The New York herald., 1862-03-11
the STEVENS IRON BATTERY.

sUs Ou6v6W0 uuOW OHu Subs
Mr. Stevens, Memorial 70 Congress-
Merits Unanimously Admitted by the
Board or Exam amfners-Hesults OF the Ex-
Disproving the objections OF the Ma
tOrtty.
The following abstract of elaborate paper thus
entitled, and presented TO Congress-
The Board lately appointed TO examine the Stevens bat
terry unanimously admit that the parts OF the vessel
above water and intended TO be shot proof nvune
rable that the speed will be knots nearly
twenty miles an hour, at the reduced steam pres
sure OF twenty ve pounds that the weight and efficiency
of broadside and also the capaby OF rapid
ing unprecedonted that all the guns can fire in any
diectOn that all the eight engines can be- managed by
two men; that the engine and other framing give the
tho general objects aimed at are highly important be-
sides which, various matters of detail are approved
After which the majority Of the Board base an opinion
upon certain objections which they enumerate that II is
not sxpedient to finish the vessel "on the plans pro-
posed and since they have described criticised the
other objections
The minority report of Professor Henry is entirely
favorable.
Since the objections of the majority were wholly of an
engineering character and tho only engineering experts
or the Board-irofessor Henry and Mr.. Stimers-were
enually divided in opinion upon them, and since the
wree sea officers of the Board acknowledged that they
there not experts these Subjects by asking that
naval constructor might be put the Board it follows
that there no majority report of experts against any
eature OF this vessel
The only objection Of the majority deemed material
Professor Henry is that the ship is not strong enough
go 10 sea- This objection is answered by the certificate
OF Messrs Harlan Holingsworth, of Wilmington, Della
waro, and Messrs. Neafe, Levy Co.. Of Philadelphia
who have built about twotnirds of the ships which
this country has produced that they have carefully ex-
ahmed the battery and lind it strong enough TO safely
stand any weather at sea- This opinion is endorsed by
the certificates Of Mr.. Erastus Y" Smith, of New York
constructing engineer Of several camshp lines OF Mr.
Mers Coryel Chief Engineer of the Morgan Iron Works
New York and Of other eminent engineers shpbuders
and shipowners. Again, an approved mathematical
parson the battery strong the iron
Australasian and Great Eastern Tho elements of the
strength Of the battery are then fully and clearly set
forth.
The objection that the light upper deck would be dc.
molished by firing over it, is refuted by the fact that
and fred over, in q public experiment, was not even
strained started pereeptbly, witnessed and ac-
knowcdged by two members Of tho Board.
Five days before the date Of their report Mr. Stevens
urged tho Board TO witness this and other Experiments
but they declined to wait and the fact and declared
that every arteres knew that the deck would be de-
molished.
The objection that tho sides of the vessel cannot carry
the armor and other weight s refuted by the fact
tihed by Mr. e. w. Smith before mentioned, that
tion Of the side of the vessel itself loose from the
adjacent parts unsupported by the bracng do
signed to be put in and loaded with above twice the
weight would have to carry, did not perccptbly yeld
The objection that the boilers can safely carry but
twenty-five pounds Of steam pressure is refuted by the
certificate Of the United States Supervising Inspector of
boilers who states that he proved them with sixtysx
and third pounds, which would entite them by law
The objection that the pumps for removing the water
used TO settle the vessel from the coal bunkers bge
would choke with fine coal and debris, is dsproved by
the certificates Of engineers who have employ the cen
rifugal pumps referred above six years for raising
sunken coal vessels and the certificates of other
engineers that these pumps used for wreckng pur
poses discharge shells, gravel &c., and often seventy
five per cent OF sand.
The objection that the vessel would sink il the shot
proof deck fore and aft the casemate flooded, is
answered the fact that the buoyancy of the shot proof
PARTS above water than balances the loss of buoy
ancy by flooding the deck and that the vessel would SET
tic but II inches Or by pumping equivalent amount
OF water out of the tanks, or by settling tho vessel lit
tie less in the first place all which is OPTIONAL the condi
ton OF things as specified in the report could
at all.
Tho objection that the engine couplings being rigid the
shafts would cramp and heat, answered by the state
ment of br. Z. w Smith and Of Mr.. Mers Corye (who
has built one hundred and twenty-five marine engines)
that the couplings are not rigid but sufficiently flexible
The two three other objections to matters OF detail
are comparatively unmportant aud are completely dis
proved
Mr. Stevens attributes the objections to misconceptions
the part Of the Board which he could havo removed
If the Board had expressed any doubts while he
before them Instead of which, they omitted witness
the costly experiments he had prepared to prove the
rectness Of his views
Mr. Stevens then answers an expression of the Board
which might be understood TO intimate that his plan Of
inclined armOr Is European invention. and covered by
English patents Of 1858 and 1852 by stating that no
perimOnted inclined armor during the War or 1872;
and he repubhshes letter from himself and brothers
board Of army and navy officers dated August 49, 1S4I
provements in modern vessels.
He then states that keeping these plans and results
for the benefit Of his country done at great
crifice CT personal considerations
Then follows the statement OF Col. Deafeld (now in
charge Of the defencss Of New York; presumed to
present the views OF military engineers generally that
the objects aimed at in this vessel highly important
and can be successfully accomplished.
The memorial concludes with the statements that the
government already has interest Of half million dol
lars in the battery; that its whole cost will be less than
half that Of the European iron clad vessels which,
cordng to the report OF the Board far inferior
protection speed and efficiency Of broadside; that the
time required TO build vessel Of equal dimensions and
power would be eighteen months two years,
while tho battery DO finished In about four
months that the smaller roncad vessels ordered,
however valuable for special purposes cannot com
pete with such fast and heavy vessels the Warrior,
keep them out OF harbors that all the great fea
lures Of the battery generally approved and that
objections have been raised that can be maintained
In appendix there presented illustrations and
description the vessel uu statement of her lighting
quatcs and tire results Of elaborate experiments
noted by Mr. Stevens and by Mr.. A. W. Craven, Chief
Engineer, croon Aqueduct Department, on firing the
heaviest ordnance at target snting the of
the battery the rapid loading Of heavy guns by
and stopping their reco by india rubber, and on set
Ting vessel into the water for better protection, and
rapidly turning her her centre by two propc
lers
The appendix concludes with the majority and minori-
ty reports OF the Board OF Examiners.