The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1864-01-14
a.nunch of the nictntor.

1t will be reccollected that the attempt, on
the 2Sth Of November, to launch the monster
irorl-clad Dictator, was unsuccessful. The
effort was renewed on Saturday last, and with
entire success. The following description of
this great war vessel, from the New York
Erutny Po&t will be Of interest at this
time;
The Dictator, built upon the general prin-
ciple OF the first Monitor, is different from
that class Of vessels in many important
points, Some additional facts III relation
to this vessel will be of general Interest,"
The extreme length OF the Dictator, over al,
IS three hundred and fourteen feet; its aft Ov-
erhang being thirty feet, leaving two
hundred and sixty feet between perpendicu-
lars; extreme breadth fifty, and depth twenty
two ana one-half feet. The hull, in sides and
frame, is constructed of iron, the waterlines
are easy and the model is good
The armor shelf extends outside of the hull
four feet on each side. and is prodigiously
strong. An idea Of its impenetrable charac-
ter will be derived from the following account
of its construction. The outside is covered
with six I-iuch plates of iron fastened in the
most substantial manner, and inside of this
are three feet of oak timber, and an armor
lining formed Of 4 inch bars extending all
around. The armor shelf therefore, consists
OF IO5 inches thickness Of iron, and three feet
OF timber, and between the metal and timber
Is inserted Il thick layer of feIting. No gun
yet fabricated can project a shot that will
pierce tnis armor jacket.
The Keel plate OF the Dictator is of one-inch
plate the side plates seven-e Fights of an inch,
t2,,, pf L., IL
four incues. The interior is divided into sew
eral watertight compartments by plate bulk
heads, and the space forward Of the third bulk
head below will be used for coal bunkers,
through the middle of which will be a rail
way to tarrJ 1,tel to the boilers The deck
beams are oI' Kyanized oak, and all the ma
terials employed in the construction of tits
great wtr ship appear to be of the best quail
ty.
Two engines each having a cylinder of one
hundred inches III diameter and four feet
stroke, viii be employed to drive the screw,
which Is four-hEtded, twenty-five and half
feet ia dianlrter and Of thirty-four feet pitch
Steam, ''ticl IS the moving force, will be sup
piea from six large boilers, capable Of fun
ishmG i've thousand horse power to the en-
glnes, and 1t Is reasonably expected that the
Dictator will have high speed
The boilers have hfty-six furnaces and an
aggregate CRATE surface of one thousand one
hundleL feet allowing twelve pounds OF coal
per square foot Of CRATE service, the vessel will
require ut the least one hundred and seventy
five tons Of coal per day oftwenty -four hours,
steanlimg al full speed. What piston speed
will be obtained from the engines remains to
be seen.
AS the vessel is furnished with a strong
bow, its speed strength and mass will render
II q most efficient ram. 1t is to be provided
with one revolving turret for carrying two of
tie most formidable guns with which it can
be furnished; and it will be impregnable to
shot OF the most powerful guns as the solid
rock of Gibralter.
The inside diameter of the turret is twenty
four feet i'll the clear; a turret directly inclos-
ing this will be formed of six thicknesses of
inch-pate riveted together; and over and
outside of this will be another turret, forming
sleeve, consisting of seven thickneSses Of
inch plate, riveted together, and between
these and two circular shields, solid hooks or
bars, five inches III thickness, will be packed
and fastened securely; the whole forming one
great revolving iron tower, eighteen inches in
thickness twenty-seven feet in diameter, and
weighing about two hundred tons