The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-07-30
The Light Draft Monitors.

To the Editors Of the boston Daily Advertiser
Gentlemen Having seen an article copied
into some of our Boston papers from New
York journal, to the effect that there had been
some disagreement between the contractors of
the new light draft monitors and the Navy De-
partment, | deem it duty to all concerned
TO state the facts for the information of the pub
lie.
attended all the meetings of the contractor.
recently held in New York, and can say that the
utmost harmony prevailed. We were fairly met
by the officers appointed by the government, on
all questions. In relation TO the payments for
back work, and future improvements, there was
no disposition manifested to deprive Us of a sin :
gle dollar; on the contrary, we have reason TO
believe that all our payments will be promptly
approved, as those already earned according to
the terms of the contract have been.
In relation to the monitors, the Department
has delegated Capt Ericsson to make such i'm
proyements in them will render them availa-
bic for coast and barber defence, and when we
consider their light draft, for these purposes
they will be very efficient against any foreign
force. 1t is well known that all the foreign
iron-clads are very deep and would not therefore
approach our monitors, which could be moored
iii shallow water, or kept under steam as cir
cumstances might require. The superiority of
their artillery has been tested in the contest be-
tween the "Kearsarge" and the alabama. :"
As they are in various stages of advancement,
some of them not nearly completed, theexpense
OF the contemplated improvements will not be
so great as the public has been led to suppose.
Capt. Ericsson, who with others has the matter
In charge, is well known to the scientific world
and does not therefore require my endorsement;
but this much may say, that his construction
of the first monitor saved the nation from a
great humiliation. | have examined the ''Die-
tator" and Puritan which he has designed
and superinjended, and consider that in mate
rial, workmanship and invulnerahility they ex-
Gel anything which have seen in England or
france.
| am well aware that the public has been quite
restless in relation to the movements of the
Navy Debartment. on account of the depreda-
tons of the " Alabama, - :" Florida, /" and
9 Georgia.; but if the facts were generally
known they would show that the power of these
vessels has teen greatly exaggerated In aletter
to Senator Grimes, which you published some
time since, boldly asserted that the alabama"
was inferior in speed and fighting qualities to
our sloops of war, the truth of which was clearly
demonstrated in the recent glorious naval COM
bat.
The difficulty has not been want of vessels
of the right class to destroy these British royers
but to obtain sight of them. 1t rs my deliberate
opinion that almost any of our sloops could
overhaul the Florida in a twelve hours run,
and bring her TO action. The accounts of her
great speed. from the size of the vessel, and her
well known motive power, are entirely incorrect.
do not believe she can be driven more than
twelve knots an hour under steam alone for
more than two or three hours at a time. If the
public will only exercise little patience, they
will find that the Navy Department has not neg
lected its duty in this hour ofour national strug-
gle, and that in the designs of even the light
draft monitors it has acted with more skill than
many have believed. These vessels we're bold
experiment, an innovation upon all previous
notions of iron-clads. and could not be expected
to be wholly perfect at first, but am confident
that without changes from the first design, they
would be most valuable for home defence. To
make them available for action in Southern wa
tiers, in all weather, the proposed improvement
is necessary.
In addition | wonld earnestly recommend the
construction of a number OF sea-going wooded
ships, heavily iron-clad, with high speed, from
"a to 80 guns-and thus secure the respect of all
the other nations of the world and the best guar
antee Of impartial neutrality.
DONALD MCKAY.