The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1864-01-05
Launch ef the Dictator.

Launch ef tho Dictator.
1t will be recollected that the attemp
on the 2sth of November, to launch th
monster Iron Clad Dictator, was unsut
cessful. The effort was renewed on So,
urday week and with entire succc.s.-
The following description of this gres
war vessel, from the New York Post, vii
be OF interest at this time:
The Dictator, built upon the genera
principle of the FIRST monitor, il differsn
from that class of vessels in many impor
tant points. Some additional facts in ~
lation to this vessel will be of general 10
terest. The extreme length Of the Die
tator, over al, 10 three hundred and four
teen feet; its aft overhaDg being thirty
one feet, leaving two hundred and sixty
feet between perpendiculars; extreme
breadth Fifty and depth twenty two and
one-half feet. The hull, in sides and
frame, is constructed Of iron the water.
lines are easy and the model is good.
The armor shelf extends outside OF the
hull four feet on each side, and is prodi-
giously strong. An idea Of its impene-
trable character will be derived from the
following account of it's construction.
The outside is covered with six one. inch
plates of iron fastened in the most sub
stantial manner, and inside of this are
three feet of oak timber, and an armor
lining formed of 44 inch bars extending
all round. The armor shelf, therefore,
consists of l0& inches thickness of iron.
and three feet of timber, and between the
metal and timber is inserted thick laver
of felting. No gun yet fabricated can
project shot that will pierce this arnor.
jacket
The keel plate of the Dictator is Of one
inch plate; the side plates seven -eighths
OF an inch and the frame Of double angle
iron--six by four inches. The interior
Is divided into several water-tight COM
partments BY plate bulk heads. and the
space forward of the third bulk head be-
low, will be used for coal hunkers.
through the middle of which will be .
railway 10 carry the fuel to the boilers.
The deck beams are of kyanzed oak, and
all the materials employed in the con-
struction Of this great war ship appear to
be of the best quality.
Two engines, each having . cylinder
of one hundred inches in diameter and
four feet stroke, will be employed to
drive the screw, which is four-bladed.
twenty-five and half feet in diameter,
and Of thiny-four feet pitch. Steam,
which is the moving force, will be sup
piled from six large boilers capable Of
furnishing FIVE thousand horsepower to
the engines, and it is reasonably expected
that the Dictator will have high speed.
The boilers have 6fty-six furnaces, and
aggregate CRATE surface of one thousand
one hundred feet; allowing twelve pounds
OF coal per square foot Of CRATE surface,
the vessel will require at the least one
hundred and seventy-fve tons of coal per
day of twenty -four hours, steaming at full
speed. What piston speed viii! be OBJ
tanned from the engines remains to be
seen.
As the vessel is furnished with a strong
bow, It's speed, strength and mass will
render it most efficient marine ram. l.
is to be provided with one revolving tur-
ret for carrying two of the most formida
BILE guns with which it can be furnished
and it will be as impenetrable to sho. Of
the most powerful guns as the solid rocl
of Gibraltar.
The inside diameter of the turret il
twenty-four feet in the clear a turret
directly inclosing this, will be formed oi
six thicknesses of inch plate, riveted to
gether; and over and outside Of this will
b another turret, forming sleeve. con.
sisting Of seven thicknesses OF inch plates
riveted together, and between these two
circular shields, solid hooks or bars, fv.
inches in thickness, will be packed and
fastened securely; the whole forming on.
great revolving iron tower, eighteen in
ches in thickness, twenty seven feet il
diameter and weighing about two hun
dred tons.
A GLOOMY PICTURE FOR THE REBELS
The Richmond Wing thus sums up tn,
result of the war, As viewed from th,
rebel position:
Nearly half of our territory is in th,
hands Of our enemy! Whole States ant
tiers Of States, including the imperia
valley of the Mississippi, in the hands o
the enemy! Nearly or quite half th,
men on our muster rolls not in the field
- Al