Daily national Republican. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1862-1866, 1864-07-26
Secretary of the Treasury.
DONALD MCKAY ON LIGHT DRAFT
MONITORS.

How TO Secure the Respect Of the Nations
OF the World.
We hnd the following able letter from DON
aid Mckay, the great ship.builder OF Boston,
addressed to the editors Of the Daily advertiser
of that city. 1t Is well worth perussl,
GEsTLtMKN Having seen an article copied
into some Of our Boston papers from New
York Journal, 10 the effect that there had been
some disagreement between the contractors OF
the new light-dran monitors and the Navy De-
partment, deem 1t q duty to all concerned to
state the facts for the Information OF the
public.
/ attended all the meetings OF the contractors
recently held In New York, and can say that
met by the officers appointed by the Govern
ment, on all questions. In relation TO the pay
| ments for back work, aud future Improve.
mepts, there was no disposition manifested 10
deprive US Of q single dOllArI on the contrary,
We have reason to believe that oil our payments
will be promptly approved, as those already
earned according 10 the terms Of the contract
have been.
| In relation TO the monitors, the Department
has delegated Capt. Ericsson 10 make such i'm.
i proyement in them as will render them avail
able for coast and harbor defence, and when we
consider their light draft, for these PURPOSES,
they will be very efficient against any foreign
force II 10 well known that all tho foreign
iron-clads are very deep and would not there
fore approach our monitors, which could be
| moored 10 shallow waller, or kept under steam
| as circumstances might require. The suporl.
| ority OF their artillery has been tested In the
contest between the Kearsarge aud the Ala
bama. As they are In various stages OF Ad'
yancement, come ofthem not nearly completed
the expense Of the contemplated Improvements
will not be so great as the public has been led
70 suppose.
Capt. Ericsson, who, with others, has the
matter In charge, 10 well known TO the scientific
world, and does not, therefore, require my
endorsement; but this much l may say, thai
his construction Of the first monitor tayed III,
nation from q great humiliation. / have eI
amined the Dictator and Puritan, which be hsl
designed and superintended, and consider tina
iu material, workmanship, and invulnerabilty
they excel anything which have seen In Eng
land or France.
am well aware that the public has beer
quite restless In relation TO the movements o
the Navy Department, on account Of the dep
relations Of the Alabama, Florida, and Geor
giai but IL the facts were generally known theJ
would show that the power Of these vessels ha
been greatly exaggerated. In letter to sena
tor Grimes, which you published some tim,
since, boldly asserted that the Alabama wa
inferior In speed and fighting qualities TO ou
sloops of-war, the truth of which was clearl!
! uemOnbIdtou IN tue receut BloIIOub naval coul
byt.
The difficulty has not been a want OF vessel
Of the right class 10 destroy these Brltlsl
, rovers, but 10 obtain sight of them. 1t is m
deliberate opinion that almost any Of our sloop
could easily overhaul the Flor da in twelve
} hours run, aud bring her 10 action. The &C
counts Of her great speed, from the size OF tn
vessel and her we'll known motive power, ar
entirely incorrect. do not believe she can b
driven more than twelve knot an hour unde
steam alone, for more than two or three hour
al time.
If the public will only exercise little pa
tience, they will ind that the Navy Depart
, ment has not neglected its duty In this hour @
our national sEruggle, and that In the design
OF even the light-draft monitors II has acte
with more skill than many have believed
These vessels were q bold experiment, an In
noyalion upon all previous notions Of irOr
, elads, and could not be expected 10 be who'll
perfect at frst, but | am confident that Will
out change from the frat design, they woul
be most valuable for home defence. To max
, them available for action Ia Southern water
I In all weather, the proposed improvement
, necessary.
In addition would earnestly recommen
the construction OF q number OF seA-goln
wooden ships, heavily iTon.clAd, with hig
speed, from "a to 80 guns-and thus secure u
respect OF all the other nations OF tho worl
aud the best guarantee Of impartial nsuIrdIt'I
{ donald MCKAY.