amount OF money and length Of time
which would be required TO complete the vessel in
cordance with the plans proposed also highly appre
the objects intended by M Stevens and the lauda
bic endeavors which ne mas exhibited to improve the de-
rtncs OF harbors. But cannot, with my present
know edge in the decided opion expressed by
the ether anih"rs Of the Board in regard 10 the expe
d!e.cy ii .ni-' ,g the vessel
II riv adeTst and the design Of Mr. Stevens it is
:.c operations Of the battery to inner har
bo a. hat employ it in outer harbors, and espe
c,aly in the waters Immediately beyond and therefore
the important problem be solved s whether the vessel
can be finished conformity with tho general plan pro-
posed so as to withstand the Of the which
tho may thus be subjected. All the material objections
which been brought against the plans q Mr. Stevens
ere, in my opinion, merged In this question; and
from Due consideration Of all the facts which have thus
far been presented me. mol convinced that il
not be solved the contrary, IL appears to me that,
although tho vessel may not be convenient safe ship
for long voyages she might be mado Of sufficient strength
to Withstand the exposure to which she would be cub
ected AID to efficiently perform the scrN ice required
I will furnish the this
opinion soIne future time. Respectfully submitted.
JOSEPH HENRY.