The New York herald., 1863-12-10

and force or attack aud thus the prooer
armament OF the present day consisting Of ordnance OF
calbre roach and power heretofore regarded as
s,be. has become novel ana as tho now
naval structures and deences which Is Intended
sail These successive changes, Introducing into nsva
vessels powerful machinery TO insure speed arma-
ture for its protection and heavy ordnance assault
have led TO necessary constant increase tho size Of
ships, until the attainment OF sufficient Dimensions
for frst rate man-o war steamer properly armored
and with suitable armament aud room for supplies
qures proportions which al first seem enor nous
Yet without such greatly augmented size the
OF nvulnersbiy speed. heavy armament and space for
the necessary supplies OF cruising operations. cannot all
be secured
the responsible task OF applying to naval vessels aud
naval armament the principles which modern inventon
Improvement have developed the depar tment has
been compelled to pursue path hherto. to grev
tent, unexpored The Monitor class OF armored ships
has proved itself to be well adapted for harb0r defence
and coast service and some these vessels
from their great powers Of enrance have shown them
selves be efficient aud serviceable Offensive opera
tons This form and description OF vessel winch
Ericsson will perform not Only all that should
be expected or them to make our harbors secure
but when OF enlarged capacity may supersede ships OF
higher pretensons To maintain our righful maritime
position and for predomnance upon the ocean Vessels
creator size than any turretei vessel yet completed may
be essential Not only must they carry guns Of heavier
calibre than have heretofore been used at sea-
order to make long cruises aud to cope successfully with
force these vessels must have all possible
endurance and speed. Their structure must therefore
afford space enough for full sailing power and for the
most powerful steam machinery, and the large supplies
OF fuel needful keep 1t at work. Being, unlike the
other great maritime nations without distant colonies
depots can be on tho shore
overy sea, must conform to the necessities o our
condition. and build ships with capay enough to take on
board fuel sufficient for long cruise. The space for
other supplies for munitions OF war, the accom-
mediation of officers aud crews should also be ample and
in addition to this each OF these vessels must in order 70
accomplish its work, present in its construction armor
armament and propulsion, all the power that the re.
OF modern invention and mechanical science aud
art can furnish for attack. resistance and pursuit.
vessel OF this description must, of course cost large
price. But then wise state5nanship will not fail to
perceive that the possession OF even very few
such unconQUerabe ships must, while vastly aug.
mentng the force aud renown Of our navy, af.
ford us, at the me, nestimable guarantee OF
peace with foreign nations nor n counting the OF
such floating structures, forget that large as that
cost may be, yet sinks into nsignifcance
with the expenditures aud sacrifices OF single year or
even a month Of foreign
In order that we may have at our command a navy
which snail fulfil these unexampisd and exacting cond
tioD3 OF efficiency commensurate public establishment
for its construction and preparation is Indispensable
Eavy yard on large SCALE and, many respects, Of
plan, amply furnished with all the proper facilities
and aids for its operations where machinery
be manufactured. iron vessels constructed
mature made aud tested aud repairs OF every description
executed, Is an absolute necessity 10 view OF these
facts, l had the honor, on successive occasions,
to urge this matter upon the attention OF tho
TO take the preliminary towards the pro
curemcnt and formation OF such an establishment is
misfortune which the country is now made to feel
The nature OF the service to which naval vessels
have been subjected by long and continuous blockade
their exposure during all welhers and seasons the ne.
