The New York herald., 1863-08-31
Thirteen Hundred Tons or ArM0r
Plating 10 be Pat On.
A Floating Fort and Ram
Combined.
THE NAVAL WONDER OF THE AGE,
Ee.s kess &os
THE INCEPTION.

shortly AFTER tho demand Tor ron-c,ad vessels became
so pressing the Navy Department requested several
Of skiltu shiphuilders forward TO Washing
plans and specifications OF vessels they would agree
10 build \ large number prepared and forwarded
brt the committee appointed by tho Department did not
IN any Of ttom sufficient merit 10 warrant them TO
build vessels from thor plaus. II true some few of our
Inosl prominent builders did any models,
any oilers. Among this number Mr.. Webb. e
had bis hands two rrigates for the Italian government
which we're be on-clad besides nc had large
tracts with mercantile lrms that he did not to
his time talents by sending To the Department
any plans which in the course OF events they
then Transporting mgh be rejected. Mr. wees, however,
determined that Mr. Webb should show his skin in the
matter OF oudngan ncat ram for either harbor de
fence for scrvice he wrote TO Mr. Webb to
pare plans and model of vesserwhic shoad the
requirements Of the naval service
OF course Mr. Webb compelled Ia n measure 10 !
coe the Of the Secretary OF the Navy and sot
to work preparing rough model Of the Tam. It
sent TO Washington, the committee IL, said it
pretty good vessel OF its kind but wouldn't do.
hut Mr. welies sadit Just tho thing that want
ed, and accordingly Mr. Webb was ordered to build
vessel after hts model.
THE MAGNITUDE or THE VESSEL.
The rosa!t is that tho enNmous bulk Of wood which
foot OF Sixth street IL the Development
or tho model which formed from the drawing, fur.
niSlvc By Mr.. Nepo quietly mas the WORK
Ml feet Of timber have been consumed and 10 day
the vessel has assumed tangible form, and s viewes
with wonder and admiration by all who have visited her.
Her outward appearance does not show by any meaus
tho immense quantity of timber that has used in
construction Her Sides dock aud floor solid oak,
saea,hsd with pino which, in tho wake of the plat
isg, IS 10 form cushion for tho armor plating,
DIMENSIONS.
To give our readers somo the magnitude OF this
vessel we give her dimensions
Feet.
strcmo length. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 37s
Extreme breadth oS
Wnn'o dopih ................ ~
The whole upper surface 10 be iron plated 70 SIX feet
below the line. Above the dock she has largo
cseate TO tea heavy guns, aad above these are
to DO placed two revolving turrets.
rus RAM.
To form her enormous ram tile bow OF the vessel Ii
solid wood running b, Agty feet. This Of course,
10 he plated with Tie aes, quality or iron.
The sacs Of the vessel, before tho plating Is put on
feet In thckncss and that solid oak wood
She viii have two rudders, which are protected BY the
+ peculiar construction Of the overhanging stern.
THE RHGINEs.
Her engines viii be Thousand horse power 80 tba.
extraor binary speed be get up on her.
rHE HULL.
To give stability 10 tho hull all times and especially
tho time OF impact when ramning vessel she Ia pro-
yided with and four sister k,esons. which
length Of the vessel and meet at either end
These OF solid oak and look f they might bid do
fauce any shock she ever may receive Tho entire
frame OF the vessel is diagonaIy strapped with iron,
which gives her great strength.
AT some distance tho side OF the vessel nboard is
ceng skin which furnishes large number Of store
rooms and tho time makes . water tight com
partneut the whole length Of tho vessel.
THE DECKS.
She basthree decks counting the bombproof deck OF
tne caserna,e, she four ,ecker. Tho lower docks
OF the thickness ss ordinary vessels but the
rascsatc deck Is much heavier, whis the bombproof
the casema,e Is twenty inches thick OF
wood. with two inches of plating 10 cover 1t.
THE oAsEMArE.
The hundred aud sixty foct long In tho
clear, and extends tho cntsc breadth Of the vessel
lts sides soppg and three feet in thickness
Ths fort upon deck pierced for ten heavy
guusthree each proadsdc aud two at each end Sur
mounting this be two turre,s twenty-four feet
informal diameter and a'teen inches Ia thickness
THE ARMon rLArSa.
lte subject OF armor plating has for time irto
rc,tci the scientific Of this countyas well as tbose
o. EUROPE Hundreds o: Thousands OF dollars have been
expended iu experiments, and large number Of lives
ins, by accidents wneR have resulted Al those trials
white manufacturers ofsfmcr plates have studied TO pcr
their poroa Of this great change In the cadng OF
vessels artileris have been at work bringing out ord
proectcs pierce the plates and the pre-
timo IS disputed question To which party has
the ai,aatlse
ia tho plating Of the Dinderbsrg Mr.. Webb rs deter.
mrr thst she shall rank No add Ire has boon very
prfi cular selecting the quality OF iron 10 be used.
justice say that his plating s Of the very best
KIND IN this cuun,ry having the best qualifications
resisting the oasct OF proectcs. samples OF the
Plates wcrc cs'cd :, tho ordnance yard a, Washington
e,d grlcr tho supervision Of Admiral Dahgrcn They
tested wih guns u different calbre, and under
variety o. circumstances and those selected by Mr wcbo
equal superior, tho bee, plates OF the cele
ora,aa Frcach soycrnment manufactures.
wEIGar or TaE ARNoR.
fp giyc readers del OF the weight OF the iron
work 4 ths ship would state that her armor
ps,iag alone will weigh nino hundred tons, while
hss turres, polhoes, &c, will weigh three hun.
dred tons 20 taa, At rough estimate the weight Of
armor sbe Win carry vii not be las thpteen hun
drei tons.
THICKNESS or rms. CAsEMArE.
Rcorc procssilng /, give the dcnsions or the plating
is sadvsab!e 10 state that the large cacma,o tumble
tn"or inc ines uwsrd, az anglo OF ueary forty avC
dsyrces 81 That u Is no. necessary 70 have the Iron 81
thick ~ many would suppose Tho wood backing which
makes cushion lor the arnor plates. is mncn thicker
than Las eve. bscn used be,ors Il paiei vessel
thlt ia no event or tho angular sides u this casenae
being struck end the iron penetrated there u an eoor.
mons quau,yos cak and pine wood yet remaining g b
pierced
IRIS tRwoa rLArg MAwEgs.
Tie iron from lhs peunsyiyanla iron muei, and i
Il rnu'ecotct ~ syrsrt wsllalui j. Coz al tae Roadirs
rorge at Retog " Th,so wo-ks iAuk ast chss .
thls country, ani ato otlctsvey caagsd ir htns
rnvcrursn' otf5rs y ,te present time IN aii
tlon v tho manufacture q armor plates theY
40 mtous % aNai portion og tao asw thirteen. inch
Eans. Wh.ch d2ubueia Vl tsa bo p.,cs q tas aAees
inch Ihey haye already turned oa. a 1ast nanber al
tae ulao ead elesen ach pag,n gial, Ths.r sroaaa.
are vory eUerste eoyorias soYcta a1o AID 10 sappi,
the a.dsncy 3. 1r Glars fosgaaa 10 MI, couu,ry lhsy
b.ye AZ agsnt y Great Britain wAa CnEagss yofxnen