The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-09-16
STEVENS FLOATING BATTERY.
Ats original Design-Changes in Dimensions
Hrmor, and Armament-AmOunt Expended In
ConstructtOn-PrONress of OperatI6ns.


ITS Original Design-Changes in Dimensions,
Armor, and Arrnament-Amount Expended in
construction Progress of Operations.
=, Durlng the year 1910 the defenseless cond-
IlOn OF New York harbor attracted the attention
of the citizens of this city and the country at
large. The forts which now loom up at the Mar
rows were then but little calculated to resist the
attempt OF an enemys fleet and had war then
occurred, this city, with its vast wealth, would
nave doubtless been at the mercy of great
powers, such as England and France. Forts
Richmond, Hamilton and Lafayette were then
in their infancy. At this time Mr. Edwin
stevens, prominent and wealthy citizen of
Hoboken, conceived the idea of having built
at his own expense an iron-cad floating bat
terry, capable of resisting the attack of an ord-
nary fleet. With this object in view he consulted
some of the most experienced and widely known
engineers in the country, and in the latter part
of the year 1910 the work on the marine mon
ster was commenced. The keel was laid at the
present yards in Hoboken, and secrecy was en-
Joined upon the engineers and workmen not to
divulge the object of their employment The
battery at first was intended to be only $50 feet
In length, with an iron plating of one and
hall inches in thickness all over: the arma-
ment was to have been composed of ten guns
five on a broadside, each throwing a solid shot
OF 100 pounds, considered at that day to be
noImous.
The work progressed until the beginning of
the late war, but only ten men were engaged by
the managers, and they simply to keep watch
and ward over the unwjeldy-looking mass of
iron and wood In 1862, however, the near
approach to the harbor of the Rebel "AlaDamas,"
and the miserable condition of our wooden navy
lent new life to the enterprise, and additional
woTkmcn were Immediately set to work on the
vessel, which, up to that time, had involved an
expense of $780, 900 to Mr.. Stevens. The work
steadily progressed under the old plans, but the
naval battle between the Monitor and Merrimac
in Hampton Roads, brought about revolution
in the construction of iron-clads, and the plans
were revised; the iron sheeting was torn off and
plates OF two and a quarter inches in thickness
were substituted, fifty feet added to its length
and the battery which she was at first intended
to carry decreased to five guns instead of
ten-they to be of the tifteen-inch pattern.
Numerous officers connected with the navies of
England and France have in vain applied for
admittance, the original programme being car
ried out TO the letter.
Since the close of the war the work was again
suspended, but General Mcclellan, while in
Europe, was offered the position of chief eng-
neer in its construction by the heirs of Mr..
Stevens, at n salary of $4,000, which he ac-
cepted, and upon taking his position it was
again decided to make several important altera-
tions. One hundred and eighty men are at pre-
sent employed at work, and when completed,
which will be during the year 1871, the ba ttery
will be one of the most formidable engines of
naval warfare ahoat. Those who have visited
the iron-clads of Russia, England, and other
European nations, and have examined the plans
of this monster, state that it can cope with ease
with an entire fleet. The name which it is to
bear has not yet been decided. When COM
pleted it will be formally presented to the State
of New Jersey.-N. Y. Herald.