cessty OF keeping them under constant steam their
fires banked ready for any emergency have pot them TO
severe tests or course all vessels must at times be
withdrawn for repair and reftment, and steamers
subject to such hard usage must often be serious
ly damaged. Weeks aud sometimes months have
been required for the renovation restoration OF
their engines and machinery Such delay has been still
further prOtracted by the inability OF public yards
and shops 10 execute the work. AMI the department. do
pending in great degree private industry, has been
10 constant struggle to despatch tho sent
for repairs. The imtei facilities for manufacturing
repairing steam machinery al the pubic navy yards
render them totally inadequate to mOety OF the
demands made upon them kvon with the aid OF private
establishments, inconsderable portion OF naval
force is waiting. unemployed, and detained from active
service. TO the injury OF the country. As
stance OF the delay attending the repair OF our
ships aad the iasuhciency OF our public works
to meet our wants il may be mentioned that
the steam irisate Niagara, ordered to BOSTON for re-
aud rement detained fourteen months for its
compieton. again. therefore, most earnestly invoke
the attention OF Congress to the manifest and nauspcious
fact that has made sufficient provision
IL ts public establishments for the existing requirements
OF naval warfare. So long shs-of to be
built OF wood and propelled by sails, facilities for
their construction were ample and complete At former
periods the government IN OF its then present and
prospective wants for naval purposes incurred largo
establishing dockyards and othorwi providing
for the service but detences and ament vessels
strucsre, require new backwards and workshops; tho
i0ttoduction OF steam, the submerged propeller,
hs iron the S sp % e., FOR a
erentj materials and workmanship. Our country
other maritime nation, for we have but fow sailing
sels the large Glass; and these fow TO which
not bo applied may be used to advantage or other than
Gght ing purposes One Of themthe vcrmont-has boon
fitted aud used storeship and the New Hampshire,
formerly the Alabama, ship ofthe line, is beng pre-
pared for "A similar purpose They each available aud
useful for this object and adapted 10 1t in every respect
aud bc made capable OF deIence against attack. But
for cruising aud the objects held view their con
structOn these magnificent specimens Of the old naval
architecture and OF the skill Of mechanics although
day they elevated the naval dignity and attested the
power the republic have become comparatively
useless.
the strength and Durability OF vessels in
49,
auently they capable Of sustaining the heaviest
armament aud when they plated with iron the dis
parity increased Consequently large ships ofwlr by
which maritime supremacy 70 to De achieved and man.
taDed will, all probability, BE- Ultimately constructed
chiefly Of iron The comparative Advantages aud dsad-
vantages OF iron aud wool to used In
the construction OF vessels obvious aud practical.
Among tho considerations IN avor OF ronclad vessels
with hus OF wood are the rapdity with which they
be but the abundance OF mater al whole coast,
aui the facility with which workmen b. pro.
cured. Such vessels, T, can bc cippcred,
and thereby retau their sjssf for , longer period
they will be less affected by "A shot below the
ture or plating, and the frae,g made by shot
more easily mendci The Disadvantages of wooden vc3.
sells want OF strength compared with those
srnc,rra ana rho more r,ni drcv of Tho nstern mar
tc1ariy when covered with iron pitilg the acton OF
the immersed iron armor on the c)ppe sheaibing Il,
causing tho copper become foul anj tho immersed
plates waste tho diicuy of keeping the vessels
tight the armor plates, and tho probably greater
damage to which they ara exposed from shells
On tho Other nand, the greater strength OF iron
permits the construction OF ships Of greater size and ner
ncs and having greater internal capacity they be
time inspected IN all thsT parts, are salo from
hre better protected from great leaks they
can watcr,sht compartments their repairs eau
generally be more easily made, and from their great
durability, they arc probably IN the end costly.
An iron vessel, moreover, be taken from the
aud placed land for preservation, which caunot 10
douo with wooden vessels The disadvantages OF iron
vessels the serious oca! weakness OF the thn plates
composing the bottom OF iron ship; the danger that
would result from getting rocss or submerged OBJ
structous their liability to rapidly become
watcr whereby their speed becomes gre,tiy impaired
thus requiring to be frequently docked Tor cleaning
great danger from shot striking below plating
a. they roll. the injury caused by the splinter
iron when the plates brokea smashed BY shot
tho corrosion inside from Bulge water. tho difficulty
making temporary repairs OF shot holes aud tho limited
number yet TO be procured having skill this
description OF employment Il should also be borne 10
mind that, while have several navy yards for build
ing wooden vessels, the government possesses
ge yard aud establishment foe constructing th rou
nor oven Tor making plates sn1 shaftias.
While the principal attention VI the department
has, 10 ths crisis of affairs, been neces.
ssriiy given to present AMI moro pressing neces.
| sites, n has, ncverthe.css, kept Ia view the
important end VI establishing naval power on a
permanent basis Proposals issued for IRON clad
ship OF the largest cass (under the authority contained
In the appropriation bil!s), but the cost as shown