Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-12-03
A POWERFUL IRON-CLAD.

The new ironclad Dictator constructed at the Dele
mater Iron Works, New York, prepared for launch
ing on Saturday last but, after the props Knocked
away the immense weight Of the ship and the Indifferent
quality Of the ubcating taow kept her the ways ua
the tide had ebbed when deemed prudent to post
pone the LAUNCH to another day
The Dictator is built upon the general principle Of the
first MENTOR but different from that class Of vessels in
many important points The annexed description Of this
powerful vessel Willie Of general interest
The extreme length Of the Dictator ALL is there
hundred and fourteen feet its aft overriding beiag thirty
one aud forward overriding thirteen feet leaving two hun
dred and sixty feet between perpendiculars extreme
breadth fifty feet and depth twenty two and half feet
The hull in sides aud frame is constructed OF iron the
water lines easy and the model good.
The armor shelf extends outside Of the hull four feet
each side and is prodgiousy strong An idea of its m
penetabe character may be derived from the fact that the
outside covered with Fix inch plates Of iron fastened
in the most substantial manner, and inside OF this
three feet Of oak timber and lining formed Of
halfnch bars, extending all around The
shelf therefore, consists Of ten andaqusrter inches thick
ness o aud feet of timber and between the metal
aud timber s inserted thick layer Of fetng No gun
yet fabricated project shot that will pierce this
arm0r jacket.
The plate o. the Dictator is Of one-inch pate the
side plates seveneghths OF nch and the frame OF dou
ble-angle iron, six by four inches
The interior divided several water tight part
by plate bukheads and the space forward Of the
third bukhad below will be used for coal bunker through
the middle Of which will be railway to carry the fuel to
the boilers
The deck beams OF kyanized oak and all the mate
rails employed in the construction Of this great ship
appear To- be OF the best quality.
Two engines, each having cylinder Of one hundred
inches in diameter ard four feet stroke will be employed
to drive the screw which lie fourblsded twenty-five and
half feet ia diameter, and OF hiryfour feet pitch.
Steam, which IL the ug force will be supplied from
six large bers capable of furnishing Eve Thousand horse
power the engines and it is reasonably expected that
the Dictator will have high speed.
The boilers have fitysx furnaces, and aggregate
crate surface OF thousand hundred feet Allowing
twelve pounds Of coal per square foot Of CRATE surface
vessel will qure at the least hundred aud
tons OF coal per day of twenty hours steamng
full speed What piston speed will be obtained from the
engines remains TO be
As the vessel s furnished with strong bow, it's speed,
strength, and will render it most efficient marine
Ii is to be provided with revolving turret for
carrying two Of the most formidable guns with which it
be furnished; and it will be impenetrabe to shot
Of the most powerful guns the solid rock OF Gibraltar.
The inside diameter Of the turfet is twenty tour feet in
the clear; turret directly enclosing this will BE- formed
Of six thcknesses Of inch plate rveed tcgetner and
over and outside OF this will be another turre forming
sleeve consisting Of thcknesses OF inch plate rveted
together and between these two circular Shields solid
fastened securely the whole forming great revolving
iron tower eighteen inches in thickness twenty feet
in diameter and weighing about two hundred tons
The design Of the Dictator the bestowed upon its
construction, and the excellent workmanship DISPLAYED
upon every part Of the hull and machinery will render
this vessel credit and powerful defence TO our country
Every effort il being made to advance the Flushing strokes
rapidly possible and the vessel will soon be- reported
to the Navy Department ready for service.